Shirley Ballas Biography Shirley Annette Ballas born 6 September 1960 is an English dancer and television personality, known for her expertise in the International Latin dance division. She has won numerous championship titles, earning her the nickname “the Queen of Latin.” In 2017, Ballas was appointed as the head judge on the popular BBC One dancing competition, Strictly Come Dancing.
Shirley Ballas Biography
Shirley Annette Rich, known as Shirley Ballas, was born on September 6, 1960, in Wallasey, Cheshire, England. She grew up with her brother, David, and her mother, Audrey. Shirley’s father left the family when she was just two years old. She began dancing at the age of seven and started competing in various dance competitions as she got older. At 15, Shirley moved to Shipley, West Yorkshire, to live with her dance partner, Nigel Tiffany, but their partnership ended after two years. She later moved to London and married Sammy Stopford at 18, marking the beginning of her competitive dance career.
Shirley Ballas Biography Details
| Born | Shirley Annette Rich 6 September 1960 (age 64) Wallasey, England |
| Occupations | · Dancer · television personality |
| Spouses | Sammy Stopford (m. 1980; div. 1984) Corky Ballas (m. 1985; div. 2007) |
| Children | Mark Ballas |
| Category | Singers Bio |
About Shirley Ballas
Shirley Annette Ballas is an English dancer and television personality. She specialises in the International Latin division, where she won several championship titles which earned her the nickname “the Queen of Latin”.
- Born: 6 September 1960 (age 64 years), Wallasey, United Kingdom
- Spouse: Corky Ballas (m. 1985–2007), Sammy Stopford (m. 1980–1984)
- Children: Mark Ballas
- Height: 59 m
- Parents: Audrey Rich, George Rich
- Siblings: David Rich
Early Life and Dance Career
Shirley Annette Rich was born on 6 September 1960 and grew up in Wallasey, Cheshire (now part of Merseyside), England, with her brother David and mother Audrey. Her father left the family when Shirley was just two years old. She started dancing at the age of seven and quickly entered the world of competitive dance. In 2018, during an appearance on Who Do You Think You Are?, she discovered that her ancestry included a Muslim woman from Madagascar who had been enslaved, while her paternal great-grandfather hailed from Cape Town, South Africa.
At 15, Shirley moved to Shipley, West Yorkshire, to live with the family of her new dance partner, British Ballroom Champion Nigel Tiffany, a transition she described as challenging. Two years later, she moved to London with Tiffany, but their dance partnership eventually ended when dance teacher Nina Hunt encouraged her to audition with dancer Sammy Stopford.
Shirley Ballas Partner and Relationship
Shirley Ballas is currently divorced. Her ex-partner was Corky Ballas, whom she divorced in 1985. Together, they achieved great success, winning the Professional Latin title at the Blackpool Dance Festival in 1995 and 1996. The couple moved to Houston, Texas, to compete in the United States, and they have one son, Mark Ballas, born in 1986. However, the couple parted ways and divorced in 2007.
Before Corky, Shirley was married to Sammy Stopford, with whom she also had a notable dance partnership. They were married when Shirley was 18, but their relationship ended after five years. Their best achievement as dance partners was winning the Professional Latin at the Blackpool Dance Festival in 1983.
Personal Life
In November, it was reported that Shirley Ballas had ended her relationship with fiancé Danny Taylor after being together for six years. Ballas shared that she had “changed her mind” about marriage, following her experiences with two previous divorces.
Ethnicity and Family Background
Shirley Ballas’s father, George Rich, and her mother, Audrey Rich, played significant roles in her life. She also has a sibling named David Rich.
Shirley Ballas Net Worth 2025
Shirley Ballas has a net worth of $5 million, primarily from her successful career as a dancer and judge.