Michelle Tsiakkas is a professional ballroom and Latin dancer who built an impressive career from her early years in Cyprus to international dance competitions, the touring production Burn the Floor, and Strictly Come Dancing. Her story combines competitive dance, television, education and a long-standing commitment to performance.

For many viewers, Michelle became familiar through Strictly Come Dancing, where she joined the professional lineup in 2022. However, her dance career began much earlier. She started dancing as a child, became a highly successful champion in Cyprus and later developed her career in the United Kingdom.

This guide explores Michelle Tsiakkas, including her early life, dance background, education, career achievements, Strictly Come Dancing journey, relationship and what she has done beyond television.

Key Takeaways

• Michelle Tsiakkas is a professional ballroom and Latin dancer from Cyprus.
• She began dancing at the age of six and became an undefeated Latin dance champion in Cyprus.
• She moved to London for her studies and later represented England at international competitions.
• Michelle joined the professional lineup of Strictly Come Dancing in 2022.
• She partnered with EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick during the 2024 series.
• Alongside dance, she has studied architecture and interior design.

Biography Table

Who Is Michelle Tsiakkas?

Michelle Tsiakkas is a Cypriot professional ballroom and Latin dancer who became widely recognized in the UK after joining the professional cast of Strictly Come Dancing.

Her professional career extends beyond television. Before appearing on the BBC dance show, she competed internationally and performed with Burn the Floor, a major touring dance production featuring professional dancers from around the world.

Michelle’s career is particularly notable because she developed her dancing from childhood while also pursuing academic qualifications. Her studies included architecture and interior design, giving her a professional background outside dance as well.

Where Is Michelle Tsiakkas From?

Michelle was born and raised in Cyprus. She began dancing there at the age of six and developed her skills through years of training and competition.

Her early success helped establish her as one of Cyprus’s leading young Latin dancers. She eventually moved to London to continue her education and develop her career.

Sources describing her background identify her as Cypriot, while biographical sources also note her Sri Lankan heritage.

When Did Michelle Tsiakkas Start Dancing?

Michelle started dancing when she was just six years old.

What began as a childhood activity developed into a serious competitive career. She trained in ballroom and Latin styles and went on to win national titles in Cyprus over a number of consecutive years.

Her early experience gave her a strong foundation in technique, performance and competitive discipline.

According to her profile with Burn the Floor, she became an undefeated Cyprus champion, winning national titles between 2001 and 2011.

Michelle Tsiakkas’ Dance Career

Michelle’s professional journey can be understood in several stages: her childhood success in Cyprus, international competition, touring performances and television.

Success in Cyprus

Michelle spent much of her early life developing her dance skills in Cyprus. Her competitive achievements came at a young age, and she eventually became an undefeated Latin champion in her home country.

Winning national titles over many years required considerable training and consistency. It also provided Michelle with the competitive experience that would later help her on international dance floors.

Moving to London

Michelle eventually moved to London to study. Her move to the UK represented an important stage in her development because it allowed her to combine education with a growing professional dance career.

While in the UK, she represented England at major international dance championships.

Her professional development also included work with experienced dancers and participation in major dance events, helping her transition from national competition to international performance.

International Competitions

Competitive ballroom and Latin dancing demands more than technical ability. Dancers must develop musicality, posture, timing, partnership skills and stage presence.

Michelle competed professionally and continued building her reputation within the international dance community. Her competition record and experience helped establish her credentials before she reached mainstream television.

Her profile with Burn the Floor notes that she reached the quarter-finals of the Professional Rising Star category at the International Championships in 2019.

Michelle Tsiakkas and Burn the Floor

Before becoming a familiar face on British television, Michelle performed with Burn the Floor.

Burn the Floor is an international dance production centered on ballroom and Latin performance. Appearing in such a production gave Michelle an opportunity to perform for audiences beyond the competitive dance circuit.

The experience was also significant because the production has featured dancers who later became well known through Strictly Come Dancing.

Michelle’s involvement demonstrates that her career was already established professionally before she joined television. She was not simply a dancer who became famous through Strictly; she had spent years developing her craft.

Michelle Tsiakkas on Strictly Come Dancing

Michelle joined the professional lineup of Strictly Come Dancing in 2022.

Her arrival was announced alongside other new professional dancers, including Vito Coppola, Carlos Gu and Lauren Oakley. She became the first Cypriot professional dancer to join the show’s lineup, according to contemporary reporting from Cyprus Mail.

Joining Strictly Come Dancing represented the realization of a long-term ambition for Michelle. Her earlier experience in competitive dance and professional touring provided a strong foundation for the demands of television.

Michelle’s Early Strictly Seasons

During her first seasons on the show, Michelle appeared in professional group routines but was not initially given a celebrity partner.

That meant viewers could see her technical ability and performance style even before she had the opportunity to compete in the main celebrity-professional pairing.

Her role also allowed her to become familiar to the Strictly audience and establish herself within the professional team.

Michelle Tsiakkas and Jamie Borthwick

Michelle received her first celebrity partner in the 2024 series when she was paired with EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick.

The partnership attracted attention because Borthwick was already familiar to television audiences through his long-running role in EastEnders.

Michelle and Jamie progressed through several weeks of the competition before their journey ended in Week 10. Their performances included a range of ballroom and Latin dances, giving Michelle the opportunity to demonstrate her skills as both a professional dancer and teacher.

