1. Anton du Beke – Professional Ballroom Dancer and Television Personality
Anton du Beke – Professional Ballroom Dancer and Television Personality
Anton du Beke is one of the most recognised and beloved figures in the British ballroom dance industry. He is a professional ballroom dancer, choreographer, and television personality.
Du Beke first came to prominence in the British ballroom scene in 1998, when he won the British Open to the World Latin American Championship with his partner Erin Boag. Since then, he has gone on to become one of the most successful and respected professional ballroom dancers in the UK.
Du Beke has also been a regular on British television, appearing on numerous shows such as Strictly Come Dancing, The All Star Music Show, and Let’s Dance for Comic Relief. He also serves as a judge on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, and has been a part of the show since its inception in 2004.
Du Beke has also been a guest judge on the popular show Dancing with the Stars in the United States, and has been a mentor on the BBC’s So You Think You Can Dance.
Du Beke is also a respected choreographer, having choreographed for many of the shows he has appeared on, as well as for other productions such as the BBC’s The Great British Dance Off.
Awards and Honours
Du Beke has won numerous awards throughout his career, including the British Open to the World Latin American Championship (1998), the International Latin American Championship (2001), and the International Latin American Championship (2002). He has also been nominated for a BAFTA for his work on Strictly Come Dancing.
In 2010, he was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for his services to dance.
Du Beke is also the only professional ballroom dancer to be inducted into the Ballroom Dancers’ Hall of Fame.
2. Dame Darcey Bussell – Former Principal Dancer of the Royal Ballet
Dame Darcey Bussell – Former Principal Dancer of the Royal Ballet
Dame Darcey Bussell is a British dancer, model, and television presenter who has had a major impact on the British ballroom dance industry. Born in London in 1969, she began her professional career at the age of 13 as a soloist with the Royal Ballet. She quickly rose to fame and became a Principal Dancer with the Royal Ballet in 1989.
Throughout her career, Bussell has been a major advocate for the art of ballroom dancing. She has appeared in numerous television shows, including Strictly Come Dancing, where she served as a judge from 2009 to 2019. She has also been a judge on the BBC’s So You Think You Can Dance and has made numerous appearances in the theatre, films, and music videos.
Bussell is also a passionate advocate for the promotion of ballroom dance in the UK. She has founded the Darcey Bussell Foundation, which works to promote ballroom dance to young people and to encourage them to take part. The foundation also works to provide scholarships and bursaries to those who wish to pursue a career in ballroom dancing.
Bussell’s Legacy
Bussell’s influence on the British ballroom dance industry is undeniable. She has been a major advocate for the art and has worked to promote it to young people across the country. Her foundation continues to provide support to those who wish to pursue a career in ballroom dancing.
Bussell’s legacy is one of passion and dedication to the art of ballroom dance. She has been an inspiration to many aspiring dancers and has helped to ensure that ballroom dancing remains a popular pastime in the UK.
3. Len Goodman – Professional Ballroom Dancer and Television Judge
Len Goodman – Professional Ballroom Dancer and Television Judge
Len Goodman is an English ballroom dancer, coach, choreographer, and television judge. He has been a professional ballroom dancer since 1969. He is best known for his appearances as a judge on the BBC television series Strictly Come Dancing, for which he was awarded an OBE in 2004.
Early Life and Career
Goodman was born in April 1944 in Bethnal Green, London. He began dancing at the age of 11 and went on to become a professional ballroom dancer in 1969. He won numerous titles throughout his dancing career, including the All England Open to the World Professional Latin Championship in 1979.
Television Career
In 2004, Goodman became a judge on the BBC television series Strictly Come Dancing. He has since appeared in all 17 series of the show, and has also been a judge on the American version of the show, Dancing with the Stars, since 2005. He has also been a judge on the Australian version of the show, since 2013.
Awards
Goodman has been awarded an OBE for his services to ballroom dancing and television. He has also been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the British National Dance Championships.
4. Shirley Ballas – Professional Ballroom Dancer and Television Judge
Shirley Ballas
Professional Ballroom Dancer and Television Judge
Shirley Ballas is a professional ballroom dancer and television judge who has had a huge influence on the British ballroom dance industry. She began her career in ballroom dancing at the age of 8, and has since gone on to become one of the most successful and respected dancers in the world. She has won numerous awards and titles, including the World Latin American Showdance Championship and the British National Professional Latin Championship.
In addition to her career as a dancer, Ballas has also become a major figure in the world of television. She is best known for her role as head judge on the BBC’s hit show Strictly Come Dancing, where she has been a judge since 2017. She is also a judge on the US version of the show, Dancing with the Stars.
