Corky Ballas

Corky Ballas, born Mark Alexander Ballas Sr. on December 25, 1960, is an American retired competitive ballroom dancer. He has won several Latin dance championship titles throughout his career. Ballas hails from Houston, Texas and is the son of Mexican-American Maria Marulanda and Greek-American George Ballas, the inventor of the Weed Eater lawn-trimming device. His paternal grandparents, Karolos ('Charles') Ballas and Maria Lymnaos, were Greek immigrants to the United States. Corky has three sisters, Michelle, Maria, and Lillian, and one brother, George. He is the father of professional dancer Mark Ballas and Corky and his former wife Shirley Ballas also raised and trained Julianne Hough and Derek Hough. Currently, Corky teaches dancing in San Antonio through his dance studio and website. He has plans for future television performances and an online interactive dance.