Their partnership remains one of the most significant chapters of Michelle’s Strictly Come Dancing career.

Did Michelle Tsiakkas Have a Celebrity Partner in 2025?

Michelle did not have a celebrity partner during the 2025 main series.

She continued appearing in professional performances, and she later partnered with Westlife singer Brian McFadden for the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special.

Why Michelle Tsiakkas Stands Out as a Dancer

Michelle’s appeal comes from more than her television appearances.

Several elements distinguish her career:

Long-Term Training

Starting dance at six gave Michelle years of technical development before she entered the professional spotlight.

Competitive Experience

Her national and international competition background gave her experience performing under pressure.

Latin Expertise

Latin dance has remained an important part of her professional identity, reflected in her early championship achievements.

Professional Performance

Her work with Burn the Floor exposed her to large-scale theatrical dance and international audiences.

Television Experience

Strictly Come Dancing added another dimension to her career, requiring her to teach, perform and adapt choreography for celebrity partners.

Michelle Tsiakkas’ Education

One of the more interesting aspects of Michelle’s background is that dance is not her only area of expertise.

According to her Burn the Floor profile, she completed a degree in architecture and later earned a master’s degree in interior design.

Her academic background provides an interesting contrast with her performing career.

Architecture and interior design require creativity, spatial awareness, precision and an understanding of structure. Dance also depends heavily on movement through space, timing and visual composition, making the two areas less disconnected than they might initially appear.

Michelle Tsiakkas’ Personal Life

Michelle has generally kept much of her private life away from the intense attention that can accompany television fame.

She has, however, been publicly associated with fellow professional dancer and choreographer Simone Arena.

Arena has performed and competed internationally and has been involved with different versions of Dancing with the Stars. Michelle and Simone have also shared professional dance connections, including work in the wider dance world.

Their relationship has attracted interest from fans because both have professional careers built around competitive and performance dance.

Michelle Tsiakkas and Simone Arena

Michelle and Simone Arena are both professional dancers, making dance an important part of their shared professional lives.

Arena has competed internationally and has appeared on versions of Dancing with the Stars in Europe. Their connection therefore extends beyond their personal relationship into the professional dance community.

As with many public figures, details about their private life should be distinguished from information that has been publicly confirmed.

Michelle Tsiakkas Beyond the Dance Floor

Michelle’s work has also included using dance in community-focused activities.

In 2023, she taught ballroom and Latin dance classes at Maggie’s West London for people affected by cancer. The classes gave participants an opportunity to learn dance in a supportive environment.

This part of her career highlights another side of professional dancing: its ability to bring people together and provide enjoyment beyond competitive results.

Michelle has spoken about the personal importance of dance, describing it as something that brought her joy and provided an escape from everyday pressures.

What Happened to Michelle Tsiakkas and Strictly Come Dancing?

Michelle’s Strictly Come Dancing career changed in 2026 when it was announced that she would not return to the professional lineup.

The news marked the end of her time as a Strictly professional after several seasons with the show. Contemporary reports described the decision as a difficult moment for Michelle, who had regarded becoming a professional on the programme as a long-held dream.

However, leaving the television show does not mean the end of her professional dance career. Michelle already had substantial experience in competitive dance, touring productions and teaching before Strictly, giving her a strong foundation for future opportunities.

Michelle Tsiakkas’ Career Timeline

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Michelle Tsiakkas?

Michelle Tsiakkas was born on 29 August 1995. She is 31 years old in 2026.

Where is Michelle Tsiakkas from?

Michelle is from Cyprus. She began her dance career there before moving to London for her studies and professional development.

What is Michelle Tsiakkas famous for?

She is best known for her career as a professional ballroom and Latin dancer, particularly her appearances on Strictly Come Dancing and her work with Burn the Floor.

When did Michelle Tsiakkas join Strictly Come Dancing?

Michelle joined the professional lineup of Strictly Come Dancing in 2022.

Who was Michelle Tsiakkas’ Strictly partner?

Michelle’s first celebrity partner on the main Strictly Come Dancing competition was Jamie Borthwick in 2024. They reached Week 10.

Is Michelle Tsiakkas a trained dancer?

Yes. Michelle began dancing at six and developed extensive experience in ballroom and Latin dance through national and international competitions before moving into professional performance.

Is Michelle Tsiakkas in a relationship?

Michelle has been publicly linked to fellow professional dancer Simone Arena. Both have careers in competitive and performance dance.

What did Michelle Tsiakkas study?

Michelle studied architecture and later completed a master’s degree in interior design, according to her Burn the Floor profile.

Conclusion

Michelle Tsiakkas has built a career that goes well beyond her time on television. From starting dance at six in Cyprus to becoming a national champion, competing internationally, studying architecture and interior design, touring with Burn the Floor and joining Strictly Come Dancing, her professional journey reflects years of discipline and versatility.

Her time on Strictly introduced her to a much wider British audience, particularly through her 2024 partnership with Jamie Borthwick. Although her professional run on the show ended in 2026, Michelle’s established background in competitive dance, performance and teaching gives her plenty of experience to draw on as she moves into the next stage of her career.

For anyone discovering Michelle Tsiakkas through Strictly Come Dancing, her story is ultimately one of a dancer who spent decades developing her craft before reaching one of Britain’s most recognizable dance stages.

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