Ballroom Stars
As ballroom dancing gradually becomes more popular, dancesport (Competitive Ballroom Dancing) is an important part of professional dancers' careers. This page lists ballroom stars of the past and present from all four styles of ballroom dancing. The picture shows World Latin Champions, Yulia Zagoruychenko and Riccardo Cocchi, who have retired recently, but are largely famous in the ballroom world.
Background Information: Dance Styles
Ballroom Dance/Dancesport is split primarily into two categories: American and International. The American category, as the name suggests, is usually taught and used for competition in the U.S. However, this category is gaining popularity on a global scale. The International category is also quite self-explanatory; it is the more popular category used globally. Both categories are divided into two subcategories or styles. In American, there are Rhythm and Smooth. In International, there are Latin and Standard. According to the chart below, Rhythm and Latin are counterparts, while Smooth and Standard are counterparts. Despite the fact that many dances appear on both lists, the dance with the same name differ slightly in each counterpart category. The main difference lies in the stylistic quality and the tempo of the music. For example, American Rhythm associates with "Cuban motion," meaning the weight transfer lands on a bent leg (as a result, giving it a smoother look.) International Latin associates with "Latin motion," meaning the weight transfer lands on a straight leg (giving the dance a sharper and quicker look.) On the other hand, International Standard maintains a closed frame, while American Smooth has open, closed and even solo positions.
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers
Fred Astaire (May 10, 1899 in Omaha, Nebraska– June 22, 1987) is most known for revolutionizing the presentation of dancing in film. Ginger Rogers (July 16, 1911 in Independence, Missouri– April 25, 1995) Astaire and Rogers worked on 10 films together. In 1936, Astaire and Rogers became top box-office names. They played roles in The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle as an end to their partnership.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Astaire
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Astaire_and_Ginger_Rogers
https://ballroomdanceplanet.com/famous-ballroom-dancers/
Picture sources: Fredginger, Google, Oregon Live
Alan Fletcher and Hazel Fletcher
Alan Fletcher (March 28, 1947 in London, England) and Hazel Fletcher (October 20, 1948 in Middlesex, England) won the European Professional Latin Champion (1976-1980) and World Professional Latin Champions (1977-1981). Hazel Fletcher initially danced ballet and then transitioned into ballroom
Source:
http://www.ballroomicons.com/downloads/Alan%20and%20Hazel%20Fletcher%20profile.pdf
Picture Source: Ballroom Icons, Shutter Stock
Vernon Castle and Irene Castle
William Vernon Blyth (May 2, 1887 in Norwich, Norfolk, England – February 15, 1918 ) and Irene Foote (April 17, 1893 in New Rochelle, New York – January 25, 1969) refined and popularized the Foxtrot. They had a career in Broadway and performed under the stage name "Castle." In the mid to late 1910s, Irene became a fashion icon and is even credited to introducing the bob cut and shorter, flowing skirts, a mark to the 1920s flapper image. Their life stories were immortalized by the film called The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernon_and_Irene_Castle
Picture source: Wikipedia
Bill Irvine and Bobbie Irvine
Bill Irvine (January 30, 1926 – February 13, 2008) was born in Kilsyth and Bobbie Irvine (27 July 1932 – 30 May 2004) was born in South Africa. Once they were married, they moved to London for their dance careers. 1960- 1968, the couple won 13 world titles in Latin and Ballroom. Their coaches were were Eric Hancox, Len Scrivener, Sonny Binnick and Nina Hunt. They were awarded Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) for their achievements.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_and_Bobbie_Irvine
Pictures source: Gettyimages, Paul Popper.
Peter Eggleton and Breanda Winslade
Peter Eggleton & Brenda Winslade started dancing together in 1960 (January) as Professional for England. They are one of the most popular ballroom dancers of 1960s, Peter Eggleton is a three-time world champion. A truly skilled artist, well known for his quickstep, he has truly made a sound image for himself in the dance industry. Bringing in new styles of ballroom dancing and working hard to improve the current skills, he has rightfully contributed in the progress of Ballroom dancing. Their first competition was in England - Bournemouth on 1962 (January). Their best mark is getting into 1 in the ICBD World Professional Standard (ICBD World Professional Championships 1970 in England - London on Friday, 29 May 1970).
