"I think it's a great way to understand what it takes to be a pro on 'Dancing With The Stars,'" Ballas said.
Ballas, his renowned dance champion mom Shirley Ballas, and rotating guest judges will select the next professional dancer to join the ballroom when "Dancing With the Stars" returns in the fall.
According to Ballas, the competition goes beyond dance technique and focuses on the contestants' backgrounds and versatility.
"You are really getting to know their story, what inspires them, how long have been they been dancing, what style of dancing, how educated are they in ballroom and Latin, what else do they bring to the table," he said. "What's versatile about them?"
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One of the judges contestants will face is Shirley Ballas, whose expertise her son praised.
"My mom's not going to tell you, 'Well, I don't like it,'" he said. "She will tell you, 'I don't like it. Here's why.' Because she's so accomplished in her field. She is so knowledgeable about Latin American ballroom dancing that she can give you constructive feedback that is simple, concise and to the point that you can take further."
According to Ballas, adaptability is another key trait for success in the competition.
"You have to be able to adapt," he said. "And if you can't and you go into panic mode, that's usually when the ship starts sinking."
The new judging role adds to an already extensive resume. Ballas has won the "Dancing With the Stars" Mirrorball Trophy with celebrities four times and is celebrating the show's return to Emmy contention for best reality competition series for the first time in 10 years. He is also returning to Broadway to play Billy Flynn again in "Chicago," his third starring role on Broadway.
Ballas said his passion for performing began in childhood.
"As a child, what got me into entertainment was theater," he said. "You know, I started going to theater school when I was a little boy. My nan used to take me to the train every Saturday from age four to 10."
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Having spent decades acting, singing and dancing, Ballas is now adding judge to his list of credits with "Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro." He said one perk of the job is being able to watch from the sidelines.
"It was nice to sit back and like, you know, not break a sweat for two hours every day," Ballas said with a laugh. "So I enjoyed that."
"Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro" premieres tonight at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC, with episodes available the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.
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