Has Mario Found a New Dancing Partner?

Mario Lopez is spotted with blond babe on his arm

By Marc Malkin Jul 17, 2008 1:00 AMTags
Mario LopezJohn Mortarano

Mario Lopez, who just called it quits with Karina Smirnoff about a month ago, raised some eyebrows on Monday when he went swaggin' with a mystery gal-pal.

"He was huggy-huggy and kissy-kissy with her in the elevator," says a source. "Mario kept calling her 'babe.'"

The finely muscled fellow, with a "very quiet," blond bombshell named Natalie, stopped by ESPN The Magazine's ESPY Style Studio at the Standard Hotel in downtown Los Angeles where Mario helped pick out some sexy attire for the lovely lady.

While checking out the Red Pepper Denim collection, the former Saved by the Bell star held up a pair of teensy-weensy shorts for Natalie and said, "These are for you, babe."

Natalie is said to be a castmember of the national touring company of A Chorus Line that is currently playing at L.A.'s Ahmanson Theatre. According to the Ahmanson website, there's a Natalie Elise Hall in the show, and she sure looks like Lopez's new friend.

A rep for Lopez insists he is still single. "He doesn't have time to date," the rep said.

Lopez and Smirnoff, who met while partnered up on Dancing With the Stars, announced on June 5 that their two-year on-again, off-again relationship was kaput.