Sources
https://www.thedbdc.com/peter-eggleton--12.html
https://www.ballroomdanceplanet.com/famous-ballroom-dancers/
https://www.artistize.com/Blogs/most-famous-ballroom-dancers-across-the-world
Picture sources
Pinterest; DBDC-a legendary celebration
Walter Laird
 |  |
|---|
In the 1930's, Walter Laird started dancing as a schoolboy with his sister. His first partner is Andé Lyons . By the year 1955, Walter and Andé were already three-time Champions of England in the Professional Division of eight dances: Waltz, Tango, Quickstep, Slow Foxtrot, Rumba, Jive, Samba and Paso Doble. At the end of the 1950's, Walter Laird and Andé Lyons decided to split up. In the early 1960's, Walter began dancing with Lorraine Reynolds (now Rohdin). Together they were three-time Professional Latin World Champions from 1962–1964, three-time European Champions, four-time champions of the British Open, four-time champions of the UK Open Championships, and four-time winners of the International Championships.
Walter will perhaps be best remembered for his contributions to dance off the floor, rather than on it. Competing at a time when Latin-American was yet to be officially formalised, it was Laird’s Technique of Latin Dancing book that provided the blueprint for modern dancing. As well as this, Laird implemented this new technique into his teachings, of which some of his famous students include Peter Maxwell, Espen Salberg, Allan Tornsberg and Donnie Burns. As a dancer, Laird’s technique does not quite compare to modern standards. However, his dancing had a graceful and charming quality which in some regards, is more enjoyable to watch than some of the modern, faster paced Latin dancing of today.
Sources
https://www.wikidancesport.com/wiki/33/walter-laird
Picture sources
Facebook; Encyclopedia of Dance Sport
Pierre Dulaine and Yvonne Marceau
Born in Palestine, Pierre Dulaine had to flee to Jordan as his father was Irish and mother was Palestinian. As a teenager in the UK, he was able to begin dancing during his teen years before relocating to New York. This is when he was able to find a partner in Yvonne Marceau who was born in Chicargo, IL. The pair studied in England with John DelRoy, and won several awards, including a World Championship. In 1984, they co-founded the American Ballroom Theater Company with Otto Cappel. The Company debuted at the Dance Theatre Workshop in October 1984, and toured widely in the late 1980s. From July 1989 to 1990, the pair appeared in Tommy Tune's Broadway show Grand Hotel, finishing with a five-month run in the West End. Pierre invented the Dulaine method of teaching dance. One of his biggest accomplishments was the work he did with disadvantaged kids. He was able to set up a ballroom to help these kids and even created a documentary named Mad Hot Ballroom. His early works with children was fictionalized in the film Take the Lead, starring Antonio Banderas as Pierre Dulaine. Marceau has been on the faculty at The Juilliard School since 1993 and has taught at the School of American Ballet as well as for numerous New York City social groups, including the Union Club and cotillion societies. Marceau also currently teaches at the NYU Tisch New Studio on Broadway.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yvonne_Marceau
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Dulaine
https://www.ballroomdanceplanet.com/famous-ballroom-dancers/
Picture sources
Pinterest; Eric Leech
Janet Gleave and Richard Gleave
Janet Gleave started dancing when she was just a child. Her first partner is Ray Rouse, but they didn’t do well. Janet started dancing with Richard Gleave in 1962 or 1963 and their first Blackpool Dance Festival was in 1963 or 1964. They started as Amateurs and won the Amateur Standard Championships three times. In 1970, the couple turned Professional. The next year in Blackpool, Richard and Janet were in the final and tied for third. It was very fast that the couple would come into such a high ranking at such a fast pace since turning Professional. Richard and Janet won the Standard World Championship eight times, and the British Open eight times.
Ballroom dancing was considered a traditional art form until Richard Gleave came into the equation as an eight-time world champion. The reason for his rise had to do with the balance of technique, grace, and creativity. He was able to do a lot in a short period of time and that often include the use of his strength. Everything he did was silky smooth and that won him a lot of fans over the years. He is the first artist to bring about the “modern” dancing to the art form.
Sources
https://www.wikidancesport.com/wiki/2174/janet-gleave
https://ballroomdanceplanet.com/famous-ballroom-dancers/
https://www.artistize.com/Blogs/most-famous-ballroom-dancers-across-the-world
Picture source
Vndance Info; Pinterest
 |  |
|---|
John Wood and Anne Lewis
John Wood and Anne Lewis started dancing together in 1987 and represented the U.K. in Professional Standard. They've won the Professional World Championship and are currently not competing anymore.
