Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas Paired Together for Dancing with the Stars US
Television personality Maura Higgins has been officially paired with professional dancer Mark Ballas for season 35 of Dancing with the Stars US, premiering on September 15 on Disney+. The casting arrives amid reported behind-the-scenes friction among contestants following Higgins’ vocal preferences regarding her professional partner.
Dancing with the Stars Season 35 Pairings and Lineup
Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas—dubbed ‘Team Tink’—reunite on the dance floor after forming a close friendship earlier in the year while competing on the reality competition series The Traitors US. Speaking previously to Elle regarding their time on the show, Higgins stated: “Me and Mark were dancing all the time. Even my whole friendship with Mark, none of it was aired. I still am so close with Mark.”
Additional pairings announced for season 35 include Israeli dancer Adele Zaikman with Conner Leavitt, Emma Slater with baseball player Jackson Olson, and Alan Bersten with chef Giada De Laurentiis. Sharna Burgess returns to the pro lineup after a five-year hiatus to dance with TV star Tyler Cameron, while Val Chmerkovskiy is partnered with Step Up alum Jenna Dewan.
Behind-the-Scenes Tension Over Partner Selection
The formation of ‘Team Tink’ has not arrived without controversy in the rehearsal rooms. Higgins was reportedly seen on a night out with show judge Bruno Tonioli.
Further reporting from the Daily Mail outlined that Higgins was vocal about avoiding a partnership with professional dancer Gleb Savchenko, citing his public statements about women and a desire to remain loyal to her friend Brooks Nader. In response to these remarks, Savchenko stated to the Daily Mail: “Until I was asked to comment on this story, I’d genuinely never heard of this girl, Maura, so I’m certainly not going to lose any sleep over the opinions of someone I’ve never met.” Higgins similarly confirmed her stance to E!
The Wider Competition Landscape
Higgins enters the ballroom alongside a diverse roster of celebrity competitors, including actress Julia Stiles paired with Ezra Sosa, actor Harry Shum Jr. dancing with Jenna Johnson, and Olympic figure skater Amber Glenn partnered with Pasha Pashkov. The competitive dynamic between returning veteran professionals and fresh talent sets the stage for a heavily scrutinized season.
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