Exclusive chats with "Dancing With the Stars" dancers regarding same-sex dancing pairs

Mark Ballas

This coming Monday morning, ABC's Dancing with the Stars is expected to announce the line-up for the show's new season (debuting September 21st). Gay fans are hopeful the show will finally have its first out gay competitor in former 'NSYNC member Lance Bass. For months now, speculation has run rampant that he would be joining the show and that in turn has fueled further speculation that Lance might actually be paired up with one of the show's professional male dancers.

Back in January we asked DWT executive producer Conrad Green about having a same-sex dance pairing. Green said the thought the idea "interesting," and that he was "open to it." And ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson is also on board with idea saying, "Yeah. I think there's no reason not to."

At the Television Critics Association Summer Tour in Los Angeles last month, I had the chance to chat with some of the professional dancers from ABC's Dancing with the Stars. I took the opportunity to ask Mark Ballas and Alec Mazo their thoughts about the possibility of Lance Bass joining the show as a contestant — and of being matched up with a male partner.

Mark Ballas

AE: There is talk Lance Bass might be one of the contestants this year. There is also speculation he might be matched up with a guy.
MB: I know. I was the pick. In the rumor, I was the person they said they should match him with.

AE: And how do you feel about having him on the show?
MB: I think it would be great having him on the show. But no one has been confirmed.

AE: I'm not trying to find that out. I'm just curious how you might feel about being matched up with him.
MB: It's kind of against the [dancing] rules to do that.

AE: But you're a television show.
MB: I know, but it has rules. We're not allowed to lift. We're not allowed to lift at all. We're not allowed to do a lot of things. One of the main rules in the dancing rules is that it has to be a man and a woman. But if they wanted to break the rules for it and put two men together ... that would be cool! It would be breaking the rules and if it happened to me, I'd probably ... dance everything in unison. I wouldn't dance it ... like if it happened to be the girls steps, I'd have him do man steps and I'd do man steps at the same time. So that's how I'd do it. I think it would be interesting. But I'm not sure if they will do it.

AE: Do you think America is ready for that?
MB: I don't know. I don't want to say.

AE: I know a lot of folks last year thought Kristi Yamaguchi had a big advantage given her background. Given Lance's background, the same thing will be true?
MB: Not at all. Ballroom dancing is a different animal. Doesn't matter if you've had a dance background. As an ice skater, you don't have a dance background. When you're on skates, you're flat-footed and on bent knees and they skate through the music. Kristi didn't have that experience. Same for Lance and Joey Fatone and Mel B. The only person that would have an advantage is a ballroom dancer. I've seen some of the most amazing ballet dancers, jass dancers, hip hop dancers, and they can't do ballrooom dancing. It's a completely different animal. So if Lance comes on, I think it will be great.

My chat with Alec Mazo, after the break!

Alec Mazo

Alec Mazo

AE: What would you think of having Lance matched up with yourself or one of the other guys from the show?
AM: I think ... I don't think it's gonna happen because Middle America ... and because I don't know how the choreography would be able to [work] and I'm thinking how would you do that?

AE: Well, there is gay ballroom dancing.
AM: You know what? Actually, I think a good partner for him would be Louis [Van Amstel]. Louis has done a little bit in Denmark. I think he's choreographed some. So he would know. I would not know how to do it simply because I've never done it. So experience-wise it would be a little different for me. Somebody who is more proficient like Louis would probably be in a better position than me. But I think Lance would probably do a great job. I don't know if he is on the show or not, but if he does get on the show, he'll be a phemonmenal dancer. I don't know how a show like that would be able to work it out right now. I don't know. I have to be able to wrap my mind around that. ... I don't know how that would work physically. Considering you have lifts and everything.

AE: You look strong. You could lift Lance.
AM: Have you seen Lance? Lance is my height and bigger than me.

AE: Then he could lift you.
AM: That's true. It's a very unique question. Thanks for asking.