Misplaced Pages

Simone Arena (born 7 August 1991) is an Italian dancer and choreographer. Best known as former Italian Ballroom and Latin Champion, Arena joined the third series of the Belgian version of Dancing with the Stars.

Early life

Arena was born in Catania, Italy. He has been dancing since the age of seven.

Amateur dancing career

By the age of sixteen Arena became the Vice Italian Latin Champion.

He briefly partnered Maria Laureante for a short time in 2007. After that partnership dissolved her teamed up with Federica Zapulla. They enjoyed some success, finishing inside the top ten in the IDSF Open which took place in Maribor, Slovenia on 16 December 2007.

Between 2009 and 2010, Arena partnered Malene Meihlen. Their most successful outing came in an IDSF International Open which took place in Aarhus, Denmark on 28 November 2009. He also teamed up with Slovakian dancer, Linda Manduchova for a time.

He later partnered with fellow Italian dancer, Alessia Vernuccio. Their best result was a top three finish in the WDSF Open which took place in Ancona on 7 October 2012.

Professional dancing career

Arena joined in 2014 the Broadway production of Burn the Floor touring in London's West End and around the world including China, Australia and Japan. 2023 marked Arena's tenth consecutive year as part of the group.

In 2019, Arena was announced as part of the cast of Somnium: A Dancer's Dream with Strictly Come Dancing stars, Katya Jones and Neil Jones.

In 2020, Arena was announced to join the cast of Giovanni Pernice's 'This is Me' tour, however the tour was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dancing with the Stars

Belgium

In December 2021, Arena joined the cast of the third series of the second incarnation (eighth overall) of the Belgian version of Dancing with the Stars. He was partnered with artistic gymnast, Nina Derwael. On 12 February 2022, Derwael and Arena won the series.

Performances with Nina Derwael

Italy

Arena joined the Italian version of the show, Ballando con le Stelle for its seventeenth season as a professional dancer. He partnered TV presenter, Marta Flavi. The couple were the first to be eliminated from the competition. After the season ended, Arena spoke about his dissatisfaction with the overall production of the Italian version, stating he would not return for future editions.

Performances with Marta Flavi

Ireland

On 28 November 2023, Arena was announced as one of the new professional dancers of the seventh series of the Irish version of Dancing with the Stars. He was partnered with RuPaul's Drag Race winner, Blu Hydrangea. They reached the final, finishing as joint runners-up to Jason Smyth & Karen Byrne. They broke the record of receiving the most perfect scores in a series, with 5. The previous record of 4 was held by Denise McCormack and Nina Carberry. They also received the most 10s (along with Carberry), with 18.

Arena returned for the eighth series in 2025, where he was partnered with Kin actress, Yasmin Seky.

Performances with Blu Hydrangea

Personal life

Arena is in a relationship with Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer, Michelle Tsiakkas.

References

1. ^ "Simone Arena". BURN NATION (in Russian). Retrieved 12 November 2023.
2. "WDSF couple Simone Arena - Maria Laureante". www.worlddancesport.org. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
3. "WDSF couple Simone Arena - Federica Zappulla". www.worlddancesport.org. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
4. "Ranking of the IDSF Open Latin Youth in Maribor - Slovenia on 16 December 2007". www.worlddancesport.org. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
5. "WDSF couple Simone Arena - Malene Meihlen". www.worlddancesport.org. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
6. "Ranking of the IDSF International Open Latin Adult in Aarhus - Denmark on 28 November 2009". www.worlddancesport.org. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
7. "Details of WDSF athlete Linda Manduchova". www.worlddancesport.org. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
8. "Ranking of the WDSF Open Standard Junior II in Ancona - Italy on 07 October 2012". www.worlddancesport.org. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
9. "Simone Arena". BURN NATION. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
10. Limited, London Theatre Direct (8 May 2019). "Strictly star Charles Venn joins Neil and Katya Jones in this summer's Somnium: A Dancer's Dream at Sadler's Wells". London Theatre Direct. Retrieved 13 November 2023. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
11. Mackay, Aaron (22 January 2020). "Casting Announced for Giovanni Pernice's spectacular show!". Kings Theatre Portsmouth. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
12. "Gouden Nina Derwael wint 'Dancing With The Stars'". www.proximus.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 13 November 2023.
13. NWS, VRT (12 February 2022). "Wie is winnaar "Dancing with the stars"? "Ik weet even niet wat zeggen, het was een stressvol moment"". vrtnws.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 13 November 2023.
14. News, Blasting, Ballando con le Stelle: nel cast anche Pasquale La Rocca (in Italian), retrieved 3 September 2022 {{citation}}: |last= has generic name (help)
15. "Ballando con le stelle, la delusione di Marta Flavi. "Mariotto? Un cafone, mi meraviglio che si occupi di moda"". la Repubblica (in Italian). 18 October 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
16. "Ballando con le Stelle, il ballerino Simone Arena lascia il programma (con polemica): "Chi dice la verità è scomodo"". www.ilmattino.it (in Italian). 26 December 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
17. "Dancing with the Stars reveals 2024 pro dancers". 28 November 2023. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
18. "Meet the new hunk who has just landed a spot on Dancing with the Stars". SundayWorld.com. 29 November 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
19. Jones, Amy (23 September 2023). "BBC Strictly pro Michelle Tsiakkas' life off screen with boyfriend Simone Arena". OK! Magazine. Retrieved 13 November 2023.

• 1989 births
• Living people
• 21st-century Italian dancers
• Italian ballroom dancers
• Italian male dancers
• People from Catania