the dark side of professional dancing

What does it take to reach the top in the world of competitive ballroom and Latin dancing? In her recent interview on Desert Island Discs with Lauren Laverne, Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas reiterated the need to be resilient and "bulletproof" as she navigated the grueling schedules, restrictive diets, misogyny and bullying she experienced in the dance world.

Since the release of Baz Luhrmann's Strictly Ballroom in 1992, the competitive dance industry has become known - and often derided - for its short tempers, sky-high egos and tiny sparkly dresses. Leans strictly into some of the stereotypes with ...