Well this is likely to be one of the cutest things you’ll watch this week! Dancing With the Stars pro Mark Ballas shared a video on TikTok this week that shows that at just 5 years old, he already had the rhythm, confidence, and showmanship that would one day make him a ballroom legend.
The 39-year-old dancer, choreographer, and musician delighted fans by posting a hilarious throwback video on the social media platform — and it’s equal parts adorable and iconic.
The clip, which Ballas said was sent to him by his dad (ballroom champion Corky Ballas), shows a pint-sized Mark performing on stage with other children, totally stealing the show. Wearing a black t-shirt, acid-wash jeans, and a serious dose of swagger, little Mark throws himself into the routine — busting out disco finger-points, hip thrusts, and even leapfrogging over another performer with complete commitment.
Over the clip, Ballas added the text, “My dad sent this & I am LOL WE’VE COME A LONG WAY.” He captioned the video, “Me at 5 years old. Who would’ve thought I’d be on a show like Dancing With the Stars one day.”
@markballas1 Me at 5 years old. Who would’ve thought I’d be on a show like @Dancing with the Stars #DWTS one day 🥹 #dwts
From Family Talent to ‘DWTS’ Fame
For longtime DWTS fans, the video is pure nostalgia, and a full-circle moment. Mark comes from dance royalty: His parents, Corky andShirley Ballas, are both internationally renowned ballroom champions and teachers who helped shape some of the biggest names in competitive dance (including Julianne and Derek Hough).
So, it’s no surprise that Mark’s first stage moments came early. Watching him twirl and shimmy alongside his classmates, it’s easy to see that even as a kindergartner, he had the kind of presence that can’t be taught.
His fellow Dancing With the Stars pros definitely took notice. Partner Whitney Leavitt commented, “Please teach me this dance hahaha,” while Emma Slater wrote, “DEAD!! This is so you.”
Fans, of course, couldn’t get enough either. One commenter joked, “Mark Ballas. Burning the floor since day 1,” while another added, “You being a 10x better dancer at 5 years old than me at 32.”
Others wanted more: “I am BEGGING you to recreate this!” and “Hear me out! DWTS throwback night: recreate a childhood perf with partner!”
Because Mark’s mom Shirley recently hopped on the Internet to defend Mark and Whitney’s Samba routine after critics tried to tear them down, one fan even requested, “Would LOVE Shirley to dissect this dance and tell us what all the different moves are.”
Mark himself joined in on the fun in the comments, responding to one viewer who noted, “lol the camera shaking because he’s laughing while recording,” with, “He was CRACKING UP.”
“Born With It”
The reaction on TikTok made it clear: Fans think Mark’s destiny was sealed from the start. Comments like “so you’re telling me you were just BORN WITH IT?!?” and “your future was written in the stars… dancing with the stars ;)” summed up the collective sentiment.
It’s a rare kind of joy to see one of today’s most polished pros let loose and share something so personal (and hilariously unpolished) — and it’s proof that some talents really do start in childhood.
And Mark Ballas has always known how to steal the show.
Related: ‘DWTS’ Fans Are Convinced Mark Ballas Was Secretly in the Original ‘Hamilton’ Cast
