Who is Shirley Ballas? The Queen of Latin on Strictly Come Dancing

Introduction to Shirley Ballas

Shirley Ballas, born Shirley Annette Rich in Wallasey on September 6, 1960, is a renowned ballroom dancer and teacher. She developed a passion for dancing at a young age and began competing at just 7 years old. Shirley rose to fame as The Queen of Latin before becoming the head judge on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing.

Shirley Ballas' Career and Personal Life

Shirley Ballas is best known for her role as the head judge on Strictly Come Dancing. She was previously married to Corky Ballas and has a son with him. After their split, Shirley found love again with theatre star Daniel Taylor, whom she has been dating since 2019. Interestingly, Shirley has been married twice, with her first marriage to fellow dancer Sammy Stopford.

Rise to Fame and Dancing Career

Shirley's dancing career took off when she partnered with Sammy Stopford and later Corky Ballas. Together with Corky, she achieved numerous titles in professional Latin dance competitions. Shirley's success led her to become a judge on the American version of Dancing With The Stars before joining Strictly Come Dancing as head judge in 2017.