Sources:
https://www.artistize.com/Blogs/most-famous-ballroom-dancers-across-the-world
https://www.ballroomdanceplanet.com/famous-ballroom-dancers/
Picture source: youtube
Sammy Stoford
Born in England - the center of ballroom dance of those times, Sammy Stoford came to the dance class at the age of 16. Showing interest in studies, his movement became better and better, and in 1973 he finally found his first partner Lin Aspaden. For several years of performances, Stopford and Aspaden did not compete so often on the dance floor, but managed to win several times the Great Britain competitions. After achieving very good results among amateurs, the couple becomes the "Professionals".
In June 1979, Sammy Stopford finds a new partner, Shirley Rich (known now as Shirley Ballas). At the time the dancers started working, she was unknown in the competitive world. In April 1980, Sammy and Shirley got married. In 1982 brought them 1 place in Europe and 2 in the world, and 1983 - a victory for "International Championships" and "British Open". Sammy and Shirley took 1st place in the ranking of dancers, but in January 1985, at the World Championships in Oslo (Norway), they became second. The competition was the last for the athletes, both in dance and in their life together.
In the same month he begins to dance with Barbara McCall. He still represented England. In 1989, they took 1st place at the Blackpool Dance Festival. 1991 given them many "gold medals". The main competitive dance floor for the couple was in England. In 1992 and 1994, Sammy repeats his result of winning Blackpool is was the best result in their career. Together they danced for 10 years. As well as with the previous partner, during the time of dancing together they also successfully gave seminars and privet lessons. The final competition for Sammy and Barbara was the "British Open 1995", where the famous dancers became the second.
After finishing his competitive career, Sammy continued to teach with his partner. Among his students there was already a couple of Gaynor Fairweather and Donnie Burns. Despite their almost absent age difference - Stopford brought the couple to the finals in the "amateurs" and literally gave them a start for further career development. Among his students, many successful dancers have accumulated, such as Riccardo Cocchi, Joanne Wilkinson, Stanislav Bekmametov and Natalie Urban.
In 2017, Ballas was appointed head judge on the BBC TV show, Strictly Come Dancing following the departure of Len Goodman.
Sources
http://www.dancebenefits.com/coaches/sammy-stopford/
https://www.wikidancesport.com/wiki/26342/sammy-stopford
Picture sources
Teacher; Encyclopedia of DanceSport
 |  |
|---|
Rita Gekhman and Garry Gekhman
Rita Gekhman was born in Minsk, Belarus. Her father was an engineer and passed away when she was three years old. She was brought up by her mother, a math teacher, and her grandmother. As long as she could remember, Rita has been captivated by the majestic combination of movement and music. At the age of 13, she graduated from music school at 13 and decided to quit gymnastics. That very same year, her mom attended a Ballroom Dance competition in Vilnus, Lithuania and suggested that her daughter give it a try. Rita fell completely in love with Ballroom Dancing from the first lesson. Soon after, she was accepted into a Ballroom company and together with her partner, became one of the leading couples in Belarus. She still continued with her regular education and graduated from college with an M.A. in Mathematics. She became a math teacher. In 1995, Rita turned Professional and starting dancing with a new partner, Garry Gekhman. Together, they represented Israel in numerous World and European Championships. It was at that time when they started traveling to Europe for lessons with Oliver Wessel-Therhorh, Pamela McGill, and Graham Oswick, among others. In 1999, with the help of her two good friends, Igor and Polina Pilipenchuk, they all moved to America and began taking lessons abroad with the some of the best teachers in the world: Michael and Vicky Barr, Marcus and Karen Hilton, and Kenny and Marion Welsh to name a few. Back in the United States, Garry and Rita continued practicing and studying with Katusha Demidova and Jonathon Wilkins. Hard work started to pay off in 2002 when they became the first couple to win the United States National Open and Closed Rising Star Championships in the same year. They started making Rising Star finals in England shortly after that. They made the U.S. National Championship final twice. Among their memorable victories in the Open Standard division were such prestigious competitions such as the Yankee Classic, World Masters, Philadelphia Dance Festival, Constitution State Challenge, North East Invitational, Maryland DanceSport Championship, and Virginia State Championships. The highlight of their career was an invitation to perform the Robot Show dance in Blackpool in the year 2008. This was the couple's last public performance as Rita decided to retire from competitive dancing and to focus on teaching and judging. Just when she thought she would never dance again in front of a large audience as a Professional, Garry and Rita received an invitation from the television show “Dancing with the Stars”, which Rita states was "one of the best experiences of her dance life."
