'DWTS': Mark Ballas reveals the major way the show has changed over time

Mark Ballas is back!

The "Dancing with the Stars" pro is re-joining the competition after two seasons away, although he certainly has still been keeping busy: These past 24 months have been jam-packed with a Broadway run, a gorgeous wedding and creating his own music. Have we mentioned he's only 31?

"Doing Broadway was amazing, but you’re singing someone else’s words and doing someone else’s choreography and it’s the same every night," Ballas told People as the show officially announced his return. "Here you get to do your own thing and change it up every week."

It wasn't always that way: In the years since Ballas first started on the show (all the way back in 2008!), producers became more lenient with the pros, allowing them to add more creativity to their routines. "You’re not told what to do anymore," he explained. "The production has come a long way in giving the pros free rein."

In other words, he said, things have "advanced": "They’ve incorporated new styles and they’ve really upped the production value."

Ballas himself isn't exactly the same man as he was back in season 6. "When I was younger it was fun and new. Then I was around for a while and had some rough seasons," he said, adding that he was still happy to be there.

"Dancing with the Stars" returns for season 25 on September 18 on ABC.