Topic: Mark Ballas

Mark Alexander Ballas Jr. (born May 24, 1986) is an American dancer. At a young age, he moved to London, in the UK, where he began his performing career. He remained in London until 2007, when he moved back to the US.

Ballas is a professional ballroom dancer on the ABC program Dancing with the Stars. He began competing on the show in the fall of 2007. He is also a singer/songwriter/musician for the group Ballas Hough Band, where he composes the group's music, plays lead guitar and sings lead vocals.

Ballas was born in Houston, Texas, with family ties in Laredo, Texas. His paternal grandparents are George Charles Ballas and Maria Luisa Marulanda Ballas of Mexican, Spanish and Greek background. His parents are Corky Ballas and British-born Shirley Ballas (née Rich). Grandfather George Ballas is the inventor of the Weed Eater lawn-trimming device.