Sources
https://dancesportinfo.net/Couple/Garry_Gekhman_and_Rita_Gekhman_3637/Details
https://www.wikidancesport.com/wiki/5189/rita-gekhman-algarra
Picture sources
Central Jersey Archives; Encyclopedia of DanceSport
 |  |
|---|
Corky Ballas and Shirley Ballas
Mark Alexander Ballas Sr./known as Corky Ballas (born December 25, 1960 in Houston, Texas) and Shirley Annette Ballas (September 6, 1960 Wallasey, England) won Professional Latin at Blackpool Dance Festival in 1995 and 1996. Both have trained Dancing With the Stars professionals such as Derek Hough, Karina Smirnoff, Julianne Hough, Tony Dovolani, Edyta Sliwinska, Alec Mazo, Brian Fortuna, Jonathan Roberts, Anna Trebunskaya, Jessie DeSoto and their son, Mark Ballas. They are now divorced and retired. Shirley Ballas coaches and judges theLatin category of ballroom competitions.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corky_Ballas
Picture sources: Encyctopedia of DanceSport
Riccardo Cocchi and Yulia Zagoruychenko
 |  |
|---|
Yulia Zagoruychenko (born September 11, 1981 in Russia) and Riccardo Cocchi (born December 7, 1977, Terni, Italy) started dancing together in 2007 and won their first World Latin Dance Championship in 2010. They earned their eighth title in 2017. They are ranked #1 in the world for Professional Latin. They recently won their 5th consecutive US National Professional Latin Champions title at the US Open Dance Competition. In October 2019 they announced their retirement with their last international competition being the World Professional Latin in Miami.
Blessed with the perfect physique for Latin dancing, Cocchi brought a fresh and carefree style to the top of the dance world. Famed for his numerous battles against Malitowski, their two differing styles made it almost impossible to pick a winner. Whereas Malitowski favoured a more mechanical and powerful style, Cocchi's dancing could be described as more playful and energetic. Excelling in the Cha Cha Cha and Jive, the faster dances suited his more youthful approach to dancing.Along with his partner Yulia, Cocchi was quite open to often changing choreography and experimenting with new steps, which was sometimes to their detriment in competitions. With Malitowski's retirement from competitive dancing in 2015, it remains to be seen whether the rest of the field will be able to challenge Cocchi's dominance.
Originally from Russia, Yulia began ballroom dancing at 7. At the age of 11, Yulia started to teach kids to earn some money which she then gave to her parents. At age 12, she earned her first major title in Russia when she became the Russian Junior National Champion. For financial reasons, she could not afford to dance both Ballroom and Latin and so at the age of 16 she chose to pursue Latin. At the age of 21 she decided to move to America, and partnered with Maxim Kozhevnikov. Together they became the US National Professional Champions. In the fall of 2007, she began dancing with Riccardo Cocchi.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yulia_Zagoruychenko
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riccardo_Cocchi
Picture sources
Kentdance.co.jp; Dance Comp Review
Bryan Watson and Carmen Vincelj
Bryan Watson (born 18 April, 1969 in South Africa) and Carmen Vincelj (born 1972 in Germany) won the WDC professional World Latin Dance Championships nine times. Watson competed with Claudia Leonie and Karen Hardy before Vincelj and won the International Latin Professional World Championships.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmen_Vincelj
Picture sources: Encyctopedia of DanceSport, Pinterest
Dimitry Kurakin and Violetta Kurakina
Dimitry Kurakin and Violetta Kurakina compete for the U.S. in Professional Latin. They started their partnership in 2007.
Sources:
https://dancesportinfo.net/Couple/Dmitry_Kurakin_and_Violetta_Kurakina_80995/Details
Picture source: Rent ballroom dress, youtube
Delyan Terziev and Boriana Deltcheva
Boriana Deltcheva and Delyan Terziev are the 7-time USA National Professional Latin Finalists, 3-time USA National Latin Silver Medalists, USA National Latin Showdance Champions. Their partnership began in 1995 and they have been semi-finalists in the Blackpool Dance Festival, UK Open, International Championships, Asian Open Championships, and The World Championships. In addition, Delcheva and Terziev are also the organizers of the Golden Star DanceSport Championships.
