Darcey Bussell

Darcey Andrea Bussell CBE (born Marnie Mercedes Darcey Pemberton Crittle 27 April 1969) is a retired English ballerina, and is currently one of the four judges on the BBC reality show Strictly Come Dancing.

Trained at the Arts Educational School and the Royal Ballet School, Bussell started her professional career at Sadlers Wells Royal Ballet, but after only one year she moved to The Royal Ballet, where she became a principal dancer at just 20 years old in 1989, at that time the youngest person to be made a principal since the company received its royal charter in 1956. Bussell is widely acclaimed as one of the great British ballerinas. During her twenty years as a dancer she won renown for her unique combination of a tall and athletic physique while dancing with soft lyricism. Bussell remained with The Royal Ballet for her whole career, but also performed as a guest artist with many leading companies including NYCB, Balletto - Teatro alla Scala, the Kirov, Hamburg Ballet and the Australian Ballet. She retired from ballet in 2007 but remains very committed to the dance world.