Michelle Tsiakkas

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. 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.

Tsiakkas is in a relationship with Simone Arena, a professional dancer on the Belgian, Italian and Irish versions of Dancing with the Stars.

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.

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. 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!" Tsiakkas is yet to partner a celebrity on the show, but appears in the professional group performances.