Mark Ballas
Mark Ballas | |
|---|---|
| File:MarkBallas.jpg | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Mark Alexander Ballas, Jr. |
| Born | May 24, 1986 Houston, Texas, USA |
| Genres | Pop/Rock |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, dancer, guitarist |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Labels | Hit Play-Sony Red |
| Website | Official Site |
Mark Alexander Ballas Jr. (born May 24, 1986)[1] is an American dancer.
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 was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Choreography in 2011. He is also a singer/songwriter/musician and released his first solo CD HurtLoveBox in March 2011.
Early life
Ballas was born in Houston, Texas, the son of dancers Corky Ballas[2] and Shirley Ballas (née Rich).[3] His paternal grandparents were of Mexican, Spanish, and Greek background, and his mother is British.[4][citation needed] His paternal grandfather, George Ballas, was the inventor of the Weed Eater lawn-trimming device.[5]
Ballas attended Rosemead Preparatory school in South London, and was in the same year as acclaimed British ballet dancer Max Westwell of the English National Ballet.
At the age of 11, he earned a full-time slot at the Academy, as well as earning a full scholarship to the college. In 2005, he was awarded "Performer of the Year". He then moved on to win championships at The British Open to the World, The US Open to the World, and The International Open to the World. With his former partner Julianne Hough, he won the Junior Latin American Dance Championship and the gold medal at the Junior Olympics.[citation needed]
As a youth, Ballas was a member of a pop singing trio called "2B1G"(2 Boys 1 Girl"), along with Julianne Hough and Derek Hough.[citation needed]
Ballas' mother, an award-winning Latin American dancer, was recently featured on Dancing with the Stars.
Career
Acting
As an actor, Ballas played the lead role of Tony in the musical Copacabana and was the lead dancer in the UK national tour of the Spanish musical Maria de Buenos Aires. He was also the understudy for the role of Ritchie Valens in the UK national tour of Buddy, The Buddy Holly Story. Ballas played an extra in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone as part of the Hufflepuff House. In October 2008, Ballas made a guest appearance on the season premiere of Samantha Who.[6] In September 2010, Ballas had a guest appearance on his former Dancing with the Stars partner Melissa Joan Hart's new series, Melissa & Joey.
Dancing with the Stars
On the fifth season of Dancing with the Stars, Ballas was partnered with Cheetah Girls star Sabrina Bryan. On October 30, 2007, the pair was voted off the show. They have been the only couple invited back for an exhibition dance. Ballas' partner for Season 6 of Dancing With The Stars was Olympic Gold Medal-winning figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi. They won the series. On August 25, 2008, ABC announced the cast of the seventh season of Dancing with the Stars, with Ballas paired with reality television star Kim Kardashian. They were the third couple eliminated, finishing in eleventh place, on September 30, 2008. For the eighth season of Dancing with the Stars, Ballas was paired with Olympic gold-medal winning gymnast Shawn Johnson, winning that season's competition on May 19, 2009. He was partnered with actress Melissa Joan Hart for the show's ninth season. They were voted off in week six and came in 9th place. For season 10, Ballas was partnered with actress Shannen Doherty.[7] They were the first couple eliminated, on March 30, 2010. Despite that, Shannen & Mark hold a higher average than a few celebrities who lasted longer than them. For season 11, Ballas was partnered with Bristol Palin, daughter of former Alaska governor and U.S. Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin. They made it to the finale and finished in third place. For Season 12, Ballas was partnered with Disney Channel star, Chelsea Kane. They made it to the finals where they finished in third place. For Season 13, Ballas was partnered with reality star Kristin Cavallari where they were the 3rd couple eliminated finishing in 10th place. For Season 14 he was partnered with Classical Singer Katherine Jenkins. They made it to the finale where they finished as the runners-up, losing to Donald Driver & Peta Murgatroyd. For Season 15, he returned with Season 11 partner, Bristol Palin. He is paired with two-time Olympic champion Aly Raisman for season 16. Since season 16 had four couples reach the finals for the first time, Aly and Mark were able to become finalists. On May 21st, however, they were eliminated at the beginning of the show landing them in fourth place.
