Maura Higgins Wants Rob Rausch on DWTS
Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas are bringing a little bit of The Traitors drama into the Dancing With the Stars ballroom.
The reality TV star and professional dancer have teamed up for season 35 of Dancing With the Stars, but their partnership is already attracting attention for a surprising reason: they want Higgins’ former Traitors costar Rob Rausch to join them on the dance floor.
During an exclusive conversation with Entertainment Weekly, Higgins and Ballas revealed that they are working on a possible cameo for Rausch, who famously betrayed Higgins during the finale of The Traitors season 4.
Ballas confirmed that Rausch is expected to attend the first week of DWTS, and he joked that the Traitors winner owes them a dance.
Higgins also teased that the trio is “trying to make something work,” suggesting viewers could see Rausch step into the ballroom alongside the new dance partnership.
For fans of both reality shows, it would be an unexpected reunion between three people whose relationships have already produced plenty of memorable television moments.
From The Traitors Castle to the Ballroom
Higgins and Ballas first became familiar with each other while competing on The Traitors season 4.
The Peacock reality competition brought together celebrities and reality stars inside a Scottish castle, where contestants had to determine who among them was secretly working as a Traitor.
Rausch ultimately emerged as the season’s sole winner after successfully deceiving several fellow contestants.
Higgins was particularly shocked by Rausch’s betrayal.
She had trusted him during the game and followed him deep into the competition, only to discover that he had secretly been working against her.
Rausch’s victory allowed him to claim the entire $220,800 prize pot, while Higgins was left stunned by the revelation.
Despite the dramatic ending, the relationship between Higgins and Rausch did not remain permanently damaged.
Rausch later attempted to make peace with Higgins by giving her a Hermès Birkin bag, turning one of the season’s most uncomfortable relationships into an unlikely friendship story.
Now, months after their Traitors experience, the pair could find themselves together again—this time in a completely different kind of competition.
Mark Ballas Has a Plan for Rob Rausch
Ballas appears to be fully embracing the idea of bringing Rausch into the DWTS experience.
According to the EW interview, Rausch is expected to attend the show’s first week.
When asked about the possibility of Rausch actually appearing on the dance floor, Ballas suggested that the reality star should repay them by joining their routine.
The idea has apparently progressed beyond a simple joke.
Higgins indicated that she and Ballas are actively trying to make the cameo happen.
“We’re cooking something up,” Higgins teased during the conversation.
It would also give viewers a chance to see whether their complicated Traitors relationship looks different when there are no secret identities, hidden alliances or voting ceremonies involved.
Instead, their challenge would be much simpler: learning a dance routine.
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Higgins Wanted to Dance on DWTS
For Higgins, competing on Dancing With the Stars has been something she wanted long before she officially entered the ballroom.
Ballas recalled that Higgins had already told him she wanted to appear on the show while they were filming The Traitors.
At the time, Ballas was skeptical about whether she understood just how demanding professional dance training could be.
The reality star, however, had a straightforward reason for wanting the opportunity.
She wanted to learn how to dance, dress up for the ballroom and experience the spectacle of the show.
Higgins admitted that she was excited by the idea of performing in glamorous costumes and learning choreography.
Her enthusiasm ultimately convinced Ballas that she was serious.
Now, the pair are spending hours rehearsing together as they prepare for the season.
Maura Higgins Is a Beginner
One of the biggest challenges facing Higgins is that she does not come into the competition with a professional dance background.
Ballas described her as a beginner and said they are essentially building her skills “brick by brick.”
Rather than treating her lack of experience as a disadvantage, however, Ballas said her dedication has impressed him.
For a professional dancer, teaching a complete beginner can sometimes be difficult.
The celebrity partner has to learn basic technique, timing, posture and choreography while also becoming comfortable performing in front of millions of viewers.
Ballas said Higgins’ work ethic has been one of her biggest strengths.
He explained that having someone who is willing to work hard and embrace the process can be just as important as having natural ability.
That attitude could prove particularly useful as the competition becomes more demanding.
Higgins Says Ballas Is a Patient Teacher
Higgins also had plenty of praise for her professional partner.
She described Ballas as patient and said she appreciates his coaching style.
Although she acknowledged that he can be strict and repetitive, Higgins said those qualities are useful because she wants someone who will push her to improve.
Their relationship appears to have developed into a comfortable partnership despite the demanding rehearsal schedule.
That is important because DWTS partners spend significant amounts of time together during the competition.
They have to develop choreography, practice technical movements, build chemistry and prepare performances on a tight weekly schedule.
For Higgins, the experience has apparently been more enjoyable than she expected.
She admitted that she did not anticipate having quite as much fun during rehearsals.
Ballas, meanwhile, has praised her willingness to keep working even when the choreography becomes difficult.
The Traitors Connection Could Give Them an Edge
Higgins and Ballas have an unusual advantage compared with many other DWTS partnerships.
