In a candid conversation, dancer Mark Ballas has offered a vulnerable look into a deeply painful chapter of his life. During what was publicly his most successful season of Dancing With the Stars, he and his wife, BC Jean, suffered a miscarriage. Ballas described the surreal and difficult experience of having to compartmentalize his grief, leaving his wife during a medical procedure to compete in the semifinals of a national television competition.
The loss, paired with physical injuries, left him feeling utterly depleted and ready to leave his dancing career behind. He described the sadness as a “different kind,” one that reshaped his perspective. It was the joy of becoming a father to his son, Banksy, that ultimately reignited his drive.
Determined not to live in the past, Ballas committed to retraining his body and returning to the work he loved. His story is a powerful testament to the complex process of healing, showing how personal heartbreak can lead to a renewed sense of purpose and the strength to begin a new chapter.
