Why DWTS’ Maura Higgins, Mark Ballas Won’t Give New Traitors Advice
Dancing With the Stars' Maura Higgins Shares Why She Won't Give Advice to New ‘Traitors’ Cast
Every Traitor and Faithful needs to walk their own path
It’s why despite the cast announcement for the next season of The Traitors, Dancing With the Stars partners—and former Faithfuls—Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas aren’t rushing to give the next crop of celebrities guidance on how to navigate the castle.
“I'll tell you what, it really is hard to give Traitors advice,” Mark told E! News following DWTS on Sept. 30, “as someone who's watched pretty much every season, because it's all dependent on the group of people.”
After all, how to stab a friend in the back isn’t something you can teach step by step.
“Like with this show,” he continued of DWTS, “you can be like, ‘When you get Quickstep, you gotta do this.’ You don't know how people are going to react or what the conversation is going to be like. What the round table is going to be like—and it can flip on you at any moment.”
Plus, as Maura noted, “You also don't know if you're going to be a Traitor or Faithful, and then you have to play differently. It's so hard.”
Indeed, both Maura and Mark are two of countless celebrities who, after spending time in the Scottish castle, have emphasized how difficult it really is to decide who you can trust and who you need to watch out for.
Or, as Mark put it, “You don't know your ass from your elbow.”
Christopher Willard/Disney
Thankfully, the pair’s time in the ballroom on Dancing With the Stars is much more straightforward. And without having to look over her shoulder, Maura has been putting everything she’s got into the competition series.
“She works really hard,” Mark said of his partner. “Coming into this, when we talked about Maura doing this in The Traitors, I was like, ‘You know it's really hard. It's longer than a 40-minute challenge.’”
To which Maura affirmed, “He did warn me.”
And yet, “I have been, honestly, really blown away with her work ethic, her commitment to it,” Mark said. “Especially as a beginner dancer.”
And so far, Maura and Mark have continuously impressed judges Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba with their performances. As for what their competition looks like, read on for a closer look at this season’s Dancing With the Stars cast.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Julia Stiles & Ezra Sosa
You won't hate this news—the 10 Things I Hate About You star will be saving the last dance for her pro partner.
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Giada De Laurentiis & Alan Bersten
Cha-cha-chopping away... The celebrity chef will be turning up the heat this season.
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Harry Shum Jr. & Jenna Johnson
What did you miss on Glee? The actor taking his musical talents to the dance floor.
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Taylor Hanson & Britt Stewart
The former '90s teen heartthrob will hope to MMMBop his way to the top of the leaderboard on season 35.
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Tatyana Ali & Jan Ravnik
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actress will be bringing her fresh moves to the dance floor.
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Jenna Dewan & Val Chmerkovskiy
Twenty years after starring in Step Up, the dancer is stepping up to the challenge.
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Amber Glenn & Pasha Pashkov
The 2026 Olympic figure skater will take her skills from the ice to the ballroom.
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Ezra Frech & Daniella Karagach
The Team USA Paralympic track and field athlete will show off his athleticism on DWTS.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Sarah Jane Nader & Hailey Bills
After sister Brooks Nader competed on season 33, the Love Thy Nader star is trying her hand.
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Connor Wood & Rylee Arnold
The comedian, also known as Fibula on social media, is ready to earn more applause on DWTS.
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Conner Leavitt & Adele Zaikman
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star is following in the footsteps of wife Whitney Leavitt—who competed on season 34.
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Tyler Cameron & Sharna Burgess
The Bachelor Nation star is trading in roses for rumbas.
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Jackson Olson & Emma Slater
The Savannah Bananas baseball player is stepping up to the plate, bringing his dance moves from the diamond to the ballroom.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Guillermo Rodriguez & Witney Carson
The Jimmy Kimmel Live! star is ready to learn some new moves.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Ciara Miller & Brandon Armstrong
The Summer House star is prepping for her turn in the ballrom.
"Looks are not indicative of being in shape," Ciara exclusively told E! News in June. "I do huff and puff going up the stairs, so I gotta get back into the gym and work on my stamina."
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Maura Higgins & Mark Ballas
The Love Island UK alum is hoping her love for DWTS doesn't betray her as she manifested this experience.
"I have a vision board and I redo it every year," she told E! News in May. "This year is the first year that I stayed at home by myself on New Year's Eve. I did not go out at all. I made myself a bowl of pasta and a glass of red wine and I redid my vision board for the year. Dancing With the Stars was already on it from the year before. However, I added five more Dancing With the Stars on the board."
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