Shirley Ballas is a popular face on British television, with millions of fans tuning in every Saturday to watch the head judge on Strictly Come Dancing. Nicknamed the Queen of Latin, her honest judging of the Strictly contestants and expert discussion of dancing reflects her extensive experience. As an event host and celebrity figure, Shirley is frequently booked to appear at events up and down the country, captivating audiences with her sparkling personality.
Capable of participating in Q&A's, featuring at charity fundraisers or handing out trophies at an awards evening, Shirley is a booking opportunity not to be missed. Born in Wallasey, Shirley's love of dancing started at the age of 7, when she had her first dance class. She went on to perform competitively, before partnering with the British Ballroom Champion Nigel Tiffany, aged 15. Aged 17, Shirley then moved to London, to partner with Sammy Stopford, who has since won the Professional International Latin American Dance Championship.
Whilst partnered, the pair won the 1983 Blackpool Dance Festival, specialising in Professional Latin. By the 1980s, Shirley was dancing with a new partner - Corky Ballas. The highly successful pair won the Professional Latin title at the 1995 Blackpool Dance Festival and the 1996 Blackpool Dance Festival. Shirley has appeared on two mainstream dance shows - Dancing with the Stars and Strictly Come Dancing. In the former programme, she commentated on the contestants' performance and gave dance masterclasses in her discipline, Latin.
It was on Strictly Come Dancing from 2017 that Shirley shined, when she replaced Len Goodman as head judge. The knowledgeable commentator uses her decades of dance experience to advise the contestants, offering advice and areas of improvements as well as praising their performance. Shirley is a hit with fans, who admire her commitment to dance. As an event host, Shirley is as charismatic, confident and popular on stage as she is on screen. With her passion for dance and approachable nature, she is the ideal celebrity figure for a wide range or events.
Previous bookings praise her bubbly nature and insightful discussion of dance, as she takes her audience on a journey through her career to Strictly fame.
How to hire Shirley Ballas
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Shirley Ballas for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do not accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
"Firstly, we just wanted to say how brilliant it’s been working with Shirley so far. She’s been an absolute delight to work with, and we’ve really appreciated her flexibility and commitment during this tricky time so thanks very much for that. This week we’re hoping to get the first cut, which is exciting!" - Charlotte, 4DC
