“DWTS: The Next Pro” judges Shirley and Mark Ballas clash during fiery dance critiques: ‘We’re not at home now’

Ryan ColemanTue, August 11, 2026 at 1:00 AM UTC

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Mark Ballas, Robert Irwin, and Shirley Ballas on ‘Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro’Credit: Disney/Vince ValituttiKey points -

Shirley and Mark Ballas got into a spat in this week’s episode of Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro.

The DWTS pro interjected into one of his mother’s critiques, igniting a back-and-forth.

“Can I finish my notes, please?” Shirley playfully snapped, adding, “We’re not at home now, we’re in a professional arena.”

This article contains spoilers for episode 5 of Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro.

Proposal for the next Dancing With the Stars spinoff: Shirley and Mark Ballas duke it out in family therapy.

The renowned dancers’ always lively mother-son dynamic flared into an argument on the judging panel while critiquing a divisive routine during Monday’s episode of Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro.

We’re now five episodes into the latest spinoff of the wildly popular reality competition series. That may not sound like much if you’re measuring by the season-length standards of series like Survivor or Big Brother, but The Next Pro’s cast of rising stars aspiring to join the elite ranks of the anchor series’ pro partners is already down by half. Two episodes that culminated in double eliminations means we’re only two episodes away from the semifinals, so the heat is on.

It isn’t just the dancers feeling the flames, either. While offering their critiques of a contemporary routine danced by contestants Selena Hamilton and Erik Linder, Shirley and Mark found themselves feuding.

Mark Ballas, Shirley Ballas, Daniella Karagach, and Robert Irwin on ‘Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro’Credit: Disney/Vince Valitutti

Week 5 brought on former DWTS pro and three-time finalist Daniella Karagach as the guest judge and coach. She set forth the challenge of creating “wow” moments, like her viral “walking on air” move during a season 35 dance with Dylan Efron.

The other two couples — Allen Genkin and Adele Zaikman, and AJ Pritchard and Nina Mayster —passed Karagach’s test with flying colors. They each received rave reviews from the judges. But Selena and Erik’s choice of a “moment of stillness” as their “wow” moment failed to register. So much so that after the post-dance applause faded, Shirley told the couple, “Okay, I’m conflicted. Tell me, what was your ‘wow’ move?”

Selena explained that “sometimes the ‘wow’ is in the silence.” But it wasn’t enough for Shirley, who explained that “in my experience, a silent moment doesn’t mean to just stand still.” Before she could elaborate, Mark cut in: “Well, it’s also open to interpretation.”

Without missing a beat, Shirley shot back, “Can I finish my notes, please?”

The shot of Mark looking mischievous yet scolded, Shirley looking ticked off, and Daniella trying to keep it cool cut to a shot of the remaining two couples and host Robert Irwin watching from backstage. AJ burst out laughing while Nina’s eyes went wide before she buried her face in her hands.

“Thank you, Mark,” Shirley said. “We’re not at home now, we’re in a professional arena.”

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Shirley ultimately explained that she wished Erik would have “let yourself go even more than you did,” and that Selena, being the season’s last standing contemporary specialist, had lived up to her potential. “I’d said to Mark, ‘I think she might give Dani a run for her money,’ and that didn’t quite happen for me, unfortunately. That doesn’t mean it’s not great dancing. I appreciate the quality, but as the contemporary dancer, I expected a little bit more from you.”

Despite Mark’s protestations, the three-time Mirrorball trophy winner ultimately agreed with his mom, who is renowned in the world of Latin dance, earning her the nickname the Queen of Latin. He praised the couple’s “knee walks” but pointed out that “the brief was create a ‘wow’ moment, right? There wasn’t this presage high lift” or anything “crazy… I need a little bit more.”

AJ Pritchard and Nina Mayster on ‘Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro’Credit: Disney/Vince Valitutti

This is far from the first time Mark and Shirley have come to verbal blows while evaluating routines on The Next Pro. Their lively banter frequently sees them disagree on the merits of certain steps and turns, but they always keep it playful.

Mark impishly trotted the earlier point he interrupted Shirley with back out to open up the judges’ deliberations. “There are choices in contemporary, you know, it’s very subjective,” he said.

Shirley played along, noting with exasperation, “I need a cup of coffee and a brandy. I’ve got to consider my notes.”

Selena Hamilton and Erik Linder on ‘Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro’Credit: Disney/Vince Valitutti

Selena and Erik wound up in the bottom two — unsurprising from the vantage point of the episode, where they were the clear weak links. But it’s shocking considering Selena’s season-long lead on the competition, Erik’s remarkable growth that the judges have praised for weeks, and the fact that their routine last week won the judges’ most glowing praise.

Still, decisions must be made. “Selena, I felt that your choreography was more difficult, and I feel you were very, very strong in your execution,” Shirley told them. While she praised Erik as a “beautiful dancer,” he was eliminated from the competition.

“I’m happy that I got to take this opportunity and really grow as a dancer and a person,” he told the room. “I’ve allowed myself to try to speak through my dancing, and I couldn’t do it without Selena, without [Irwin], without anybody here, and all the judges who I look up to.”

Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC, with episodes available the following day on Hulu.

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