What DWTS’ Mark Ballas Told Traitors’ Maura Higgins Before Her Casting

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Maura Higgins has faith in her upcoming appearance on Dancing With the Stars.

Fortunately, the former contestant on Traitors got some helpful advice from her co-star, Dancing with the Stars professional Mark Ballas, before the start of season 35 of the dance competition.

Maura shared her enthusiasm with cohost Alfonso Ribeiro at Hulu’s Get Real House Live event on April 22nd, saying she was ‘very excited’ but also acknowledged feeling nervous, knowing the challenge ahead would be difficult.

Mark warned me it would be really challenging, but I’m determined to try my best,” she said. “I’m going to do everything I can, and I think it’ll actually be enjoyable.”

Despite being excited to dance on the show, the 35-year-old admits she’s not a very good dancer. She jokingly said she’s clumsy and might struggle.

As for how she’s going to prepare for her appearance? 

Honestly, I’m pacing myself. I told USA TODAY at the event that I don’t want to burn out before August hits – I’ll be completely exhausted if I push too hard now. My plan is to prioritize rest and sneak in some daytime naps, because I know I’m going to need them to keep going!

Following her popular run on season four of The Traitors, where she came in second place to Rob Raushe, Maura was determined to join Dancing with the Stars.

She explained that she’d really focused on achieving this, and it was something she’d visualized for a long time – it was even on her vision board. This was the one show she truly wanted to be on, and she hoped it would be her last as a competitor.

She’s not the only former contestant hoping to win the Mirrorball Trophy this season; Ciara Miller is also getting ready to compete on the dance floor.

Even though I couldn’t make it to the event in Los Angeles, I was so excited to hear about it all the way from the East Coast! It’s always fun to stay connected, even when I can’t be there in person.

“I had some unfinished business here in New York City that I needed to wrap up, but I am so excited to join season 35 of Dancing With the Stars,” she said in a video played at the Hulu event. “I feel like this is the perfect moment. I feel like I’m opening a new chapter, and I’m so excited to share it with all of you guys. Can’t wait to put my energy on the dance floor.”

Now that casting for season 35 of Dancing With the Stars is starting, here are some interesting facts about the show.

In 2019, Variety reported that celebrities appearing on Dancing With the Stars initially earn $125,000 for their time in rehearsals and the first two weeks of the show. According to sources, contestants who advance further receive additional payments each week, potentially reaching a total of $295,000.

However, Bobby Bones said he made more than this when he won season 27 with Sharna Burgess in 2018.

The radio personality shared on Jason Tartick’s podcast, Trading Secrets, in September 2025 that the show’s pay structure was unusual. They explained they weren’t paid for the first episode, then earned $10,000 for the second. Payments then increased, typically around $10,000, $10,000, $20,000, $20,000 per episode, ultimately reaching $50,000 an episode for those who continued with the show.

In addition to a salary of about $110,000, Bones revealed he earned nearly $400,000 from the show.

ABC has not publicly confirmed any of these figures.

Details about professional dancers’ earnings haven’t been widely released either. However, similar to the contestants, it appears they earn more the further they advance on the show.

But even if a pro is eliminated in the first round, they’re not leaving the ballroom empty-handed.

Jenna Johnson explained on the June 2025 episode of the The Morning After podcast, hosted by Kelly Stafford and Hank Winchester, that dancers are typically guaranteed work for a specific number of weeks. However, she added that contracts vary, and she couldn’t comment on the specifics of everyone’s agreement.

Apparently not.

Cheryl Johnson, a two-time champion of Dancing with the Stars – she won seasons 26 and 33 with Adam Rippon and Joey Graziadei, respectively – explains that professional dancers don’t earn extra money for winning the now-named Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy. However, she points out there’s still a good reason to reach the final rounds, beyond just the prestige.

She explained on The Morning After that reaching the finale means you receive full-season pay plus a bonus. However, winning doesn’t come with a large cash prize; instead, winners receive a trophy to share with their partner.

That doesn’t appear to be the case.

In a 2022 appearance on the Trading Secrets podcast, Lindsay Arnold shared that her pay was reduced by more than 50% when she moved from a principal dancer to a troupe member.

The pros get little input when it comes to being matched with a celebrity.

On the May 2025 episode of Maggie Sellers’ podcast, Hot Smart Rich, Lindsay explained that people in these situations have no input. She described it as simply being told, ‘Here’s your partner – now make the relationship work.’

In fact, Jenna said the pairing is often a secret until the last minute.

Jenna explained on The Morning After that the show’s producers intentionally keep the cast a secret to capture authentic reactions. People often assume the hosts know who the contestants are beforehand, but that’s not true – the producers don’t even tell them! They want it to be a complete surprise for everyone involved, even keeping the cast list confidential to avoid leaks until the big reveal when partners meet.

As for what the Dancing With the Stars team looks for when making these matches?

As a lifestyle expert, I can tell you that when we paired celebrities on the show, it wasn’t random! We really considered everything – their height, body type, and, most importantly, their personalities to ensure compatibility. We absolutely avoided putting people together who we thought wouldn’t click; the experience is already intense enough! It wasn’t like those dating shows where they’ll pair anyone together – that would have been a disaster for everyone involved. We learned early on that forcing a connection just doesn’t work, and frankly, we made that mistake a few times before perfecting the process. Viewers don’t want to watch people who don’t get along, and neither did we!

Let me tell you, being on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ is a full-time commitment! As someone who’s been behind the scenes, I can confirm the dancers put in serious hours. Rylee Arnold, who was on season 33, recently shared with me on the ‘Lightweights Podcast’ that rehearsals are four hours long – either morning, afternoon, or evening. But it doesn’t end there! After rehearsal, there are meetings with producers, choreography work, and hours spent studying dance footage. Honestly, it takes over your whole life! But here’s the thing: when you love what you do, it doesn’t feel like work. Rylee said it makes her incredibly happy, and that’s what it’s all about. It’s truly a no-days-off situation. They perform on Tuesdays, then it’s straight back to rehearsals Wednesday through Sunday, followed by camera blocking on Monday, and then right back to performing on Tuesday. It’s a demanding schedule, but the passion makes it all worthwhile.

Emma Slater and Britt Stewart confirmed in a September 2025 Instagram video that they were mostly on board, but explained it involved working with the show’s producers.

If you think the quickstep dance is fast-paced, you should see how quickly the costume department works! Costume designer Daniela Gschwendtner explained to TV Insider that they collaborate with set, lighting, and dance teams to develop a unique story for each dancer’s outfit. Then, they have just five days – often only half a day per costume, before even adding rhinestones – to create everything. With a team of around 20 people plus an external tailor shop, it’s a massive undertaking.

Costume designer Steven Norman Lee revealed that dancers often don’t even try on their costumes until just hours before the show. While they might occasionally re-use pants for male dancers, most outfits are custom-made each week.

As Gschwendtner added, they do re-use items for group performances or promotional shoots, but never for the competition itself. The goal is to keep the looks fresh and new each week to maintain visual interest for the audience.

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2026-04-23 16:49