Shirley Ballas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shirley Ballas
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Ballas at Waterstones, London in 2024
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| Born |
Shirley Annette Rich
6 September 1960 Wallasey, England
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| Occupation |
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| Spouse(s) |
Sammy Stopford
(m. 1980; div. 1984)Corky Ballas
(m. 1985; div. 2007) |
| Children | Mark Ballas |
Shirley Ballas is a famous English dancer and television star. She was born Shirley Annette Rich on September 6, 1960. Shirley is known for her amazing skills in International Latin dance. She won many championships, which earned her the nickname "the Queen of Latin." Since 2017, she has been the head judge on the popular BBC One dancing show Strictly Come Dancing.
Contents
Shirley Ballas: Her Life and Dance Journey
Shirley Annette Rich was born in Wallasey, England, on September 6, 1960. She grew up with her brother David and her mother Audrey. Shirley started dancing when she was just 7 years old. She began competing in dance shows soon after.
In 2018, Shirley appeared on a TV show called Who Do You Think You Are?. She learned that her family history included a woman from Madagascar who was enslaved. Her great-grandfather on her father's side was from Cape Town, South Africa.
Becoming a Dance Champion
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 with Tiffany. Their dance partnership ended when a teacher suggested she try dancing with Sammy Stopford.
Shirley and Sammy got married when she was 18. They were dance partners and won the Professional Latin title at the Blackpool Dance Festival in 1983. Their marriage ended five years later.
In 1985, Shirley married another American ballroom dancer, Corky Ballas. As dance partners, they won the Professional Latin title at the Blackpool Dance Festival in both 1995 and 1996. They moved to Houston, Texas, to compete in the United States. Their son, Mark Ballas, who is also a professional ballroom dancer, was born in 1986. Shirley and Corky divorced in 2007.
Shirley stopped competing in dance competitions in 1996. After that, she became a dance coach and a judge for ballroom and Latin American dance events.
In December 2023, Shirley was a guest on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs. She chose songs like "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana and "Moon River" by Frank Sinatra.
Life on TV
Shirley Ballas has become a well-known face on television.
Dancing with the Stars
Shirley has appeared on Dancing with the Stars in the U.S. She gave special dance classes and shared her thoughts as a commentator on the show.
Strictly Come Dancing
On May 9, 2017, it was announced that Shirley would join the judging panel of Strictly Come Dancing on BBC One. She took over as head judge from Len Goodman. Her first appearance on the show was on September 9, 2017, for the launch of series 15.
The Masked Singer UK
In January 2024, Shirley Ballas took part in the fifth series of The Masked Singer UK. She performed as the character "Rat." She was unmasked in the third episode of the show.
Helping Others
Shirley Ballas is a strong supporter of mental health awareness. Her brother, David, passed away in 2003 when he was 44 years old. Shirley was very sad about this. Now, she works with the mental health charity called the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM).
In August 2023, Shirley completed 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. These challenges were to help raise money for the charity.
Personal Life
In November 2024, news reports said that Shirley Ballas had ended her relationship with her fiancé, Danny Taylor. They had been together for six years. Shirley said she had "changed her mind" about getting married again after being divorced twice before.
In February 2025, a man pleaded guilty to causing Shirley Ballas serious distress. This happened at Liverpool Crown Court. The man's actions had a big impact on Shirley's daily life.
Filmography
Shirley Ballas has appeared in many TV shows:
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–present | Strictly Come Dancing | Head judge | Series 15–present |
| 2018 | Loose Women | Guest panelist | |
| 2018 | Who Do You Think You Are? | Participant | |
| 2019 | Our School Summer | Narrator | |
| 2020 | The Great British Sewing Bee | Participant | |
| 2020 | The Wheel | Celebrity expert | |
| 2021 | Taskmaster | Participant | Winner |
| 2021 | Saturday Kitchen | Participant | |
| 2024 | The Masked Singer UK | Participant | Unmasked as Rat. |
| 2024 | Doctor Who | Dancer | 1 episode ("The Devil's Chord") |
| 2025 | Celebrity Bear Hunt | Herself (contestant) | Series 1 |
Books
Shirley Ballas has also written books:
- Behind the Sequins: My Life (BBC Books, October 2020) ISBN: 9781785945113
- Murder on the Dance Floor (HQ Books, October 2023) ISBN: 9780008558000
See also
In Spanish: Shirley Ballas para niños