Sources:
https://www.dancesportinfo.net/Couple/Delyan_Terziev_and_Boriana_Deltcheva_3631/Details
https://www.wikidancesport.com/wiki/1152/delyan-terziev
https://www.wikidancesport.com/wiki/1151/boriana-deltcheva?v=C_Eq8C8-BTo
Picture source: WikiDanceSport
 |  |
|---|
Jonathan Wilkins and Katusha Demidova
Jonathan Wilkins is an English ballroom dancer born in London. Katusha Demidova is a Russian professional ballroom dancer and instructor, now residing in the USA. They hold many titles in Professional Ballroom Dancing including being ten times Professional Ballroom Champion, 1997 – 2007. In 2004 they won the World Classic Showdance Championship, which is one of the subsidiary World Dance Council Dance Sport events. Their final result was to win the WDC Open Professional Ballroom title at the USA Open in Orlando, Florida 2007.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Wilkins
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katusha_Demidova
Picture sources:
Arunas & Katusa News, Pinterest
Igor Litvinov and Julia Ivleva
Igor Litvinov (from Moscow, Russia) and Julia Ivleva currently focus on Professional Standard. Their first competition together was the German Open hosted in Mannheim, Germany in 1997. Initially, they danced only International Latin then decided to concentrate on International Standard. They were trained in London with the best coaches and worked with champions of the previous generation such as Bill and Bobbie Irvine. Once they moved to the U.S., they turned professional and won almost 100 events representing the U.S. at the World Championships in the Professional Standard and Showdance categories.
Sources:
https://www.wikidancesport.com/wiki/7217/igor-litvinov
https://dancesportinfo.net/Couple/Igor_Litvinov_and_Julia_Ivleva_2740/Details
Picture source: DanceSportinfo.net; Encyclopedia of DanceSport; WikiDanceSport
 |  |  |
|---|
Katusha Demidova and Arunas Bizoukas
Arūnas Bižokas & Katusha Demidova started dancing together in 2007 (October) as Professional for USA. Arūnas Bižokas morkunas (born 29 January 1978 in Vilnius, Lithuania) is a professional Lithuanian ballroom dancer. Katusha Demidova is a Russian professional ballroom dancer, now residing in the USA. They won the 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 Professional World Ballroom Dance Champion, and also the International Professional, and British Open, Ballroom Champion. Katusha is the sister of Anna Demidova who is also a dancer.
Sources
https://dancesportinfo.net/Couple/Arunas_Bizokas_and_Katusha_Demidova_78324/Details
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ar%C5%ABnas_Bi%C5%BEokas
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katusha_Demidova
Picture sources
Pinterest; The Competitors Commission
Michael Malitowski and Joanna Leunis
Michael Malitowski and Joanna Leunis are World Latin Dance Champion. Michael (christened Michał) was born on May 28th 1980, in Zielona Góra, Poland. Joanna Leunis was born on May 22nd 1981 in Rocourt, Liège, Belgium. Their partnership started since 2002, which resulted in a string of victories: in 2008 and 2009 they won the World Professional Latin title, and in 2012 they won first place in Latin dance at the Blackpool Dance Festival. This is the prestigious Open British Championships held every year in Blackpool, England.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joanna_Leunis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Malitowski
Picture sources
Dance Comp Review; ChangeIP; Wikipedia
 |  |  |
|---|
Paul Richardson and Olga Rodionova
Paul Richardson & Olga Rodionova started dancing together in 2003 (September) as Professional for USA. They have made quite a name for themselves as Latin Champions and as one of the most influential people in the dance world. Besides being Adjudicators at most prestigious competitions around the world, the couple won the British Nationals Professional Latin Championship, as well as becoming Blackpool Professional Latin Finalists and World Professional Latin Championship Finalists.
Sources
https://www.dancesportinfo.net/Couple/Paul_Richardson_and_Olga_Rodionova_13028/Details
https://sites.google.com/site/ballroomdream/teachers/paul-richardson-and-olga-rodionova
Picture sources
Ballroom Dance Gossip; google
Mirko Gozzoli and Alessia Betti
Mirko Gozzoli is a newer name among the famous Latin ballroom dancers but he deserves a spot with the best. He has been crowned a world champion four times from 2005-2008. He combines technique, authority, grace, charm and musicality like no other. He is also regarded for having a graceful setup that is ahead of the curve among his peers. As a role model, he continues to be heralded in the 21st century. Alessia Betti was the best-known for successful partnership with Mirko Gozzoli that led to undefeated world championships from 2004 to 2009. The former world, Blackpool and UK Open champion has retired!