In week 7 of season 15 he danced with Season 8 partner Shawn Johnson due to her current partner, Derek Hough , having a neck injury.| Season | Partner | Place |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Sabrina Bryan | 7th |
| 6 | Kristi Yamaguchi | 1st |
| 7 | Kim Kardashian | 11th |
| 8 | Shawn Johnson | 1st |
| 9 | Melissa Joan Hart | 9th |
| 10 | Shannen Doherty | 11th |
| 11 | Bristol Palin | 3rd |
| 12 | Chelsea Kane | 3rd |
| 13 | Kristin Cavallari | 10th |
| 14 | Katherine Jenkins | 2nd |
| 15 (All Stars) | Bristol Palin | 9th |
| 16 | Aly Raisman | 4th |
Records
In his time on Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) Ballas has set, and broken, numerous records in the course of his (so far) 10 seasons. Some of these records include, but are not limited to:
- Earliest perfect 30 in a season, during Week 4, with Sabrina Bryan for their Paso Doble.
- This record is later tied by Gilles Marini and Cheryl Burke in Season 8.
- First professional partner to earn a perfect score (90) in the DWTS Finale, with his celebrity partner Kristi Yamaguchi in Season 6.
- Ballas tied this record in Season 14 with his partner Katherine Jenkins.
- First male professional to win multiple seasons, once with Kristi Yamaguchi and once with Shawn Johnson.
- Only male professional to get the same place in the finals (Third Place; with Bristol Palin and Chelsea Kane) twice in a row, without winning the season.
- Most perfect 30s on the Freestyle dance, with 5. Earning perfect scores with Kristi Yamaguchi, Shawn Johnson, Chelsea Kane, Katherine Jenkins, and Aly Raisman.
Dancing with the Stars performances
With celebrity partner Sabrina Bryan (average: 27.0)
| Week # | Dance/Song | Judges' score | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inaba | Goodman | Tonioli | |||
| 1 | Cha-Cha-Cha / "Don't Cha" | 9 | 8 | 9 | Safe |
| 2 | Quickstep / "They're Red Hot" | 9 | 8 | 9 | Safe |
| 3 | Jive / "Shake, Rattle and Roll" | 9 | 9 | 9 | Safe |
| 4 | Paso Doble / "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" | 10 | 10 | 10 | Safe |
| 5 | Rumba / "Me and Mrs. Jones" | 9 | 9 | 10 | Safe |
| 6 | Foxtrot / "I'm a Woman" Rock N' Roll / "Rockin' Robin" |
9 No |
8 Scores |
8 Given |
Eliminated |
With celebrity partner Kristi Yamaguchi (average: 28.3)
| Week # | Dance/Song | Judges' score | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inaba | Goodman | Tonioli | |||
| 1 | Foxtrot / "The More I See You" | 9 | 9 | 9 | No Elimination |
| 2 | Mambo / "Hey Baby" | 9 | 9 | 9 | Safe |
| 3 | Tango / "Rio" | 9 | 9 | 9 | Safe |
| 4 | Paso Doble / "Blue Monday" | 10 | 9 | 10 | Safe |
| 5 | Rumba / "Say" | 9 | 10 | 10 | Safe |
| 6 | Jive / "Rip It Up" Country Western / "Cotton-Eyed Joe" |
10 No |
10 Scores |
10 Given |
Safe |
