- International Dance Council Member
- With Fred Astaire Dance Studios for over 20 years
BIO
Mark “Corky” Ballas began dancing at age six, and has been part of the Fred Astaire Dance Studios’ family for his entire life (his father, George Ballas, was associated with FADS since the 1960’s). Corky has danced Pro/Am American Style and Flamenco, and is the only American to have won a U.S. Pro/Am Championship as a juvenile, pre-teen and amateur; and to then go on to win a U.S. Open Professional Latin title… thus completing a full competitive circle from Pro/Am champion to Professional Champion. He’s danced professionally on Dancing with the Stars, has appeared in a Super Bowl Diet Pepsi commercial, is an author of several dance books, has collaborated on numerous instructional videos, as well as ISTD and IOC dance & figure skating syllabi. Corky is also currently working with FADS Corporate to implement streaming & digital media into our studios.