Loraine Barry is a former professional dancer and known for her role as head judge on the RTÉ series, Dancing with the Stars.
Born in Cabra in Dublin, Ireland, Loraine began dancing at just six years old. By the age of nineteen, she was dancing competitively with her partner Andrew Sinkinson. Together Barry and Sinkinson travelled the world competing regularly and winning Grand Slam titles such as the UK Championship, European Open Championship and World Championship. They also won the Amateur British Ballroom Championship three consecutive times in 1987, 1988, and 1989.
After winning the Blackpool Open Amateur Competition in 1989 Loraine and Andrew decided to turn professional competing for the first time at the Professional British Open in 1990 . They won the Slow Foxtrot over Marcus & Karen Hilton, and John Wood & Anne Lewis – an unprecedented result for the couple as it was their first British Open Competition.
In 1993, Barry took up a partnership with Luca Baricchi. After five years of coming second to Marcus and Karen Hilton in most of the major regional and world championships together, they were crowned World Ballroom Dance Champions in 1999 and 2001 and British Open Champions three times – 1999, 2000, & 2001, among many other accomplishments.
Loraine has also been awarded the Prince Mikasa Award, BDF Award, and Carl Alan Award.
Entertainment Now chats with Loraine as she recounts her impressive career.
What drew you to dance and when did you begin dancing?
I was drawn to dancing at the age of six when I went to do the Saturday morning shop with my mother and my older sister. There was a new dance studio advertised and my mother asked if I would like to go, and my sister and I went. From that first dance class I was hooked.
How quickly was your talent spotted? Is there any one person or mentor who helped you on your way?
My first dance teachers were husband-and-wife team Maureen and Liam Mullins, who immediately spotted my talent, and told my parents that I was definitely a champion in the making.
Tell us about the life of a top professional!
I feel very privileged to have been a top professional dancer as ballroom dancing has given me so much. I’ve had the opportunity to travel all around the world, the opportunity to represent England in world Championships & European Championships as well as going to Buckingham Palace as the late Queen invited all world champions to a garden party.
Being able to entertain people with my live dancing in shows with 5000 people watching is exhilarating. There is no doubt you must work hard to be in this position, but all I can say is that it was all worth it.
Dance can be a fiercely competitive industry. What advice would you give others based on your experience?
Competitive dancing is fierce, but my advice is to believe in your product. Focus all your attention on being the best possible dancer that you can be. My motto is that the best will always win.
You have achieved so much but would you share your proudest moments/greatest accomplishments?
When you win your first major title Open British Youth Championship in Blackpool at the age of 18 you feel you’re making your parents so proud. After that, you set the bar a little bit higher, so I remember my parents going to Frankfurt in Germany to witness me winning, the World Amateur Ballroom Championship.
Along the way you start to win awards and that’s when your parents are so proud of you for the achievements that you are gaining. For me, going on to win the Open British Championships, (the Wimbledon of dance) seven times is fantastic along with four World Championship titles.
Where are you based?
I am based in London, but I was born in Dublin, Ireland. I left there at the age of 17 and went to live in Southport Merseyside. The reason was my dance partner was from there and my parents would only let me move away if I was moving in with a family.
What do you look for in a good dancer?
I look for commitment. To be the best, you must try everything and sometimes that everything is out of your comfort zone. So, you need to be committed!
What sort of judge are you on Dancing with the Stars?
On Dancing with the Stars, I would say I am a fair judge. I give inspiration along with constructive criticism and overall encouragement to do your best. “Give it a go, push yourself”.
What do you believe is the key to the show’s success?
The key to the success of the DWTS show is the format. It’s taking a celebrity out of their comfort zone, giving them a professional dancer and a very short time, as in one week to perfect a Dance. People like to see a struggle and also people like to see a success! Therefore, you’re capturing the audience! Children love watching and marking to see whether their score tallies with the judges.
Tell us about your bespoke gowns that you often wear on Dancing with the Stars?
The beautiful dresses/gowns that I wear on DWTS are all handmade. For 2023, I wanted a theme of sustainability so therefore I used a lot of dresses from 2022 and redesigned them, but I also used dresses from 2017 and 2018 and re-vamped them too.
I’m very lucky to have a former dance student who is an up-and-coming fashion designer and we work together on designing the dresses and remodelling them. It’s wonderful to buy things off the hanger, but there’s always a chance that someone else would have it too.
You have grown up wearing heels but tell us what you wear behind the scenes and your TV persona?