Ballas has also been a major influence on the British ballroom dance industry. She has been a vocal advocate for the importance of ballroom dancing, and has worked to promote the art form in the UK. She has also been a major supporter of the British Ballroom Dance Council, which is a non-profit organisation that works to support and promote the British ballroom dance industry.
In addition to her work in ballroom dance, Ballas is also a published author. Her book, “The Art of Ballroom Dancing”, was released in 2018 and is a comprehensive guide to the art form.
Ballas is a major figure in the British ballroom dance industry, and her influence is felt throughout the world. She is an inspiration to dancers of all ages, and her work has helped to ensure that the art form remains a popular and respected activity in the UK.
5. Wayne Sleep – Professional Ballroom Dancer and Choreographer
5. Wayne Sleep – Professional Ballroom Dancer and Choreographer
Wayne Sleep is a legendary figure in the British ballroom dance industry. He has been a professional dancer and choreographer for more than 40 years, and has a long list of achievements to his name.
Born in Plymouth in 1948, Sleep began his career in the Royal Ballet School in London. He quickly rose to fame, becoming the first male dancer to be promoted to principal dancer in the company’s history. After leaving the Royal Ballet, Sleep joined the London Festival Ballet (now English National Ballet) and went on to become a principal dancer in the company.
Sleep has also been a judge on the popular television show Strictly Come Dancing, and has choreographed and performed in a number of West End musicals and shows. He has also been a guest lecturer and teacher at various universities and institutions in the UK.
In addition to his dancing career, Sleep has also been involved in a number of charitable causes, and is an ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society.
Achievements
Throughout his career, Sleep has achieved a number of accolades, including:
• An OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2000
• A Lifetime Achievement Award from the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards in 2008
• A Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Dance Awards in 2014
• An honorary degree from Plymouth University in 2017
Legacy
Sleep is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in British ballroom dance. He has been a mentor and inspiration to many dancers, and his influence is still felt in the industry today.
6. Craig Revel Horwood – Professional Ballroom Dancer and Television Judge
Craig Revel Horwood – Professional Ballroom Dancer and Television Judge
Craig Revel Horwood is a professional ballroom dancer and television judge, best known for his role as a judge on the BBC’s long-running show Strictly Come Dancing. Born in Australia, he moved to the UK in the late 1980s to pursue a career in dance.
Early Career
Revel Horwood trained in ballet and jazz dance from a young age, and went on to become a professional dancer in Australia and the UK. He worked with the BBC for a number of years, performing in their shows and teaching dance classes. He then went on to become a judge on Strictly Come Dancing in 2004, and has been a judge ever since.
Influence and Impact
Revel Horwood has had a huge influence on the British ballroom dance industry. His judging on Strictly Come Dancing has made ballroom dancing even more popular, with many people inspired to take up the hobby. He is also a mentor to many of the professional dancers on the show, offering advice and guidance.
Revel Horwood is also a passionate advocate for the LGBT+ community, and is a strong supporter of same-sex couples in ballroom dancing. He has spoken out about the need for greater representation of LGBT+ people in the dance industry, and has been a vocal advocate for the rights of same-sex couples.
Conclusion
Craig Revel Horwood is an influential figure in the British ballroom dance industry. He has had a huge impact on the popularity of ballroom dancing, and is a passionate advocate for the rights of same-sex couples in the industry. He is an inspiration to many, and a mentor to the professional dancers on Strictly Come Dancing.
7. Brendan Cole – Professional Ballroom Dancer and Television Personality
Brendan Cole – Professional Ballroom Dancer and Television Personality
Brendan Cole is one of the most influential figures in the British ballroom dance industry. The New Zealand-born dancer is best known for his appearances on the BBC show Strictly Come Dancing, where he was a professional dancer from 2004 to 2018.
Early Career
Cole began his career as a professional ballroom dancer in the early 1990s. He competed in several international competitions, winning the British Open Professional Latin Championship in 1999 and 2000 and the World Professional Latin Championship in 2000.
Strictly Come Dancing
Cole joined the cast of Strictly Come Dancing in 2004, making him one of the show’s longest-serving professional dancers. Over the course of his 14-year tenure, he partnered with a variety of celebrities, including former Spice Girl Emma Bunton, former EastEnders actor Jill Halfpenny and television presenter Zoe Ball. His most successful partnership was with singer Alesha Dixon, with whom he won the show’s sixth series in 2007.
Other Television Appearances
In addition to his appearances on Strictly Come Dancing, Cole has also appeared on a variety of other television shows. He was a judge on the BBC show DanceX in 2007, and he has also been a regular guest on ITV’s This Morning. In 2017, he was a contestant on the celebrity diving show Splash!
