{"id":264641,"date":"2026-09-23T11:30:33","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T11:30:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/23\/maura-higgins-opens-up-about-emotional-dwts-rehearsal-i-couldnt-hold-it-in\/"},"modified":"2026-09-23T11:30:33","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T11:30:33","slug":"maura-higgins-opens-up-about-emotional-dwts-rehearsal-i-couldnt-hold-it-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/23\/maura-higgins-opens-up-about-emotional-dwts-rehearsal-i-couldnt-hold-it-in\/","title":{"rendered":"Maura Higgins Opens Up About Emotional \u2018DWTS\u2019 Rehearsal: \u2018I Couldn\u2019t Hold It In\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Reality TV star Maura Higgins <\/b><\/a>is pouring herself into the Dancing With the Stars <\/i><\/a>experience, leading to an extra emotional rehearsal with pro partner Mark Ballas<\/b>.<\/p>\n

\u201cGenuinely, I was so annoyed at myself because I\u2019m more of a \u2018suffer in silence\u2019 [type], and I couldn\u2019t hold it in, like, I had a lump in my throat,\u201d Higgins, 35, exclusively told Us <\/i>after the Tuesday, September 22, live show<\/span><\/a>. \u201cI was hormonal, I was tired, I was mentally, physically exhausted [and] I couldn\u2019t get the dance in my brain, like, it wouldn\u2019t go in.\u201d<\/p>\n

For viral hits night, Ballas, 40, taught Higgins a cha-cha to \u201cSeptember\u201d by Earth, Wind & Fire.<\/p>\n

\u201cI kept thinking, \u2018I only have three days. I have to perform in three days, what am I gonna do? Do this on the floor?\u2019\u201d Higgins recalled. \u201cI\u2019m in my head a lot, and I really need to learn to just stop and relax and enjoy this because it\u2019s a dream show for me. And yeah, bless Mark. I don\u2019t know how he put up with me this week, honestly.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>Maura Higgins Thinks \u2018There’s No Time’ for Romance on ‘DWTS’<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tMaura Higgins is only thinking about lacing up her ballroom shoes on Dancing With the Stars season 35 \u2014 and no romances. \u201cTo be honest, I just want to put my focus on the dancing,\u201d Higgins, 35, exclusively told Us on Wednesday, September 2, when asked if a relationship was off the table, as partner [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Ballas, for his part, noted that Higgins ultimately got the routine in her head, earning a total score of 19 out of 30. The pair finished second on the leaderboard, just below a three-way tie for first between Jenna Dewan, Ezra Frech <\/b>and Amber Glenn.<\/b><\/p>\n

Even before they hit the dance floor<\/a>, Ballas has remained patient with his former The Traitors <\/i>season 4 costar.<\/p>\n

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\u201c<\/span>We don\u2019t get annoyed with each other. We\u2019re more, well, you get annoyed with the task at hand,\u201d the three-time mirrorball champ told Us<\/i>. \u201cI don\u2019t want her to [be annoyed with herself] because it\u2019s good to put pressure on yourselves at times.\u201d<\/p>\n

He continued, \u201cIt\u2019s good to work hard, but she\u2019s not a dancer, and she\u2019s like, \u2018Why is it so hard?\u2019 I\u2019m like, \u2018That\u2019s the show, that\u2019s why we\u2019re here.\u2019 I keep reminding her, \u2018That\u2019s why you\u2019re here.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Higgins, for her part, has been all-in on her ballroom lessons.<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>Mark Ballas Hints ‘DWTS’ Future Is Left in Limbo Ahead of Season 35<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tIs Mark Ballas returning to Dancing With the Stars for season 35? His future is still up in the air. \u201cI\u2019m not sure if I\u2019m returning yet,\u201d Ballas, 39, told Us Weekly exclusively at the Disney 2026 Upfront Red Carpet in New York City on Tuesday, May 12. \u201cI just had a really solid, straight [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just working very, very hard,\u201d she told Us<\/i>. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever worked this hard in my life, and I\u2019ve worked hard, but my God, this show is no joke. And we\u2019re only on week two!\u201d<\/p>\n

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