Derek Hough and Mark Ballas proved they’re not just best friends, they're also legendary dance partners.
On the season 33 finale of Dancing With the Stars Nov. 26, the current judge and fellow pro dancer took to the dance floor to perform an Argentine Tango to "Libertango" by Tango Bardo.
"Tonight, my buddy Mark Ballas and I are going to be bringing you a little ballroom history by dancing an Argentine Tango the way it was originally intended," Derek, 39, explained on the show, "with two male dancers."
He and Mark, 38, noted how the dance, which dates back to the 19th century, originally featured two male performers because they outnumbered women in their communities at the time.
"Most people would think the Argentine Tango is a very sexy, intimate, embracing moment between a man and a woman but this is gonna be a dance between two males," Mark said. "There's gonna be more masculine energy there."
And their performance scored 10s across the board.
"I thought it was hot," celebrity guest Seann William Scott told Dancing With the Stars cohost Alfonso Ribiero. "That was sexy."
Of course, it’s no surprise that Mark and Derek’s chemistry was center stage during their dance. The longtime BFFs grew up and trained in ballroom dancing together, with Derek and his sister Julianne Hough living with Mark's family in England for years as they trained as kids.
The men's performance is not the show's first same-sex dance. That took place in 2016, Nyle DiMarco and pro dancer Keo Motsepe also danced an Argentine Tango, set to "Habanera" by Georges Bizet., while taking part in a group routine with their respective season 22 partners Peta Murgatroyd and Jodie Sweetin (Nyle and Peta went on to win the Mirrorball Trophy.)
Then in 2021, Jojo Siwa and dance partner Jenna Johnson became the first official same-sex duo to compete on the U.S. version of Dancing With the Stars. And while Jenna didn’t see victory that year she and The Bachelor alum Joey Graziadei are the reigning Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy recipient after being announced as winners during the season 33 finale.
Keep reading for a look back on the full cast of contestants during the most recent season of DWTS...
Anna Delvey
The inspriation behind Inventing Anna traded her ankle bracelet for dancing shoes alongside partner Ezra Sosa. However, the fake heiress was eliminated during the season's Sept. 24 episode, with her saying that she learned "nothing" in her now-infamous, one-word farewell speech.
Ilona Maher
The Olympic rugby player was ready to ruck up the dance floor with pro Alan Bersten, finishing as the runner-up.
Chandler Kinney
The Disney Channel star tried to dance her way to the top with partner Brandon Armstrong and ultimately placed third.
Brooks Nader
The model and her partner Gleb Savchenko were ready to strut along the ballroom, but took their final bow on Oct. 15.
Reginald VelJohnson
All that mattered for the Family Matters alum and partner Emma Slater was taking home the Mirrorball Trophy. However, their journey was cut short during the second week of competition on Oct. 8.
Eric Roberts
The Dark Knight star was partnered with Britt Stewart. They were eliminated in the second week alongside Reginald and Emma.
Joey Graziadei
The Bachelor alum has found his rose between thorns in partner Jenna Johnson, winning season 33.
Tori Spelling
The alum of Beverly Hills, 90210 was oh so ready to dance alongside Pasha Pashkov. Unfortunately, the two last only one week and was cut from competition in a double elimination alongside Anna and Ezra.
Danny Amendola
The NFL pro and partner Witney Carson sure scored a touchdown on the dance floor, placing fifth in the finale.
Dwight Howard
The NBA star hoped to stand head and shoulders above the competition with partner Daniella Karagach, but was eliminated from the competition on Nov. 12.
Stephen Nedoroscik
The Olympian had his sights set on another medal—or should we say, Mirrorball Trophy—with partner Rylee Arnold, placing fourth in the Nov. 26 finale.
Phaedra Parks
The Traitors alum was sure to weed out the competition with partner Val Chmerkovskiy, but ended up getting cut from the lineup Oct. 22.
Jenn Tran
Though Bachelorette star and partner Sasha Farber were full bloom in the ballroom, they were eliminated from the competition on Oct. 29.