Sources
https://www.ballroomdanceplanet.com/famous-ballroom-dancers/
https://www.artistize.com/Blogs/most-famous-ballroom-dancers-across-the-world
Picture sources
Laylamah; Star dance shop
Slavik Kryklyvyy and Karina Smirnoff
Slavik Kryklyvyy (born on 1 July, 1976 in Soviet Union) is a professional ballroom dancer specializing in International Latin, currently residing in New York City. Kryklyvyy possessed an unusual but effective up right posture which would make even the best Ballroom dancer enviable. He had a tremendous flexibility and fluidity, a very natural hip action and an excellent sense of body rhythm and musicality which elevated him above his rivals. Unfortunately, like many great artists, Kryklyvyy was infamously difficult to get along with which led to many partner splits. Unable to keep hold of a partner long enough to really challenge the very top, Kryklyvyy sadly never won the Professional World title, which a man of his talent deserved. His longest and most successful partnership was with Karina Smirnoff with whom he became the second best couple in the world, behind the nine-time WDC world champions Bryan Watson and Carmen Vincelj. They were featured in the film “Shall We Dance?” The pair split up in 2005. In April 2014, Kryklyvyy reunited with former partner Karina Smirnoff to perform in Dance Legends. Since then, the couple has occasionally performed on different events and shows.
Karina Smirnoff (born in January 2, 1978 in Soviet Union) is known as a professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars, winning the thirteenth season with army veteran and soap opera star J. R. Martinez. She is a five-time U.S. National Champion, World Trophy Champion, and Asian Open Champion. She has taken second at the British Open Blackpool Dance Festival and she is the first woman to also ever make the "British Professional Final" with three different partners. From January 2001 to September 2005, Smirnoff was in a dance partnership with Slavik Kryklyvyy and they represented the U.S.A; this partnership thus far is her most successful one. She also released a fitness DVD, Shape Up With Karina Smirnoff.
The world of ballroom dancing has seen thousands of names come and go but these are among the best of all time. They managed to do things that others couldn’t and it had a lot to do with creativity, elegance, and technical excellence beyond their peers. When it comes to ballroom dancing, these are the biggest and brightest stars to have performed.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavik_Kryklyvyy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karina_Smirnoff
https://www.ballroomdanceplanet.com/famous-ballroom-dancers/
Picture sources
Crystal Ball; FloDance; Whosdatedwho
Victor Fung
Known by many to be the greatest ballroom dancer of this generation, Victor Fung is a giant in the world of competitive ballroom dancing, just as Michael Jordan is to basketball and Tiger Woods is to golf. He and his current dance partner, Anastasia Murayeva, have won multiple national and world titles throughout their ten-year partnership. In June of 2017, the two won the open professional ballroom title at the Blackpool Dance Festival, the most prestigious ballroom dance competition in the world.
Known by many to be the greatest ballroom dancer of this generation, Victor Fung is a giant in the world of competitive ballroom dancing, just as Michael Jordan is to basketball and Tiger Woods is to golf. He and his current dance partner, Anastasia Murayeva, have won multiple national and world titles throughout their ten-year partnership. In June of 2017, the two won the open professional ballroom title at the Blackpool Dance Festival, the most prestigious ballroom dance competition in the world.
Sources
Picture source
The Athelete's Comer
 |  |
|---|
Rufus Dustin
Rufus Dustin is one of the most famous, titled, and highly regarded dancers, coaches, choreographers, and certified adjudicators in the world, known for the passion instilled in him by the power of partner dancing. Dustin's roots lie in ballet. When he was a child, he was considered as “hyperkinetic”, which is now Attention Deficit Disorder. His parents thought the best thing to do was to put him into some kind of program that would keep him physically active, so that he would grow more tired at a proper time. During a summer break, Dustin ran across an opportunity for a teaching gig at a local Ballroom Dance studio. Never did he imagine this summer fling would soon become the love of his life.
For the first 20 years of his career, Dustin was an employee of Fred Astaire Dance Studios. Before retirement, Dustin won two World Championships in the Exhibition/Cabaret category along with a slew of other championship titles. Becoming tired of injuries, Dustin decided it was time to stop competing at the age of 42, but his involvement in the sport remained just as large as ever. Rufus has been certified as an adjudicator by the National Dance Council of America (NDCA), the World Dance Council (WDC), and Fred Astaire Dance Studios Inc. in International Style Standard, International Style Latin, American Smooth, American Rhythm, and Theater Arts.
Sources
http://www.dancebenefits.com/coaches/rufus-dustin/
https://www.wikidancesport.com/wiki/2172/rufus-dustin
Picture sources
Encyclopedia of DanceSport
 |  |
|---|
Sergey Sourkov
Sergey Sourkov started dancing with Agnieszka Melnicka in 2001 (March) as Amateur for Poland. Unlucky to never win a Professional World title, Sourkov had a very unique dance style, he possessed an impossibly fluid hip action, as well as a great softness and musicality of the upper body. Sourkov arguably had the best hip action and foot placement on this list, with every step precisely taken to maximise the use of the music and the hip.
