Extraordinary Health Magazine EH Magazine VOl 34 | Page 19

“My parents were such hard workers, so I learned
that no one is going to hand anything to you
and that mindset is something I attribute to my
parents—my mom was an incredible dancer and
teacher and so was my dad,” he said.
During childhood, Ballas moved to London and
graduated with honors from the Italia Conti
Performing Arts School where he was required to
dance, sing, act and play an instrument. Following
in his father’s guitar strings, Ballas began playing
the guitar at the age of nine, training in classic
Flamenco. Before he was a teenager, he was writing
and performing his own music on the guitar, drums
and bass. Today, the Martin Guitar Ambassador is also
endorsed by Kremona Flamenco Guitars.
“I was playing guitar, went to theater school and
started dancing on weekends because I thought
it was a good way to meet girls,” said Ballas, who
is a big advocate for doing more than one thing
and subscribes to the philosophy that to master
anything, get your ten thousand hours. “We are at
an age where we have to do it all, like back in the
days of Elvis and Sinatra—now with social media
and everyone having access to the old stuff, people
want to invest in talent, so you’ve got to sing, dance
and play an instrument.”
In his acting, Ballas has portrayed roles in
Copacabana, the UK national tour of Maria de
Buenos Aires, Buddy, The Buddy Holly Musical,
Jersey Boys on Broadway and on television, he
guest starred on Melissa and Joey and Samantha
Who? And, his fans can’t wait to see more.
Music is at the center of Ballas’ life. He is half of
the duo Alexander Jean with his wife BC Jean,
songwriter of “If I Were A Boy” for Beyonce. The
couple met years ago at a Los Angeles singer-
songwriter showcase and released their debut EP
titled Head High which debuted at #1 on iTunes’
singer/songwriter chart, along with their debut
single “Roses and Violets”.
“Playing Frankie Valli (Jersey Boys) eight shows
a week and all aspects of entertaining requires
grueling, extreme discipline which includes
working out and fitness,” said Ballas. “You have
to treat your body, mind and soul with respect.”
The Ballas newlyweds honeymooned in Thailand
where they discovered how much better they felt
without eating processed food. He reports that their
skin felt good, they weren’t ingesting so much sugar
and got excited about eating well and nurturing
their bodies.
Vol 34 • Extraordinary Health ™ 17