| 7 | Viennese Waltz / "I'm with You" Cha-Cha-Cha / "Don't Stop the Music" |
9 10 |
8 8 |
9 10 |
Safe |
| 8 Quarter-Finals |
Quickstep / "Billy A Dick" Samba / "Volare" |
9 8 |
10 9 |
10 9 |
Safe |
| 9 Semi-Finals |
Tango / "Midnight Tango" Jive / "Nutbush City Limits" |
10 9 |
9 9 |
10 10 |
Safe |
| 10 Finals |
Cha-Cha-Cha / "Dancing on the Ceiling" Freestyle / "Workin' Day and Night" Jive / "Rip It Up" |
10 10 10 |
10 10 10 |
10 10 10 |
WON |
With celebrity partner Kim Kardashian (average: 18.0)
| Week # | Dance/Song | Judges' score | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inaba | Goodman | Tonioli | |||
| 1 | Foxtrot / "The Pink Panther Theme" | 6 | 7 | 6 | Last To Be Called Safe |
| 1 | Mambo / "Baby Got Back" | 6 | 6 | 6 | Safe |
| 2 | Rumba / "You Give Me Something" | 6 | 6 | 5 | Eliminated |
With celebrity partner Shawn Johnson (average: 26.94)
| Week # | Dance/Song | Judges' score | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inaba | Goodman | Tonioli | |||
| 1 | Waltz / "It is You (I Have Loved)" | 8 | 8 | 7 | No Elimination |
| 2 | Salsa / "Las Muchachas" | 8 | 8 | 8 | Safe |
| 3 | Foxtrot / "More Than This" | 9 | 9 | 9 | Safe |
| 4 | Lindy Hop / "Ready Teddy" | 8 | 8 | 9 | Safe |
| 5 | Viennese Waltz / "Ordinary Day" | 9 | 8 | 9 | Safe |
| 6 | Rumba / "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room" | 8 | 9 | 9 | Safe |
| 7 | Cha-Cha-Cha / "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" 1960's Group Dance / "The Clapping Song" |
9 No |
9 Scores |
10 Given |
Safe |
| 8 | Samba / "Get Down on It" Team Mambo / "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" |
10 8 |
8 8 |
9 9 |
Safe |
| 9 Quarter-Finals |
Quickstep / "Friend Like Me" Paso Doble / "Gotta Get thru This" |
9 10 |
9 9 |
9 10 |
Safe |
| 10 Semi-Finals |
Argentine Tango / "Asi Se Baila El Tango" Jive / "Reet Petite" |
10 9 |
10 8 |
10 9 |
Safe |
| 11 Finals |
Paso Doble / "So What" Freestyle / "Do Your Thing" Cha-Cha-Cha / "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" |
9 10 10 |
9 10 10 |
10 10 10 |
WON |
With celebrity partner Melissa Joan Hart (average: 21.2)
| Week # | Dance/Song | Judges' score | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inaba | Goodman | Tonioli | |||
| 1 | Viennese Waltz / "The Time of My Life" Cha-Cha-Cha Relay / "Centerfold" |
6 Awarded |
6 6 |
6 Points |
Safe |
| 2 | Jive / "Long Tall Sally" | 7 | 6* | 6 | Safe |
| 3 | Samba / "Turn Me On" | 6 | 6 | 7 | Safe |
| 4 | Charleston / "Charleston" | 9 | 9 | 10 | Safe |
| 5 | Argentine Tango / "Tango Barbaro" | 8 | 8 | 7 | Safe |
| 6 | Waltz / "Only One Road" Mambo Marathon / "Ran Kan Kan" |
7 Awarded |
7 4 |
6 Points |
Eliminated |
- Due to Len Goodman's absence in week 2 the 6 was awarded by stand-in guest judge Baz Luhrmann.