Source
Picture source
Wikimedia commons; Zimbo
 |  |
|---|
Aleskandra "Ola" Jordan
Aleksandra "Ola" Jordan (née Grabowska; born 30 September 1982) is a Polish professional ballroom dancer and model. She appeared as a professional on the British TV show Strictly Come Dancing from 2006 to 2015. After winning a championship event in her native Poland, Jordan moved to England and began a new partnership with James Jordan. They married on 12 October 2003 and live near Maidstone in Kent. In 2018, she became a judge on Dancing with the Stars: Taniec z gwiazdami in Poland.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ola_Jordan
https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-female-ballroom-dancers/reference
Picture source
Fanshare; Shutterstock
 |  |
|---|
Charlotte Jorgensen
Charlotte Jorgensen is a Danish ballroom dancer who started learning dance at the age of two. Apart from being a great ballroom dancer, she is an expert in ballet who recently retired and has since then become a ballroom trainer. She contested professionally in 1944 and won the professional rising start championship with her partner Jens Werner. She was subsequently awarded the second position at the World Professional Ballroom Championship with her partner Andrew Sinkinson in 1999. Winning numerous awards and shows for her dancing skills, Charlotte Jorgensen is a true inspiration for the new generation of ballroom dancers.
Sources
https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-female-ballroom-dancers/reference
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_J%C3%B8rgensen
https://www.artistize.com/Blogs/most-famous-ballroom-dancers-across-the-world
Picture sources
Zimbo; Deadokicking
 |  |
|---|
Donnie Burns
Donnie Burns is a Scottish professional ballroom dancer, specialising in Latin dance. He and his former partner Gaynor Fairweather were 14-time World Professional Latin champions and eleven times International Latin American Dance Champions. He is now President of the World Dance Council. He is a winner of the Carl Alan Award for outstanding services to dance and is widely considered the "Michael Jordan" of ballroom dancing. Burns was the hero of the character Mr. Aoki in the 1996 Japanese film Shall We Dance? Burns also appeared during week 7 of the 12th season of Dancing with the Stars.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donnie_Burns
https://www.ballroomdanceplanet.com/famous-ballroom-dancers/
Picture sources
Facebook; PressReader
 |  |
|---|
Driton Dovolani
Driton Dovolani (born July 17, 1973), commonly known as Tony Dovolani is an Albanian-American professional ballroom dancer, instructor and judge. He is known for his involvement in the American version of Dancing with the Stars on ABC. Dovolani also portrayed Slick Willy in the hit film Shall We Dance? and spent time coaching actress Jennifer Lopez.
Source
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Dovolani
Picture source
Listal; Wikipedia
 |  |
|---|
Leonard Gordon Goodman
Leonard Gordon Goodman (born 25 April 1944) is an English professional ballroom dancer, dance judge, and coach. Goodman started dancing at the age of 19, won various competitions, and retired from dancing after winning the British Championships at Blackpool in his late twenties. He appeared as head judge on the television dance programmes Strictly Come Dancing, a programme where various celebrities compete for the glitter ball trophy, from its beginning in 2004 until 2016 and Dancing with the Stars since 2005.
Source
https://wikivisually.com/wiki/Len_Goodman
Picture sources
The sun; Wikipedia
 |  |
|---|
Dmitry Timokhin
Dmitry Timokhin - is a former professional ballroom dancer specializing in International style latin, 8-times National Russian Champion, European Latin Champion, Blackpool Dance Festival finalist.
Sources
https://www.wikidancesport.com/wiki/1142/dmitry-timokhin
http://www.dancebenefits.com/coaches/dmitry-timokhin-2/
Picture Sources
WikidanceSport
 |  |
|---|
William Pino
William Pino is a former Italian professional dancer. He started dancing together with Alessandra Bucciarelli for Germany in 1992. Best known for quirky choreography, this artist introduced unique styles in ballroom dancing to the world. Though he never won a World Title, yet for the ballroom fans, he remains one of the most adored dancer.
