Mark Ballas will perform at the Iowa State Fair

By Sophia Ahmad - Des Moines Register:

Mark Ballas announced on Twitter that he will return to Iowa to perform an acoustic set at the Iowa State Fair.

He will appear with Shawn Johnson 7:30-8:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 13 during the opening ceremonies at The Grandstand.

He says he is “so excited” and promises to sing “Every Step of the Way,” which is a song he wrote in March and performed during the “Shawn Johnson and Friends” event July 26 at Wells Fargo Arena (see video below). Of that performance, Ballas said it was the best experience he had performing music for a live audience.

State Fair marketing director Lori Chappell says that he wrote that song for Johnson. Ballas will also perform another time/place at the State Fair Aug. 13, but as of now, the details are TBA.

Mark Ballas is a professional dancer and also fronts the Ballas Hough Band with fellow dancer Derek Hough. Ballas and Shawn Johnson were the season eight winners of “Dancing with the Stars.”