They already know how to work together under pressure.
Their experience on The Traitors meant they had spent time around one another before entering the ballroom.
That familiarity could help them communicate during rehearsals.
It also gives the partnership a built-in storyline.
Fans who watched The Traitors already know Higgins as someone who was shocked by Rausch’s betrayal.
Now they can watch her attempt something completely different with another former Traitors cast member.
Instead of trying to identify a Traitor, Higgins will be trying to impress the judges.
And instead of protecting his secret identity, Rausch could potentially find himself performing alongside her.
That crossover could become one of the season’s most talked-about moments.
Rausch Won’t Be a Regular Contestant
While fans may be excited by the possibility of Rausch appearing on DWTS, it is important to distinguish a cameo from an official competition spot.
Rausch is not listed among the 16 celebrity contestants competing for the season 35 Mirrorball Trophy.
Higgins, meanwhile, is officially part of the cast and has been paired with Ballas.
The season’s celebrity lineup includes a wide mix of actors, athletes, musicians, reality stars and television personalities.
The official ABC cast information confirms Ballas as Higgins’ professional partner.
Rausch’s potential appearance would therefore be an extra surprise rather than another celebrity entering the competition.
That could make the moment even more memorable.
A Star-Studded DWTS Season
Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars is shaping up to be one of the show’s biggest celebrity lineups.
The cast includes actress Jenna Dewan, 10 Things I Hate About You star Julia Stiles, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actress Tatyana Ali, singer Taylor Hanson and actor Harry Shum Jr.
The season also features Olympic athletes, reality personalities and other familiar television figures.
Maura Higgins represents the reality TV world, bringing her experience from Love Island and The Traitors into the ballroom.
Her participation is particularly notable because she has already built a significant American audience through her reality television appearances.
With such a diverse cast, the competition is expected to feature very different performance styles and personalities.
Higgins’ journey will be especially interesting because she is entering the competition without extensive dance experience.
The Judges Will Be Watching
Ballas has not yet given Higgins a detailed strategy for dealing with the show’s judging panel.
Season 35 will feature returning judges Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli.
Each judge has a different perspective on performance, technique and entertainment value.
Ballas explained that professional dancers often learn what individual judges respond to and then try to make sure a performance hits those different criteria.
For Higgins, that will be another new part of the DWTS experience.
Learning choreography is one challenge.
Performing it live in front of three experienced judges is another.
She will have to demonstrate technique while also creating the emotional connection that Dancing With the Stars audiences expect.
The Two-Night Premiere
The new season will begin with a two-night premiere on Tuesday, Sept. 15, and Wednesday, Sept. 16.
Episodes are scheduled to air at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and will also be available through Disney+, with streaming availability on Hulu afterward.
That gives Higgins and Ballas a major platform to introduce themselves as a partnership.
It also creates the perfect opportunity for the show to capitalize on the Traitors connection.
If Rausch does appear during the opening week, viewers will likely be watching closely to see exactly how the producers use the reunion.
Whether he simply watches from the audience or actually joins Higgins and Ballas on the dance floor remains to be seen.
From Betrayal to Ballroom Chemistry
The potential reunion is particularly funny because of how dramatically the relationships have changed.
During The Traitors, Higgins trusted Rausch.
Rausch secretly betrayed her.
Then, after the finale, he attempted to repair their friendship with an extravagant gift.
Now Ballas wants to put Rausch into a dance routine with Higgins.
It is a storyline that almost writes itself.
Instead of another confrontation in the castle, the next chapter could take place under the bright lights of the DWTS ballroom.
And this time, there is no hidden Traitor.
Just choreography, music and a potentially very entertaining reunion.
What Happens Next?
For now, Higgins and Ballas are focused on preparing for their first performances.
Higgins is still learning the fundamentals, while Ballas is helping her develop the technique and confidence needed to compete at a high level.
The professional dancer appears confident in his partner’s ability to improve.
Higgins, for her part, seems eager to embrace the challenge.
Their possible collaboration with Rausch adds another layer to an already highly anticipated season.
If the cameo comes together, it could give Dancing With the Stars one of its most unexpected reality-TV crossovers.
The fact that all three personalities already share a history makes the possibility even more appealing.
For Higgins, the journey is about much more than proving she can dance.
It is also an opportunity to show a different side of herself after a dramatic run on The Traitors.
For Ballas, it is another chance to turn a beginner into a confident performer.
And for Rausch, it could be an opportunity to make another memorable television appearance while reconnecting with a former reality-show ally.
Whether he ends up dancing or simply cheering from the audience, fans now have another reason to watch the opening episodes.
One thing is certain: Maura Higgins’ transition from a castle full of secret Traitors to the glamorous Dancing With the Stars ballroom is already proving to be one of the more entertaining reality-TV crossovers of 2026.
And if Mark Ballas gets his way, Rob Rausch may soon become part of the show, too.