Shirley Ballas net worth: Shirley Ballas formerly Stopford is an English ballroom dancer, dance teacher, and dance adjudicator.
She specialises in the International Latin division, where she won several champi onship titles which earned her the nickname The Queen of Latin.
In 2017, Ballas was appointed a head judge on the BBC TV show, Strictly Come Dancing following the departure of Len Goodman.
Name | Shirley Ballas |
Net Worth | $1.5 million |
Profession | Dancer, Teacher, Dance Adjudicator |
Height | 1.59m |
Age | 61 years |
Shirley Ballas facts
Shirley Annette Ballas Rich formerly Stopford was born on September 6, 1960 (age 61 years) in Wallasey, United Kingdom.
She is the daughter of Audrey Rich and Goerge Rich and has one sibling David Rich.
Ballas was born and raised in Wallasey, Cheshire, England, with brother David and mother Audrey. The children’s father left the family when Shirley was 2 years old. She began dancing at age 7 and began performing competitively the following years.
At 15, Shirley Ballas moved to North Yorkshire to partner British Ballroom Champion Nigel Tiffany, which she described as “a difficult time”. Two years later, she moved with Tiffany to London, where their partnership ended after dance teacher Nina Hunt convinced her to audition to partner with dancer Sammy Stopford.
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Shirley Ballas and her ex-husband Sammy Stopford married when Ballas was 18, with the relationship ending five years later. As dance partners, their best result was winning Professional Latin at Blackpool Dance Festival in 1983.
In 1985, she married her second husband Corky Ballas. Together their best results were winning Professional Latin at Blackpool Dance Festival in 1995 and 1996 The pair moved to Houston, Texas to compete in the US. Their only child, professional ballroom dancer Mark Ballas, was born in 1986. The couple later divorced in 2007.
Ballas stopped competing in dance competitions in 1996, becoming a dance coach and judge for ballroom and Latin American competitions.
Shirley Ballas has appeared on Dancing with the Stars, giving master classes and commentating on the show.
On 9 May 2017, it was announced that Ballas would be joining the judging panel of Strictly Come Dancing on BBC One, replacing Len Goodman as head judge. She made her first appearance on the panel four months later – at the launch show of series 15 on 9 September that year.
In December 2021, Shirley and her new partner actor Danny Taylor, are said to have been ring shopping earlier this year. The engagement ring has reportedly been bought and the actor is waiting for the time to get down on one knee.
Shirley Ballas net worth
How much is Shirley Ballas worth? Shirley Ballas net worth is estimated at around $1.5 million. Her main source of income is from her career as a dancer, teacher and dance adjudicator.
Ballas successful career has earned her some luxurious lifestyles and some fancy cars trips. She is one of the richest and influential dancers in the United Kingdom.