Shirley Ballas

Overview

Shirley Ballas, born Shirley Annette Rich, began her dancing career at the age of two years as a ballerina. As she danced her first nine years in her tutu, her mother was quick to recognize her talent and sent her to St. Chad's Church where she learned basic techniques in International Style Latin and Modern Ballroom Dancing. From there, Shirley's determination never wavered. She chose her dearest love, International Style Latin Ballroom Dancing. By the age of 21, Shirley held every title available to her including the British Open, the "Star - World Cup", the European, the The International Championship, La Classique du Québec and the U.S. Open along with many more. She was considered the number one Latin dancer in the World!

Shirley's story begins with her devoted mother, Audrey, who, as a single parent, raised Shirley and her brother to be successful, upstanding citizens who learned that hard work and perseverance build character-the formula for a happy and successful life and career. Audrey, to this day, makes sacrifices for her daughter and now her grandson whom she helped raise for the decade that Corky and Shirley were on the road competing around the globe. Shirley says, "I have the best mother in the whole wide world who raised two children all on her own and put me through everything. Without her I couldn't have done it. I will always be eternally grateful to my mother." Shirley was very young, perhaps only two or three, when her mother started her in ballet and tap classes. She vividly recalls the first time she peeked in the church hall at ladies and gentlemen taking a ballroom class and knew then that ballroom dancing would be her ticket up and out of a very tough, poor childhood in Liverpool, England, her birthplace. A few weeks later she enrolled in a children's class. From age eight to 12, she went to class on Saturdays and competed with another little girl as her partner. Thirsty for greater competition, her mother took her to a studio in Liverpool; and, at 14, she moved to South Yorkshire, where she had the privilege of dancing with the British Junior Ballroom Champion Nigel Tiffany for two years. By 16, she had moved to London and the following year turned professional. Corky interrupts his humble partner to note that Shirley remains the youngest female ever, still to this day, to make the British finals. At the tender age of 23, Shirley reached a major milestone and won the British Open Championship for the first time in her career.

Shirley was first married to, and competed with Sammy Stopford whom she met when she way just 17 years old. They came 2nd in the 1982, 1983 & 1985 Professional World Latin Dance Championships. The pair won the 1983 International Latin American Dance Championship and were the UK Open Professional International Latin Champions.

Chance brought together Corky Ballas and Shirley Stopford during an International Style Latin Competition in Montreal, Canada. The pair moved to Houston, Texas to compete in the USA. In the same period, their only child, Mark was born in 1986, today known as one of the famous professionals on the hit TV Show "Dancing with the Stars".

Corky and Shirley became Mr. and Mrs. Corky Ballas and two years later became the United States International Style Latin Champions and went on to successfully defended their title 7 times.

Together, they moved to London when Mark was a young man, and it is here that Corky and Shirley took under their wing the future champions of "Dancing with the Stars" Derek and Julianne Hough, teaching them how to become young dancers. (Sometimes Derek called Shirley "mother" as a second mother.

Corky and Shirley were 1996 Open to the World International Champions, 1995–1996 Open to the World British Champions, 3-time British National Champions, "Star - World Cup" Champions, UK Open Champions, and 7-time undefeated United States International Latin Champions.

Corky and Shirley Ballas retired from competitive Ballroom Dancing in 1996.

Shirley Ballas was a finalist of the British Open among Professionals in the Latin American program 17 times! Shirley Ballas is the only dancer that has ever won this championship with two different partners (Sammy Stopford and Corky Ballas).

Together, Corky and Shirley Ballas have created over 30 dance videos, all focusing on different areas. ABC's of Latin Part 1 shows over 200 steps of the technique syllabus. ABC's of Latin Part 2 shows 45 basic routines all put together using the 200 steps in ABC's of Latin Part 1. ABC's of Latin Part 3, Doctor Latin, and Latin Rhythm and Shape are just a few more out of the couple's collection.

During the show "Dancing with the Stars", Shirley, among other professionals with a worldwide reputation, trained participants of the show.Chelsea Hightower, a new dancer on the show, in an interview with Dance Spirit told about the impression made about the "notorious Ballroom Dance coach Shirley Ballas"

Accomplishments

• 1982 ICBD (WDC) European Professional Latin Champion
• 3-time British Open Professional Latin Champion (1983, 1995, 1996)
• 1983 World Cup Latin American Dancing Professional Champion
• 1984 UK Open Professional International Latin Champion
• 1996 Open to the World International Professional International Latin Champion
• 3-time British National Professional Latin Champion
• 7-time undefeated United States Latin Champion
• International Championships Professional Latin Champion
• "Star - World Cup" Professional Latin Champion
• La Classique du Québec Professional Latin Champion
• Trainer Of World Latin Formation Champions
• Trainer Of Amateur Ice Skating Champions
• 4-time winner Of The Most Popular Dance Couple with Corky Ballas
• 17-time finalist of the British Open among Professionals in the Latin American program
• The only dancer that has ever won Professional Latin program of the British Open with two different partners (Sammy Stopford and Corky Ballas)

Dance Partners

• Corky Ballas (1985 - 1996)
• Sammy Stopford (1979 - 1985)

Entrepreneurship

• Instructor
• Adjudicator
• Choreographer
• Producer of dance music CD's "Passion", "Passion Too" and "Passion Jam"
• "Turns & Spins In Style", Instructional Dance Technique CD by Shirley Ballas (Dance Vision) along with over 30 other instructional videos created with her husband, Corky Ballas