Mark Alexander "Corky" Ballas Sr. (born December 25, 1960) is an American retired competitive ballroom dancer who holds several Latin dance championship titles. His son, Mark Ballas, is a professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars. His father was George Ballas, who invented the Weed Eater lawn-trimming device.
Personal life Ballas was born in Houston, Texas. He is the son of Greek-Americans Maria Marulanda and George Ballas, the inventor of the Weed Eater lawn-trimming device. His paternal grandparents, Karolos ("Charles") Ballas and Maria Lymnaos were immigrants to the United States from Greece.Wozny, Nancy. "H-Town's Own Dance Man: Mark Ballas opens up on the naive miracle of Bristol Palin & his John Mayer ways", CultureMap Houston, December 13, 2010.. George Ballas passed away in June 2011. See "Weed Eater inventor dies at 85," June 29, 2011, Associated Press, as published by the Lake Charles American Press, at . He has three sisters, Michelle, Maria, and Lillian, and one brother, George.
He has one son, Mark Ballas. Corky and Shirley Ballas also trained and assisted in raising Julianne Hough and Derek Hough.
Corky now teaches dancing in San Antonio via his dancing studio, and his website. His plans for the future include more television performances as well as an online interactive dance instruction via hundreds of videos.
Career Corky and Shirley were 1996 Open to the World International Champions, 1995–1996 Open to the World British Champions, twice British National Champions, Star - World Cup - UK - Champions, and seven times undefeated United States International Latin Champions.
Ballas judges professional competitions and teaches. He is based in Los Angeles, California and Houston, Texas.
Dancing with the Stars Ballas has trained many of Dancing with the Stars' professionals including Karina Smirnoff, Julianne Hough, Derek Hough, Tony Dovolani, Edyta Sliwinska, Alec Mazo, Brian Fortuna, Jonathan Roberts, Anna Trebunskaya, Jessie DeSoto and, his son, Mark Ballas.
On August 25, 2008, the show's producers announced Corky himself would compete as a pro on season 7, alongside his son and former pupils. He was partnered with 82-year-old actress Cloris Leachman.
For season 11, Ballas was partnered with Florence Henderson. They were eliminated in Week 5 of the competition.
Performances
with Cloris Leachman WeekDanceSongJudges' scoreTotalResultInabaGoodmanTonioli1Foxtrot"I Wish I Were in Love Again" — Frank Sinatra65516No EliminationMambo"Coconut Woman" — Harry Belafonte65516Safe2Paso doble"Boléro" — Maurice Ravel55515Safe3Jive"The Girl Can't Help It" — Little Richard65516No Elimination4Tango"The Big Date" — Marc Shaiman87722 Bottom Two5Salsa"Tres Deseos" — Gloria Estefan77721Safe6Cha-cha-cha"Come See About Me" — The Supremes55515 Eliminated
with Florence Henderson WeekDanceSongJudges' scoreTotalResultInabaGoodmanTonioli1Cha-cha-cha"Kiss Me, Honey Honey, Kiss Me" — Shirley Bassey66618Safe2Quickstep"Suddenly I See" — KT Tunstall76619Safe3Waltz"Edelweiss" — Vince Hill76720Safe4Rumba"Yesterday" — The Beatles66517Safe666185Tango"The Brady Bunch Theme" — Peppermint Trolley Company77721 Eliminated
Notes
See also U.S. National Dancesport Champions (Professional Latin)
References
External links