Behind the Sequins: My Life
£3.80
Leave it all on the floor…
Queen of Latin Ballroom, Shirley Ballas has a spectacular dance career spanning over 40 years – she has Cha-Cha’d her way across the world’s dance floors to become a multi-award-winning ballroom champion and one of the most renowned dancers in the world. In 1996, Shirley retired from competitive dancing to become a highly-acclaimed coach and now holds the enviable position of Head Judge on BBC One’s prime time show Strictly Come Dancing.
In Behind the Sequins, she leads us through her dramatic and determined life, from growing up in a rough estate on the Wirral and leaving home at 14 years old, to conquering the high-octane world of ballroom and coping with betrayal, bullying, two broken marriages and a personal tragedy that left Shirley and her family devastated.
Speaking from the heart, Shirley leaves her dancing shoes at the door to tell you the story of a fiery, strong-willed grafter who could make the brat pack blush.
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Additional information
| Publisher | BBC Digital (1 Oct. 2020) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| File size | 80952 KB |
| Text-to-Speech | Enabled |
| Screen Reader | Supported |
| Enhanced typesetting | Enabled |
| X-Ray | Enabled |
| Word Wise | Enabled |
| Sticky notes | On Kindle Scribe |
| Print length | 349 pages |
by A M Harris
This book by Shirley is an excellent read. I am exhausted and impressed with how much work it takes to become a champion dancer.Only the people born to dance can succeed in the art of Latin/Ballroom competitions. Shirley has had a colourful love life and is no stranger to heartache . Her Ex Husband Corky has come across as an abusive bully who took every opportunity to belittle her. He could not find fault in her dancing so resorted to making her feel unattractive. His hatred comes from his own insecurities. This book is well worth a read and will keep you entertained
by ham
I haven’t finished reading Shirley’s biography, but have to say it’s an exceptionally written, love how start of each chapter begins with a dance i.e tango, explaining the meaning of the dance very interesting, I watch her on strictly, then googled her dances from when she was a teenager, my goodness she’s an amazing dancer who’s lived a full life, as she still is living a full life, she hasn’t missed anything out on her life, a fabulous read.
by Midnight J
I found her story very interesting and sad at times. She has certainly had a very varied life and done a lot of things that have taken courage. A good read so would recommend this book.
by Jules.
This was a revealing biography told in an apparently honest and straightforward way. The author is unapologetic about her life decisions and does not seem to feel the need to gloss over her own behaviour or anyone else’s, which is commendable and really endears her to the reader. She also shows how you need a little luck to be successful in your goals, but it is grindingly hard work and determination that gets you there. SB has a big heart and a big talent and I found this a very enjoyable read.
by Mick Meadows
Very honest, at times self depricating story of the life of an astonishingly successful professional. It really does go behind the sequins.
by Thomas Montgomery
Very happy with my purchase. Thank you very much
by D. Robinson
Shirley Ballas seems to court unpopularity, including currently among viewers who know far less about dance than she does, and it’s not clear why she has this effect. Her pedigree and expertise are clear, two reasons for buying this book. (Her look will also appeal to men of a certain age.) I had also read Len Goodman’s autobiography, finding it a little lacking in substance, and thought I would ‘even the balance’.
I’ve always found the world of ‘Latin Ballroom’ to seem oddly esoteric, with exaggerated hairstyles, makeup and attire. As a result, there is nobody in this book with whom I can identify (except for possibly one or two on the Kilimanjaro climb).
With most celebrity books, I tend to enjoy the early years, when the star was ‘ordinary’, more than the later times rubbing shoulders with celebs. This is not the case, here, as I find Shirley’s early life about as interesting as she would probably find mine.
The book contains some points I was unaware of. I hadn’t realised that Shirley nee Rich was also Shirley Stopford; that her success had preceded Donnie Burns and Gaynor Fairweather’s; and that [SPOILER] her daughter-in-law had penned Beyonce’s ‘If I were a Boy’.
Shirley has retained her Ballas surname, possibly because it is also her son’s. Her devotion to Mark (and vice versa) is evident although – in all fields – I struggle to identify with parents who place their career before their growing children (my view has always been that a career is intended to support the family, not supersede it). Captioning a picture ‘I think Mark is about five here’ says a lot.
[SPOILER] It’s a shame that Shirley and her mother feel responsibility for her brother’s death because, frankly and sadly, if an individual can’t be left alone for one night, then there is little hope.
Shirley has made friends and foes, and her chosen lifestyle has brought her success and heartache. She has listed several partners, and – despite her positivity about her current choice – it’s still not clear whether she is truly settled in this respect. I still like her, and wish her well.
Four stars: this book ‘does what it says on the tin’.
[EDIT: I should have added that this book has been well-written, by Shirley and whoever guided her, and has been copy-edited/proof-read – no longer a ‘given’ in the 21st Century]
by Nicky
Hello, I am very pleased with my purchase from this company. I am at the moment adding this autobiography book to my collection. I will certainly recommend others to purchase this lovely book. Thank you from a delighted customer, kind regards ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️