Shirley Ballas felt "very blessed" to return to dancing on the ‘Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour’.
The BBC One ballroom and Latin show’s head judge, 58, won several championships during her prime, rightfully earning her the title The Queen of Latin.
Shirley stopped dancing competitively in 1996, and so
it was a big moment for her when she hit the dancefloor at Birmingham Arena over the weekend, where she wowed the audience with her moves.
She told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "It feels incredible to dust off my dancing shoes again – I feel very blessed.
"I love being out there dancing and being able to meet fans of the show."
According to a source, the Liverpudlian didn’t even require training for her impromptu performance.
An insider added to the tabloid: "It all comes naturally.
"She still has a gift for dance and the audience agreed.
"It was a brilliant moment and she gives the ‘Strictly’ pros a run for her money."
Shirley’s stage comeback came after she revealed she has returned to dating.
The ‘Dancing with the Stars’ commentator is believed to have been on a number of dates with panto star Daniel Taylor.
The glamorous dancing professional – who is twice divorced – has been getting to know her ‘Jack And The Beanstalk’ co-star, who is 14 years younger than her, since they shared the stage in the show over Christmas at the Liverpool Empire theatre.
According to The Sun newspaper, the pair were spotted looking cosy on a recent date in London.
An onlooker said: "Shirley and Daniel looked like young lovers who didn’t have a care in the world. It was very sweet to see."
Shirley is said to be taking things slowly, with an insider insisting the pair are not in a relationship.
They added: "She has been in the very early days of dating Daniel. But she is not in a relationship and he is not her boyfriend.
"Shirley has been open about being single for the past four-and-half years but feels ready to put herself out there again and start enjoying life."
Shirley shared several selfies with Daniel and her other co-stars on social media, and reportedly called him a "very funny handsome man" in one of the snaps.
Her dates with Daniel came after she revealed she had been seeing someone "nice".
The northerner admitted while appearing on ‘Lorraine’ that she had a new man in her life, and that her son Mark, 32 – whom she has with second husband Corky Ballas – helped her to build up her confidence to get back in the dating game.
When host Lorraine Kelly asked if she was currently seeing someone, she remained coy but said: "Yes, I have met somebody nice."
Shirley Ballas ‘very blessed’ for dancing return
