Mark Ballas News

Mark Ballas and Derek Hough partied the night away with friends in Las Vegas Friday night, the former celebrating his 22nd birthday - and Dancing with the Stars title this season - while the latter was honored for turning 23 on May 17.

"I was just there to guide her along this fantastic journey and what an adventure it's been," Ballas said about his run to the title with partner Kristi Yamaguchi. "She definitely deserved to win."

Hough gave his friend more credit, saying Ballas "110 percent deserved to win it. He worked harder than anyone."

Mark Ballas and Derek Hough: Good dancers, great friends.

Derek, of course, has been working hard at keeping his relationship with Shannon Elizabeth a secret; suffice it to say, however, the cute dancer has failed in this regard.

While the two haven't acknowledged a relationship, they were spotted sneaking a few smooches at a dinner earlier in the evening.

While the rumor that one Dancing with the Stars couple broke up was false - indeed, Karina Smirnoff and Mario Lopez are still going strong - the following report has been confirmed:

Pro dancer Mark Ballas and Cheetah Girl Sabrina Bryan have split.

"She is too busy for me," Ballas said, a bit bitterly it sounds like. "We are just friends now."

The pair met in November 2007 when they were partnered together on season five of Dancing With the Stars.

"We've gotten so close, and I guess the friendship started from the moment we met," Bryan said last year. "Now that the show is over, we definitely couldn't stand the thought of not being in each other's lives at this point."

That may still be the case - but merely as friends from now on. Sorry, Mark.

As she navigates the country - sans boyfriend - on the Dancing with the Stars tour, it's apparent where the mind of Sabina Bryan is at.

She's thinking about Mark Ballas, who's waiting for her at home as he recovers from recent shoulder surgery. The Cheetah Girl will be by his side in time for the holidays, though.

"I brought him a little gift basket the night of his surgery of movies [and] his favorite candy... because it's hard to just have to sit there and not really be able to do much," she said. "He's somebody who's active so much, so to actually just take a moment and just relax is a lot for him."

"The doctors said the surgery went beautifully and he should be recovering just perfectly," she added, making us all smile over how adorable this couple is together.

Dancing with the Stars professional Mark Ballas is on the mend after undergoing arthroscopic surgery earlier this week on his left shoulder.

Ballas dislocated his shoulder doing the Cha Cha during the Dancing finale on November 27, tearing a shoulder muscle in the process.

According to his father, ballroom great Corky Ballas, the minimally invasive surgery "went really well" and at some point, Ballas should be able to join the Dancing with the Stars national tour that kicks off December.

That's good news for Ballas - and it's great news for Sabrina Bryan, who has become his real-life girlfriend and was facing two months on the road without him.

"She's been amazing," said Ballas. "She's been here every day, helping me along... While we were dancing, we were talking to each other. I don't think it's on the tape because the camera was on her feet. But I was saying, 'I'm in pain, it's hurting.'

And she said, 'I know, baby, I know.' She just kept looking at me and helping me stay focused. I wasn't going to let a mere shoulder injury get in the way. I just wanted to do the dance one last time."

The fact that Helio Castroneves won the title on Dancing with the Stars last night may be the least interesting result from the evening.

We're learned today that Helio's fiancee, Aliette Vazquez, has called off the couple's engagement. The pair has been together for over six years. Moreover...

Mark Ballas was actually rushed to the hospital after he injured his arm during the Cha Cha performance with partner - and girlfriend - Sabrina Bryan. Those with a keen eye may have noticed that a little over half way through the dance Mark abruptly stopped using his left arm. At one point, you could see him whispher something to Sabrina.

We hope he's okay.

We also hope Maksim Chmerkovskiy wasn't serious when he told Extra last night that he may be through with the show.

"If this is the limit of where I can get in a show, then let it be," Maks said. "I'm satisfied and moving on."

Getting voted off Dancing with the Stars may be the best thing that ever happened to Sabrina Bryan and Mark Ballas.

How come?

Because it's allowed the partners to explore the world of dating. Together. As a couple.

"We've been so focused on the competition," Bryan said or rumors that she and Ballas are an item. "But now that that has died down, we'll see where it goes. We haven't had a chance to do any of that [dating] or even talk about it.

We didn't even realize that people would think that about us until they started asking us. Because you get so close to someone, you get so comfortable, that you don't even see it...

"I absolutely love and adore him."

How exciting is this?!? Like Mario Lopez and Karina Smirnoff before them, it appears that Sabrina and Mark have gone from dancing to dating.

We couldn't be happier for them.