Shirley Ballas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shirley Ballas
Shirley Ballas in 2024
Born	Shirley Annette Rich (1960-09-06) 6 September 1960 (age 64) Wallasey, England
Occupation	Dancer television personality
Spouse(s)	Sammy Stopford ​ ​ (m. 1980; div. 1984)​ Corky Ballas ​ ​ (m. 1985; div. 2007)​
Children	Mark Ballas

Shirley Ballas (born 6 September 1960) is a famous English dancer and television star. She is known for her amazing skills in International Latin dancing. She won many championships, which earned her the nickname "the Queen of Latin". In 2017, Shirley became the head judge on the popular BBC One dancing show Strictly Come Dancing.

Shirley Ballas's Early Life and Dance Journey

Shirley Annette Rich was born on 6 September 1960. She grew up in Wallasey, England, with her brother David and her mother Audrey. Shirley started dancing when she was just 7 years old. Soon after, she began competing in dance contests.

In 2018, Shirley learned more about her family's past on the TV show Who Do You Think You Are?. She found out that some of her ancestors came from Madagascar and Cape Town, South Africa.

How Shirley Became a Champion Dancer

When Shirley was 15, she moved to Shipley, West Yorkshire. She lived with the family of her new dance partner, Nigel Tiffany. Later, she moved to London. There, she met dancer Sammy Stopford. Shirley and Sammy became dance partners and married when she was 18. As a dance pair, they won the Professional Latin title at the Blackpool Dance Festival in 1983.

In 1985, Shirley married American dancer Corky Ballas. They were a very successful dance team. They won the Professional Latin title at the Blackpool Dance Festival in both 1995 and 1996. Shirley and Corky moved to Houston, Texas, in the United States. Their son, Mark Ballas, was born in 1986. Mark also became a professional ballroom dancer. Shirley and Corky later divorced in 2007.

Shirley stopped competing in dance in 1996. After that, she became a coach and a judge for ballroom and Latin American dance competitions.

In December 2023, Shirley was a guest on the BBC Radio 4 show Desert Island Discs. She shared some of her favourite songs, including "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana and "Moon River" by Frank Sinatra.

Shirley's Television Career

Shirley Ballas has appeared on several TV shows.

Strictly Come Dancing

On 9 May 2017, it was announced that Shirley would join the judging panel of Strictly Come Dancing. This is a very popular dance competition on BBC One. She took over as head judge from Len Goodman. Her first time on the show was on 9 September 2017, for the launch of series 15.

The Masked Singer UK

In January 2024, Shirley took part in the TV show The Masked Singer UK. She performed as the character "Rat". She was unmasked in the third episode of the show's fifth series.

Shirley's Work for Good Causes

Shirley's brother, David, passed away in 2003. This was a very sad time for Shirley. Because of this, she now works with a mental health charity called the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM). This charity helps people who are struggling with their mental health.

In August 2023, Shirley did a zip-wire challenge at Zip World in Gwynedd. She also planned to do a 700-foot wing walk and a 15,000-foot skydive. She does these brave challenges to raise money for the CALM charity.

Shirley's Personal Life

In November 2024, it was reported that Shirley and her fiancé, Danny Taylor, had decided to go their separate ways. They had been together for six years. Shirley said that she had changed her mind about getting married again.

Shirley's TV Shows and Books

Shirley Ballas has been in many TV shows and has also written books.

Filmography

Shirley has appeared in these TV shows:

Books Written by Shirley

• Behind the Sequins: My Life (BBC Books, October 2020) ISBN: 9781785945113
• Murder on the Dance Floor (HQ Books, October 2023) ISBN: 9780008558000

Images for kids

• 

  Shirley Ballas in 2024

See also

In Spanish: Shirley Ballas para niños