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Shirley Ballas, a 66-year-old choreographer from the TV show Strictly Come Dancing, addressed rumors that another dancer, Alexis Warr, performed her acrobatic moves during a competition. While some audience members speculated about Warr's involvement, neither Ballas nor Warr commented on these claims directly. Instead, Ballas shared clips of her performance with ambiguous messages like “gloves are off,” referring to her professional rivalry or conflict. The article also touches on allegations that Ballas might have breached contest rules by judging a dancer she is close friends with at an international dance competition.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-12,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Shirley Ballas, a 66-year-old Strictly Come Dancing judge, performed a routine that included a cartwheel into a backflip, sparking controversy among viewers. Some claimed that Alexis Warr, another pro dancer from the show, had substituted for Ballas during these stunts. Audience members and social media users expressed doubt about whether Ballas herself was performing the difficult moves. Despite the allegations, neither Ballas nor Warr addressed the claims publicly on Instagram. Ballas only commented "Gloves are off" when sharing a clip from her performance, without directly addressing the substitution rumors.
Written for “Strictly Dance Offense Controversy” on 2026-10-12,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Shirley Ballas breaks silence after her Strictly 'stunt double' exposed: 'Gloves are off'
asserted
Gloves → break → silence
Ballas, 66, seemingly showed off a slew of eye-popping tricks, including doing a cartwheel into a backflip, before spinning around on the floor and doing the worm.
asserted
Ballas → show → worm
While many viewers praised her moves, others claimed it was obvious that pro Strictly dancer Alexis Warr had stepped in to perform the flips.
"They said stick a wig on Alexis and have her keep flipping so we never see her face,” one wrote on X and another added: "Lol was that Alexis doing the cartwheel?
asserted
Lol → praise → cartwheel
I had to double-take and thought it was Shirley at first."
Someone else claimed on Instagram: “It was Alexis.
asserted
It → have → Instagram
I was in the audience when it was filmed.”
asserted
it → film → audience
Warr has failed to comment on the claims on Instagram and Ballas was equally tight-lipped as she shared a slew of clips from her dance on her own page.
uncertain
she → fail → page
The choreographer re-shared Strictly's clip of the end of the dance on her Instagram Story and captioned it: “Step on the floor with us [love heart emoji].
asserted
choreographer → re → us
She reshared another clip on her feed and commented, “Gloves are off,” while tagging Du Beke.
asserted
Gloves → reshare → Beke
Their friendship developed after they danced together in Hong Kong and Blackpool earlier this year and has sparked backlash from other dancers, the Mail reported.
asserted
Mail → develop → dancers
Sources claimed she breached contest rules when she judged Nonnis at last week’s International Championships, one of the world’s most prestigious annual ballroom and Latin dance competitions.
asserted
she → claim → competitions
Nonnis performed in the Professional Latin category at the Royal Albert Hall event.
asserted
Nonnis → perform → event
Ballas previously scored him highly at the UK Open Dance Festival just months before they grew closer, insiders claimed.
asserted
insiders → score → Festival
Read More
A contestant may not enter the competition if a member of their immediate family or the same household is on the judging panel, the rules state.
uncertain
rules → read → panel
However, a source close to the Strictly judge told the publication Nonnis does not live with her and they do not share a household, meaning their friendship would not breach the rules.
asserted
friendship → tell → rules
Nonnis was engaged to dancer Daria Chesnokova from 2021 until last year.
asserted
Nonnis → engage → year
Chesnokova told The Sun she introduced Ballas to Nonnis and would feel “betrayed” if they were dating.
asserted
they → tell → Nonnis
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