Other Ventures
In addition to his television work, Cole has also been involved in a variety of other ventures. He has released two fitness DVDs, and he has also written a book about his life and career. He has also toured extensively, performing in shows across the UK and Europe.
Legacy
Cole’s influence on the British ballroom dance industry is undeniable. His appearances on Strictly Come Dancing have helped to popularise the show, and he has also been an important ambassador for the industry, inspiring many aspiring dancers to pursue a career in ballroom dancing.
8. Arlene Phillips – Professional Ballroom Dancer and Choreographer
8. Arlene Phillips – Professional Ballroom Dancer and Choreographer
Arlene Phillips is a legendary figure in the British ballroom dance industry, having been an influential dancer, choreographer, and judge for over five decades.
Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Phillips began her career as a professional ballroom dancer in the late 1960s. She quickly rose to prominence, winning multiple titles in the British Open, World Professional Latin, and British National Latin Championships. She also represented the UK in the World Championships and European Championships.
Phillips has choreographed for a number of theatre and television shows, including the West End production of ‘Cats’, the BBC’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, and ‘Dancing on Ice’. She was also a judge on the BBC’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ for several years.
Phillips is a passionate advocate for the art of ballroom dance, and has been instrumental in raising its profile in the UK. She has been awarded the British Empire Medal, the Variety Club of Great Britain Award, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Dance Teachers Association.
Notable Achievements
• British Open Latin Championship – Winner (1970)
• World Professional Latin Championship – Winner (1971)
• British National Latin Championship – Winner (1971)
• Represented the UK in the World Championships and European Championships
• British Empire Medal (2011)
• Variety Club of Great Britain Award (2011)
• Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Dance Teachers Association (2012)
9. Karen Hardy – Professional Ballroom Dancer and Choreographer
Karen Hardy – Professional Ballroom Dancer and Choreographer
Karen Hardy is a professional ballroom dancer and choreographer who has made a huge contribution to the British ballroom dance industry.
Karen was born in London in 1975 and began dancing at the age of nine. She quickly rose through the ranks of the British ballroom dancing scene and became a British National Champion in both Latin and Ballroom dancing.
Karen went on to compete in many international competitions, winning the World Professional Latin Championship in 1996 and the World Professional Ballroom Championship in 1997. She also represented the UK in the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing for six series, winning the show in 2006.
Karen is now a highly sought-after choreographer and coach, having choreographed and coached many of the UK’s top professional dancers. She has also been a judge on the hit BBC show, Strictly Come Dancing, since 2009.
Karen is widely respected for her knowledge and expertise in the field of ballroom dancing and has been recognised with numerous awards, including the British Empire Medal in 2011 for her services to dance.
Notable Achievements
• British National Champion in both Latin and Ballroom dancing
• Winner of the World Professional Latin Championship in 1996
• Winner of the World Professional Ballroom Championship in 1997
• Winner of Strictly Come Dancing in 2006
• Choreographer and coach to many of the UK’s top professional dancers
• Judge on Strictly Come Dancing since 2009
• Awarded the British Empire Medal in 2011 for her services to dance
10. Ian Waite – Professional Ballroom Dancer and Television Personality
Ian Waite – Professional Ballroom Dancer and Television Personality
Ian Waite is a world-renowned professional ballroom dancer and television personality. He has been a part of the British ballroom dance industry for over two decades, and has had a major influence on the way the industry is perceived.
Waite first rose to fame in the UK when he competed in the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2004. Since then, he has become a household name in Britain, with his presence in the media increasing significantly. He has appeared on numerous television shows, including Dancing with the Stars, and has become a regular judge on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.
Waite has also had a significant impact on the British ballroom dance industry, both as a dancer and a teacher. He is a qualified teacher of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, and has taught many of the top professional ballroom dancers in the UK. He has also been a judge at many of the major UK ballroom competitions, including the British Open, and is a regular guest teacher at the UK’s leading ballroom dance schools.
Waite has become an excellent ambassador for the British ballroom dance industry, and is a great example of how a successful career in ballroom dancing can be achieved. He is an inspiration to many aspiring dancers, and his influence has been invaluable in helping to promote the industry.
Achievements
Throughout his career, Waite has achieved numerous awards and accolades. He has won the British National Professional Ballroom Championship three times, and was the first British dancer to win the World Professional Latin Championship. He has also been crowned the Latin American Champion of Champions, and has won numerous awards for his teaching and judging.
Waite’s influence on the British ballroom dance industry has been immense, and he is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the industry. He is a true inspiration to aspiring dancers, and his influence will continue to be felt for many years to come.
