‘Dancing With The Stars’ 2016 Spoilers: Derek Hough Reveals Why He Returned To ABC Series, Talks Mark Ballas ‘Jersey Boys’ Casting

“Dancing With the Stars” will always be “home” for Derek Hough, and according to the professional dancer, this is why he decided to return for Season 23 of the ABC reality dancing show.

While at the “Dancing With the Stars” Season 23 cast party on Wednesday, Sept. 7, Hough talked about why he decided to return to the competition despite being cast in the upcoming Broadway show “Singin’ In The Rain” during an interview with E! News. "’Dancing With the Stars’ is my home; it's my family. For me, if I can, I will,” he said.

“I asked about the plan when this got postponed,” he explained, referring to “Singin’ In the Rain’s” opening being pushed back to 2017. “All the pieces are still there, it's been rearranged. So now I'm going to do more things, which is exciting. I'm happy to be here, I'm happy to get on the dance floor and put some sequins on.”

He also opened up about his fellow pro dancer and close pal Mark Ballas, who won’t be returning for Season 23 of “Dancing With the Stars” as he has been cast in the upcoming Broadway show “Jersey Boys.” Hough shared that he and Ballas went to the same theater arts school in London and trained in musical theater together. “We actually did a show together, so for me, for him to do this, it's like, I'm so happy for him. It's ridiculous,” he gushed.

The pro dancer added that Ballas had called him right away after confirming his casting, and they were both excited to be making their Broadway debut around the same time. "It's actually funny – like, Mark called me, and he goes, 'Derek, dude, I got this role' and I was like, 'We are going to be on Broadway together man,'" he told Entertainment Tonight at the 101 Dance Center in Los Angeles last week.

Hough also dished on his reaction upon learning of Ballas’ casting. "It's like a dream come true for him for sure, and I honestly cried when I found out. I teared up because I just know how much this means to him and he is so excited and it's awesome,” he said.

Catch Hough with his celebrity dance partner Marilu Henner when “Dancing With the Stars” Season 23 premieres Monday, Sept. 12 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.