Pia Toscano to Peform on Mark Ballas' 'Dancing with the Stars'

Pia Toscano has been a household name for only a few months now. But this former American Idol frontrunner (who was voted off surprisingly early, only to immediately land a record deal) is already learning the art of dodging personal questions.

For more than a week now, the press has been linking her romantically with Dancing With the Stars pro Mark Ballas. (Idol and DWTS are filmed in the same studio complex.) But Toscano, who reportedly recently broke up with her longtime boyfriend, has coyly dismissed the scuttlebutt about Ballas.

After it was reported that she'd been on a date with the dancer, she told People, "We went out with a group of friends. He's just a really good friend, I guess." But now comes news that Toscano will perform on the DWTS results show next Tuesday (April 26, ABC, 9 p.m. ET). Come on, these two must be dating! And the connection to Ballas must have helped her land this highly-coveted performance slot, right?

Not so, says Ballas. "I wish I could work my magic with the producers," Ballas told E! Online. "No, I have no say in these things." For the record, he has also played coy about the dating rumors. "It is what it is," he told People. "I'm having a great time."

Well, that may be true, but DWTS producers no doubt took the dating rumors into account when choosing Toscano. After all, it can't be a coincidence that she's scheduled to sing while Ballas and fellow pro (and May Playboy cover girl!) Karina Smirnoff are dancing. And why not stoke the fires of an emerging celeb romance, especially if it might prompt more viewers to tune in?

No one's accusing Toscano of strategically dating her way onto another primetime show -- but her connection to Ballas sure seems to be paying off!

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/pia-toscano-peform-mark-ballas-dancing-stars/1-a-342412

Evangeline Lilly Eve Fergie