Mark Ballas

Mark Alexander Ballas Jr. is an American professional Latin and ballroom dancer, choreographer, musician, and actor. He is best known for his long-running work as a professional dancer on the ABC reality competition series Dancing with the Stars, which he joined in 2007. Over his tenure on the show, Ballas won three seasons and earned a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography.

Born on May 24, 1986, in Houston, Texas, Ballas is the son of professional ballroom dancers Corky and Shirley Ballas. His paternal grandfather was George Ballas, inventor of the Weed Eater. Ballas attended Rosemead Preparatory School in South London before earning a full scholarship to the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts at age 11, where he was named Performer of the Year in 2005. Early in his competitive dance career, he won titles at The British Open to the World, The US Open to the World, and The International Open to the World. Alongside partner Julianne Hough, he also won the Junior Latin American Dance Championship and a gold medal at the Junior Olympics.

Ballas debuted on Dancing with the Stars in season five. He earned his first victory in season six with figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi, followed by a second win in season eight with gymnast Shawn Johnson. Over numerous seasons, Ballas reached the finals with partners including Bristol Palin, Chelsea Kane, Katherine Jenkins, Candace Cameron Bure, Sadie Robertson, Paige VanZant, and Lindsey Stirling. His choreographic work with Kane in season 12 earned him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. He won his third title in season 31 alongside Charli D'Amelio and later competed in season 34 with Whitney Leavitt, finishing sixth.

Beyond dance competitions, Ballas has acted on stage and screen. He starred as Tony in Copacabana, served as lead dancer in a UK tour of Maria de Buenos Aires, understudied in Buddy, The Buddy Holly Story, and appeared as an extra in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. He also played Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys on Broadway, Teen Angel in a Toronto production of Grease, and Charlie Price in Kinky Boots on Broadway, later appearing as Harry in a Hollywood Bowl staging of the musical.

In television and music, Ballas co-starred in the 2015 HGTV home-flipping show Mark and Derek's Excellent Flip with Derek Hough, and joined the cast for season four of The Traitors in 2025. Musically, he forms the pop-rock duo Alexander Jean with his wife, BC Jean. Formed in 2015, the duo released the single Roses and Violets, which reached the top 20 of Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart. Ballas and Jean married in Malibu, California, on November 25, 2016, and welcomed a son on November 5, 2023.