With celebrity partner Shannen Doherty (average: 19.0)
| Week # | Dance/Song | Judges' score | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inaba | Goodman | Tonioli | |||
| 1 | Viennese Waltz / "The Killing Moon" | 6 | 6 | 6 | No Elimination |
| 2 | Jive / "Shake a Tail Feather" | 7 | 6 | 7 | Eliminated |
With celebrity partner Bristol Palin (average: 22.6)
| Week # | Dance/Song | Judges' score | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inaba | Goodman | Tonioli | |||
| 1 | Cha-Cha-Cha / "Mama Told Me (Not to Come)" | 6 | 6 | 6 | Safe |
| 2 | Quickstep / "You Can't Hurry Love" | 7 | 8 | 7 | Safe |
| 3 | Foxtrot / "Just the Way You Are" | 6 | 6 | 7 | Safe |
| 4 | Rumba / "Umbrella" | 6/4 | 6/5 | 6/5 | Safe |
| 5 | Jive / "(Theme From) The Monkees" | 6 | 6 | 6 | Safe |
| 6 | Tango / "According To You" Rock 'n Roll / "La Grange" |
8 Awarded |
7 5 |
8 Points |
Safe |
| 7 | Viennese Waltz / "Trouble" Team Cha-Cha-Cha / "Workin' Day and Night" |
9/8 8 |
8 8 |
8 8 |
Safe |
| 8 Quarter-Finals |
Argentine Tango / "Buttons" Samba / "Mas Que Nada" |
8 7 |
8 8 |
8 8 |
Safe |
| 9 Semi-Finals |
Paso Doble / "Gimme More" Waltz / "Mary Goes To Jesus" |
9 8 |
9 9 |
9 9 |
Last To Be Called Safe |
| 10 Finals |
Jive / "Move" Freestyle / "Cell Block Tango" Tango / "According to You" Cha-Cha-Cha / "Raise Your Glass" |
9 8 8 9 |
9 9 9 9 |
9 8 8 9 |
THIRD PLACE |
With celebrity partner: Chelsea Kane (average: 26.13)
| Week # | Dance/Song | Judges' score | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inaba | Goodman | Tonioli | |||
| 1 | Foxtrot / "King of Anything" | 7 | 7 | 7 | No Elimination |
| 2 | Jive / "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" | 6 | 5 | 7 | Safe |
| 3 | Cha-Cha-Cha / "Chelsea" | 7 | 8 | 8 | Safe |
| 4 | Viennese Waltz / "Hedwig's Theme" | 9 | 8 | 9 | Safe |
| 5 | Samba / "Party in the U.S.A." | 9 | 8 | 9 | Safe |
| 6 | Quickstep / "Walking on Sunshine" | 10 | 9 | 9 | Safe |
| 7 | Paso Doble / "Ghosts 'n' Stuff" Team Cha-Cha-Cha / "Born This Way" |
8/9 8/8 |
8 7 |
9 7 |
Last To Be Called Safe |
| 8 Quarter-Finals |
Waltz / "My Love" Salsa / "Get Busy" |
10 8 |
9 9 |
10 9 |
Safe |
| 9 Semi-Finals |
Argentine Tango / "Assassin's Tango" Rumba / "Eyes on Fire" Cha-Cha-Cha / "Just Dance" |
9 10 Awarded |
9 10 15 |
10 10 points |
Safe |
| 10 Finals |
Samba / "Hip Hip Chin Chin" Freestyle / "Latinos" Viennese Waltz / "Hedwig's Theme" |
10 10 10 |
9 10 10 |
10 10 10 |
THIRD PLACE |
*In week 7 Donnie Burns score is right before Inaba's
With celebrity partner: Kristin Cavallari (average: 21.6)
| Week # | Dance/Song | Judges' score | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inaba | Goodman | Tonioli | |||
| 1 | Cha-Cha-Cha / "Dynamite" | 7 | 6 | 6 | Safe |
| 2 | Quickstep / "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" | 8 | 7 | 7 | Safe |
| 3 | Samba / "Crazy in Love" | 8 | 8 | 8 | Eliminated |
With celebrity partner: Katherine Jenkins (average: 27.9)
| Week # | Dance/Song | Judges' score | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inaba | Goodman | Tonioli | |||
| 1 | Foxtrot / "The Show" | 9 | 8 | 9 | No Elimination |
| 2 | Jive / "Ain't Nothing Wrong With That" | 9 | 8 | 9 | Safe |
| 3 | Waltz / "To Where You Are" | 10 | 9 | 10 | Safe |
