Michelle Tsiakkas

{{Infobox person

| name = Michelle Tsiakkas

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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|8|29|df=y}}

| birth_place = Cyprus

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| occupation = Ballroom dancer, Latin dancer, choreographer{{cite web |title=Michelle Tsiakkas, choreographer |url=https://www.mandy.com/aa/dancer/michelle-tsiakkas-1 |website=Mandy |access-date=20 July 2022}}

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| partner = Simone Arena

| known_for = Burn the Floor
Strictly Come Dancing

}}

Michelle Tsiakkas (born 29 August 1995) is a Cypriot-Sri-Lankan professional ballroom and latin dancer, who has appeared as a professional on the BBC dance television show Strictly Come Dancing since 2022.

Early and personal life

Tsiakkas was born in Cyprus on 29 August 1995.{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Amy |title=BBC Strictly pro Michelle Tsiakkas' life off screen with boyfriend Simone Arena |url=https://www.ok.co.uk/tv/bbc-strictly-pro-michelle-tsiakkas-30984967.amp |website=OK! Magazine |access-date=2 May 2024 |language=en |date=23 September 2023}}{{cite web |title=BBC One - Strictly Come Dancing - Michelle Tsiakkas |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/3rQ9GKKBqNM3fm5yG0LVMHj/michelle-tsiakkas |website=BBC |access-date=2 May 2024}} She first started dancing at the age of six in her home country and has reached Latin dance champion status, having won national titles consecutively between 2001 and 2011 before moving to London to study.{{cite web |title=New Strictly Come Dancing pros - all you need to know |url=https://www.goodto.com/entertainment/new-strictly-come-dancing-pros-all-you-need-to-know |website=Good to Know |access-date=20 July 2022 |date=12 July 2022}}{{Cite web |date=11 July 2022 |title=Four new pros join the show in 2022! |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/strictlycomedancing/entries/a8605a54-777e-4688-a243-e562124abee3 |website=BBC|access-date=13 July 2022}}{{cite web |title=UK Cypriot Michelle Tsiakkas is to appear in BBC Strictly dancing. |url=https://www.parikiaki.com/2022/07/uk-cypriot-michelle-tsiakkas-is-to-appear-in-bbc-strictly-dancing/ |access-date=20 July 2022 |date=19 July 2022}}{{cite web |title=Michelle Tsiakkas, dancer |url=https://www.backstage.com/u/michelle-tsiakkas/ |website=Backstage |access-date=20 July 2022}}

Tsiakkas is in a relationship with Simone Arena, a professional dancer on the Belgian, Italian and Irish versions of Dancing with the Stars.{{cite web |last1=O'Loughlin |first1=Mikie |title=DWTS pro Simone Arena is in a relationship with a Strictly Come Dancing star |url=https://www.rsvplive.ie/news/celebs/dancing-stars-pro-simone-arena-32262162.amp |website=RSVP Live |access-date=2 May 2024 |language=en |date=3 March 2024}}

Career

Tsiakkas has appeared as part of the live dance show Burn the Floor, touring around the world alongside fellow Strictly professionals Dianne Buswell, Graziano Di Prima, Johannes Radebe and Jowita Przystał.{{cite web |title=Michelle Tsiakkas at Burn the Floor |url=https://www.burnthefloor.com/current-cast.html |access-date=14 July 2022}}{{cite web |title=Strictly Come Dancing Unveils Four New Professional Dancers |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/strictly-come-dancing-new-professional-dancers-carlos-gu-lauren-oakley-michelle-tsiakkas-vito-coppola_uk_62cbe7abe4b06e3d9bb79ac7 |website=HuffPost |access-date=14 July 2022 |date=11 July 2022}}{{Cite web |date=11 July 2022 |title=20 professional dancers confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing series 20, as four new pros join the line-up| url=https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2022/20-professional-dancers-confirmed-for-strictly-come-dancing-2022 |website=BBC |access-date=12 July 2022}}

In July 2022, it was announced that Tsiakkas was joining the twentieth series of Strictly Come Dancing as a professional dancer, alongside Vito Coppola, Carlos Gu, and Lauren Oakley.{{Cite web |date=11 July 2022 |title=Strictly Come Dancing reveals new professionals joining for 2022 |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/strictly-come-dancing-new-professionals-2022-newsupdate/ |website=Radio Times |access-date=13 July 2022}}{{cite web |title=Michelle Tsiakkas for Strictly Come Dancing 2022 |url=https://www.mediamole.co.uk/entertainment/entertainment/michelle-tsiakkas-for-strictly-come-dancing-2022_photo_102953.html |website=Media Mole |access-date=20 July 2022 |date=12 July 2022}}{{cite web |title=Strictly Come Dancing adds four new professionals to its line-up |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/tv/new-dancers-announced-strictly-lineup-24456838 |website=Chronicle Live |access-date=20 July 2022 |date=11 July 2022}} Upon the news of her becoming a professional being announced, Tsiakkas said "Being a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing has been my dream ever since I was a little girl. I cannot believe my dream has come true! I’m so grateful to be joining this incredible family and I can’t wait to step on that magical dance floor and give it my all!"{{Cite web |date=11 July 2022 |title=Strictly Come Dancing 2022: Meet the new Strictly professional dancers!| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/62123742 |website=BBC |access-date=12 July 2022}} Tsiakkas received her first partner in the twenty-second series, and was paired with EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick. They were eliminated in Week 10.