Sources
https://www.ballroomdanceplanet.com/famous-ballroom-dancers/
https://www.artistize.com/Blogs/most-famous-ballroom-dancers-across-the-world
Picture sources
Facebook; Empire Dance Champion
 |  |
|---|
Patricia Mary Sie
Patricia Mary Sie (née Kulash; born October 11, 1971) is an American film and music video director, best known for directing the films Step Up: All In (2014) and Pitch Perfect 3 (2017), as well as music videos, particularly for the alternative rock band OK Go. She has worked in film, television, commercials, music videos, stage, children's entertainment and ballroom DanceSport.
Sie was born in Washington, D.C. She has a degree in music theory and composition from the University of Pennsylvania and was a member of Penn Dance Company. After graduating in 1994, she became a professional championship ballroom dancer and a well-known choreographer. She moved to Orlando, FL where she opened the Zebra Room Dance Studios and organized an arts collective called the Exchange.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trish_Sie
https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-female-ballroom-dancers/reference
Picture sources
CTV news; google
 |  |
|---|
Nicole Cutler
Nicole Cutler (née Westdyk, born 8 June 1972) is a professional ballroom dancer and former World Amateur Latin-American champion. She was born Nicole Westdyk in Durban, South Africa and after taking up ballet at the age of four, first tried out ballroom and Latin-American dancing at the age of twelve. Jay Park was her professional partner from November 2003 to June 2004. They came first in the Professional Latin All England Championship in May 2004. She twice received the Carl Alan Award for "outstanding contributions to dance". She has appeared as a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing. In series two, she partnered Diarmuid Gavin, then took a break from the show. However, she returned in series four to partner Nicholas Owen, and John Barnes in series five.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicole_Cutler
https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-female-ballroom-dancers/reference
http://www.prima-artists.com/profile.php?recordID=Matthew%20and%20Nicole%20Cutler#.XwqFABOSk2w
Picture sources
Pima Artists; Strictly Come Dancing Fan
 |  |
|---|
Kym Johnson
Kym Johnson is well-known for having spent time on Dancing with the Stars in Australia including being a judge. Her abilities have been seen on numerous occasions has led to several TV performance. She is considered as one of the most famous ballroom dancers in history. It was at the age of 13 when she began dancing and working on her craft. In many ways, she was not only one of the most talented names in ballroom dancing but also a dedicated professional from day one. Her abilities lead to a second-place finish at the Australian Dancesport Championships and she has managed to build a positive reputation over the years by helping other dancers.
Sources
https://www.ballroomdanceplanet.com/famous-ballroom-dancers/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kym_Herjavec
https://www.artistize.com/Blogs/most-famous-ballroom-dancers-across-the-world
https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-female-ballroom-dancers/reference
Picture sources
Pinterest; Wealthy Persons
 |  |
|---|
 |  |
|---|
Erin Boag
Erin Boag (born 17 March 1975) is a professional ballroom dancer. She has danced from the age of three, originally starting ballet and later moving into ballroom, Latin and jazz. Born in Auckland, New Zealand, she moved to Australia as a teenager to progress her dancing career, before moving to London in 1996. She started professionally dancing and is well known for being on Strictly Come Dancing in the UK with her partner Anton du Beke.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erin_Boag
https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-female-ballroom-dancers/reference
Picture sources
Edyta Śliwińska
Edyta Śliwińska (born May 6, 1981) is a Polish professional ballroom dancer who is starring in the stage show Dance Temptation. She is best known for her appearances on the American version of the reality television series Dancing with the Stars, where she appeared on all of the first ten seasons of the show.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edyta_%C5%9Aliwi%C5%84ska
https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-female-ballroom-dancers/reference
Picture sources
Google; Wikipedia
 |  |
|---|
Kristina Rihanoof
Kristina Rihanoof (born 22 September 1977) was born in Siberia. She is a world finalist professional ballroom dancer, instructor, choreographer and author. She started dancing at a young age, entering her first dance competition at just seven-years-old. There onwards, she took part in scores of competitions and became a renowned dance champion in Russia. In 2004, Kristina and her partner were invited to compete in the World Exhibition at the Blackpool Dance Festival. Together they placed second in the Theatre Style category. Kristina then returned to the International Style Latin circuit with a new partner, Michael Wentink, one of Latin dance's most famous masters. Kristina and Michael promptly won the South African Championship and were also semi-finalists at the 2007 British Open in Blackpool, in the Latin American Division. Rihanoff competed as a professional dancer in many series of Strictly Come Dancing from 2008 to 2015.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristina_Rihanoff
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/154FpHsXLxRFw3FcVlbtg5R/kristina-rihanoff
Picture sources: BBC, Daily Mail
 |  |
|---|