| 4 | Paso Doble / "Time Is Running Out" | 8 | 8 | 8 | Safe |
| 5 | Argentine Tango / "Tanguedia II" | 10 | 9 | 10 | Safe |
| 6 | Samba / "I Can't Get Next to You" Motown Marathon / "Nowhere to Run" |
10 Awarded |
9 10 |
10 Points |
Safe |
| 7 | Rumba / "Canon in D Major" Team Tango / "Toccata" |
9 10 |
9 8 |
9 9 |
Safe |
| 8 Quarter-Finals |
Viennese Waltz / "Kathleen" Cha-Cha-Cha (Trio Challenge) / "She's a Lady" |
8 10 |
9 9 |
9 10 |
Safe |
| 9 Semi-Finals |
Quickstep / "The Dirty Boogie" Salsa / "Bananza (Belly Dancer)" |
10 9 |
9 9 |
10 9 |
Safe |
| 10 Finals |
Paso Doble / "España Cañí" Freestyle / "Sing, Sing, Sing (With a Swing)" Jive / "Splish Splash" |
10 10 10 |
10 10 10 |
10 10 10 |
Runner-Up |
With celebrity partner: Bristol Palin (average: 21.0)
| Week # | Dance/Song | Judges' score | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inaba | Goodman | Tonioli | |||
| 1 | Cha-Cha-Cha / "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)" | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | Safe |
| 2 | Quickstep / "Redneck Woman" | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | Safe |
| 3 | Paso Doble / "Living on Video" | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | Safe |
| 4 | Rock n' Roll / "At the Hop" | 8.0 | 8.0/8.0 | 8.0 | Eliminated |
With celebrity partner: Aly Raisman (average: 26.7)
| Week # | Dance/Song | Judges' score | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inaba | Goodman | Tonioli | |||
| 1 | Cha-Cha-Cha / "Live While We're Young" | 7 | 7 | 7 | No Elimination |
| 2 | Quickstep / "Jumpin Jack" | 8 | 8 | 8 | Safe |
| 3 | Prom Group Dance / "The Rockafeller Skank" Viennese Waltz / "Give Me Love" |
No 7 |
Scores 8 |
Given 8 |
Safe |
| 4 | Contemporary / "Titanium" | 9 | 9 | 9 | Safe |
| 5 | Samba / "Misery" | 8 | 8 | 9 | Safe |
| 6 | Foxtrot / "Isn't She Lovely" Team Samba/ "Superstition" |
9 8 |
9 9 |
9 8 |
Safe |
| 7 | Salsa / "Echa Pa'lla (Manos Pa'rriba)" Cha-cha-cha Dance-Off / "Brokenhearted" |
10 Awarded |
9 3 |
10 Points |
Safe |
| 8 Quarter-finals |
Argentine Tango / "Reflejo de Luna" Jive (Trio Challenge) / "Hit the Road Jack" |
9 9 |
10 9 |
10 9 |
Safe |
| 9 Semi-Finals |
Rumba / "When I Was Your Man" Afro Jazz / "Azumba" |
10 10 |
10 9 |
10 10 |
Safe |
| 10 Finals |
Samba / "Hips Don't Lie" Cha-Cha-Cha Relay / "Treasure" Freestyle / "Icarus" |
9 Awarded 10 |
9 3 10 |
10 Points 10 |
Eliminated |
References
- ^ Texas birth record
- ^ "Biography of Corky Ballas". Corky.com. 2008-08-25. Retrieved 2012-12-26.
- ^ http://www.shirley-ballas.com/about_shirley.html
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ 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. WebCitation archive.
- ^ [2] Samantha Who
- ^ Boedeker, Hal (March 2, 2010). "'Dancing With the Stars': Shannen Doherty pairs with Mark Ballas; Kate Gosselin with Tony Dovolani". Orlando Sentinel.
External links
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
- 1986 births
- Actors from Texas
- American male singers
- American rock guitarists
- American ballroom dancers
- American people of Greek descent
- American people of Spanish descent
- American people of Mexican descent
- Living people
- Musicians from Houston, Texas
- People from Houston, Texas
- People from London
- American stage actors