I have been wearing court shoes with 2.5-inch heels since I was the age of 14. I am delighted to say I don’t have any bunions and that’s because I stretch my feet a lot!
When the pandemic came, I wasn’t travelling so I had a lot more free time. I started to wear a lot more platform sneakers and still to this day when I’m travelling, or I have time off from dancing.
I wear a lot more casual clothes than what I ever used to. However, when I am teaching, I wear black trousers and a black shirt and black teaching shoes with a 2-inch heel.
How did you react to the recent news about Strictly legend Len Goodman who died earlier this year? He appeared as the sole head judge on Dancing with the Stars since the show’s inception and for consecutive five seasons and was an all-round ballroom legend.
I knew Len Goodman well after dancing a demonstration for him in his studio in Kent many years ago. Len was an incredibly kind, lovely man and he always had a joke.
When my partner and I were doing a demonstration he gave my partner a gift of a hairbrush as he said that he had so much hair that he’d always keep it looking lovely. And he gave me a gift of mascara as he said I had the most beautiful blue eyes.
What you saw of Len on Strictly Come Dancing was truly Len Goodman at his best. He was professional, kind, caring and funny. RIP
How hard is it on the celebrities who have literally had no dance experience?
It is extremely hard on a celebrity with no dance experience, but they do have a professional with them and they’ve got to put their trust in that professional. The great thing about the professionals on Strictly or DWTS is that they have a lot of experience, and know how to bring out the best of every celebrity.
You have become a bit of a poster girl for glamour at 50 +. Can you give us a few tips?
Being a poster girl at 50+ is all about being true to yourself. I don’t go for Fashion I go very much for style. I like to wear dresses and I also like to wear suits. I always wear a high heel as it adds length to the body. It’s also very important that you feel comfortable in what you wear. It makes it much easier to carry it off.
How have you had to pivot teaching other world champions since the pandemic and the ongoing war in Ukraine as many of your students are based in Russia and Ukraine?
When the pandemic hit, it was extremely difficult for dancers as everything stopped. It was difficult for them to work. When they don’t work, they don’t have any money. When they don’t have money it’s difficult to have lessons.
I was doing online lessons on zoom, but it was more motivational talks to let them see that this will pass and therefore use the time well and study the technique and also study how the body best works.
When we finally got going again, we then had the war between Russia and Ukraine, and we had amazing dancers from both of these countries. A lot of the Ukrainian dancers are now living in the USA and I’m fortunate enough to be able to travel there to teach them. Others have moved to Poland and Italy.
It is the same for Russian couples who find travelling to London to take lessons very difficult. I can assure everyone that the Russian and Ukrainian dancers that I teach are good friends and neither of them want this situation.
What does your working life consist of now? Where are you currently teaching?
I teach in London at the Dilly Hotel in Piccadilly. In the basement floor, there is a beautiful Ballroom. I absolutely love to teach there. I’m also very lucky to be able to travel around the world to teach couples in the USA, Germany, Poland, Denmark, Italy.
I teach Monday to Friday, and I try to take the weekends off.
There are a lot of big competitions coming up. How do you prepare yourself for competitions like the British Open in Blackpool?
At the end of May, the British Open dance festival will take place so it’s very important to be prepared. For me the month of April was the most important time as that’s where you really do the hard work. When you get into the month of May, it becomes the polishing time. Making sure that everything is clean and clear, and you can dance without thinking.
What is the most extravagant purchase you have ever made?
The most extravagant purchase I’ve ever made is a piece of jewellery. It is a ring, and the gemstone is Tanzanite.
What causes matter to you?
The cause that matters to me in life is kindness. Being kind to people as in smiling, listening and giving them time. When the pandemic hit I went to an old folks home near me to see if there was anything I could do to help the elderly. I became a shopper for one elderly lady who was Irish just like me. Often when I’m out shopping and I see an older lady or a gentleman with a little bit of shopping, I would buy it for them as a little treat and show them kindness and respect. I’m also aware of being kind to the planet so sustainability is important to me in my home and also with regards to the clothes that I wear.
On a more formal note I know the pleasure that dance gives people with Alzheimer’s disease. They may not remember many things but when the music starts but when they have a partner in their arms their steps return as if it was 30 years ago. I was involved in organising a major charity dance event which I compared. It is something I try to do whenever my schedule allows.
What have you learned from your life’s journey?
I have learnt from life that it’s about working hard, but doing it with sincerity. You sow the seeds, and you reap the rewards.
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and I’ve always carried the mantra of – God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
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