“He’s Coming Back, Isn’t He?”: DWTS Fans Erupt Over Rumors of Mark Ballas’ Surprise Return After Saying He Was ‘Retired’

Ahead of season 34 of Dancing with the Stars, fans are speculating about which professional dancers and celebrities will be competing. One beloved pro who has some fans buzzing right now is Mark Ballas. Could he decide to return to compete again?

The next season of DWTS premieres on September 16, and it is likely that the full cast will be revealed soon. Several contestants have already been announced, and most of the usual pros are probably returning.

The speculation about Ballas, however, is intriguing, and some fans think there are signs suggesting he's not done with Dancing with the Stars yet.

Ballas won the Mirrorball Trophy three times as a DWTS pro. His most recent win, with Charli D'Amelio in season 31, was also the last season he competed. He returned during season 33 as a guest judge, which fans loved.

Lately, Ballas has been sharing glimpses of his off-season dance training, and it has sparked some buzz among fans. On July 31, Ballas posted a video on Instagram showing him dancing with fellow DWTS pro Jenna Johnson.

They were at the Brooklyn Dancesport Club, and his mom, Shirley Ballas, was involved. Ballas wrote, "Going back to basics is not a step backward. It's often the first step to progress."

"Would love to see Mark on this season," one fan commented.

Interestingly, his dad, Corky Ballas, commented, "[You] never know." Both Shirley and Corky have danced professionally, too.

Related: DWTS Pro Finally Reunites With Son—The Moment That Melted Fans' Hearts

"I hope [you 're] prepping for another season at DWTS," another fan wrote.

Someone else chimed in, "Please tell me you're on this season of DWTS!!!!!"

The enthusiasm and speculation carried over to the show's subreddit, as well.

"In my bones I know Mark isn't coming back but he is sure doing a lot of ballroom training," one Reddit user noted.

"He's doing alottttt of training lol," commented another Redditor.

Someone else admitted, "My false hope is skyrocketing with every post!"

"I know it's not happening but I'm also hoping and wishing over here, too," added another fan.

Several DWTS fans suggested that Ballas retiring as a show pro after his win with D'Amelio was perfect, and that he could never top it. Quite a few fans expressed their support for the idea of having Ballas back on the show, but as a judge again.

"He's definitely not returning as a pro. He stated himself that he was retiring after Charli. If he's doing any training (which I haven't seen) it may be for teaching purposes or something else," commented.

ABC has already announced that season 34 will include Robert Irwin, Alix Earle, Whitney Leavitt, and Jennifer Affleck as contestants. None of the season 34 pros returning have been officially announced yet.

As unlikely as it may be that Ballas would choose to return, quite a few DWTS fans are holding out hope and watching for signs that it could happen anyway.