Mark Ballas

Mark Ballas Speaker Biography

A lifelong dancer and musician, Emmy-nominated Mark Ballas has wowed over 20 million viewers on ABC’s number one show, Dancing with the Stars, for 11 seasons. No stranger to the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy, he is a two-time champion (Season 6 with Kristi Yamaguchi and Season 8 with Shawn Johnson) and caused a media frenzy when he took performance newcomer Bristol Palin all the way to the finals in Season 11 and re-partnered with her in Season 14. Ballas garnered a 2011 Creative Arts Emmy nomination for Outstanding Choreography for his creative pieces during Season 12, where he and his partner, Disney star Chelsea Kane, made it to the finals, finishing in third place. In season 13, he and his partner, Welsh singing sensation Katherine Jenkins, made it to the finals, finishing in second pace. Recently, they reunited for a final dance together on the UK sensation Strictly Come Dancing.

Last April, Ballas’s debut solo album, HurtLoveBox, was released by Hit Play Records—Sony Red. His first single, “Hotwire,” was the winner of MTV’s Freshman Five for 2011 and was put in rotation on the network. It has received over 100 million documented views and appeared on feature reels in over 100,000 retail and business locations worldwide. Ballas was named the Clear Channel “Artist to Watch” in July 2011.

When Mark Ballas isn't performing, he is passionate about speaking to children about acceptance. Six years ago, he and his family were forever altered by the suicide of his uncle, David. Ballas and his mother, Shirley (David's sister), formed The Ballas Foundation in the fall of 2010, which is committed to removing the stigma associated with mental illness and suicide by raising money, awareness, and volunteerism in support of suicide awareness. While suicide is a somber and sometimes taboo subject, Ballas's discussions with school children are upbeat, uplifting, and fun, and he delivers his message in a light manner that is easy to absorb. While on his 50-city acoustic tour in the winter of 2012, he carved out time to visit schools in each city to discuss this topic. Mark Ballas believes that if we accept everyone for who they are, we will pavethe way for all children to grow into themselves and flourish in life.

Born in Houston to a family of international dance stars, Ballas moved to London as a child, where he attended the world-renowned Italia Conti Performing Arts School and graduated with honors. There, he was required to not only dance, but also sing, act, and play an instrument. He began playing the guitar at the age of ten, training in classical flamenco. By age 12, he was writing and performing his own music and playing the guitar, drums, and bass. With guitar influences ranging from Kurt Cobain, Paco de Lucia, the Gypsy Kings, John Mayer,and Eric Clapton, Ballas is carving out his own niche in the music word. His rhythmic style and soulful melodies showcase his talent not only as an accomplished singer, but also as a skilled guitar player.

As an actor, Mark Ballas has played the lead in the musical “Copacabana.” He also took on roles in the UK tour of “Maria de Buenos Aires” and was an understudy in the London Palladium production of “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Musical,” which won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical. In television, he has guest starred on Melissa and Joey and Samantha Who?