Shirley Ballas, the British-born Ballroom and Latin dancer and international coach, has been confirmed as the new judge on Strictly Come Dancing. Originally from Wallasey, Shirley is a former ‘British Open to the World’ Champion, European, German, United Kingdom, United States and International Latin American Champion. Shirley is now a coach to many of the top professional and amateur dancers as well as a highly renowned sought-after adjudicator for Ballroom and Latin American competitions.
Shirley will take over from Len Goodman as Head Judge on Strictly Come Dancing this Autumn, and will take over the responsibility of having the casting vote in the Strictly dance-off. Len announced last year that he was stepping down at the end of the 14th series and news if his replacement has been highly anticipated and subject to much speculation. Shirley’s wealth of experience looks set to put her in good stead to take over Len’s role, as a World Champion dancer, teacher and judge. There is no doubt that Len’s are big shoes to fill, but the ‘Queen of Latin’ is the ideal new Strictly Come Dancing judge. As a British ballroom and Latin expert she will fit right in.
Shirley is one of the top professional dancers in the world. She is three-time ‘British Open to the World’ Latin American Champion, 10-time United States Latin American Champion, and multiple-times British National Champion. By the age of 21, Shirley had won nearly every major title she competed in worldwide. She is the only person to have ever won the British Open to the World Latin American Championships in Blackpool with two different partners, and has reached the finals 17 times. Shirley still remains the youngest ever female to reach the ‘British Open to the World’ Dance Championship finals.