Shirley Ballas served as a guest judge for the Season 35 “Horror Movie Night” episode of Dancing with the Stars on October 27, 2026. Ballas—who serves as the head judge on the UK’s Strictly Come Dancing—brought a technical rigor to the panel.
Ballas maintained a firm line throughout the “Horror Movie Night” special. She awarded fours to Julia Stiles and Tatyana Ali, signaling a departure from the more lenient scoring typically seen during the middle of the season.
Ballas’s guest stint brought a Strictly-style intensity to the ballroom, though her technical focus proved to be a hurdle for several couples.
