Mark Alexander "Corky" Ballas, Sr. (born December 25, 1960) is a retired competitive ballroom dancer who holds several Latin dance championship titles. His son, Mark Ballas, is a professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars. His father was George Ballas, who invented the Weed Eater lawn-trimming device.
Ballas was born in Houston, Texas. He is the son of Maria (Marulanda) and George Ballas, the inventor of the Weed Eater lawn-trimming device. He has Mexican, Spanish and Greek ancestry.
He has one son, Mark Ballas, with former wife and partner Shirley Ballas. Corky and Shirley Ballas also raised and trained Julianne Hough and Derek Hough.
Corky now teaches dancing in San Antonio via his dancing studio, and his website. His plans for the future include more television performances as well as an online interactive dance instruction via hundreds of videos.
Corky and Shirley were 1996 Open to the World International Champions, 1995–1996 Open to the World British Champions, twice British National Champions, Star - World Cup - UK - Champions, and seven times undefeated United States International Latin Champions. They retired in 1996.
You write a list of things to do
To occupy the time that you could use
But in my mind it's never final
And when you sleep, I try not to wake you as I leave
Oh, I waited up for you
But you didn't come back home
Oh, I waited up for you
Couldn't you come back home?
If someone gets run down
Karaoke plays somewhere in the background
But there is no explanation
What makes a grown man cry?
Karaoke plays and someone gets run down
We never did want the dawn to break
Beside the crumpled sheets in which we lay
You know I've changed my ways forever
The North Sea crashes through your dreams as I leave
Oh, I waited up for you
But you didn't come back home
Oh, I waited up for you
Couldn't you come back home?
If someone gets run down
Karaoke plays somewhere in the background
But there is no explanation
What makes a grown man cry?
Karaoke plays and someone gets run down
I came home, there were radio waves
I heard voices through the radio waves
I came home, you were nowhere to be found
The lights were on and the radio played
I came home, there were radio waves
A children's choir through the radio waves
Every night we've got so much to say
I wanna hear all the things you did today
If someone gets run down
Karaoke plays somewhere in the background
But there is an explanation
What makes a grown man cry?