Greatest Strictly Come Dancing Best Dances Of All Time: The Most Iconic Performances In Ballroom History

Since its launch in 2004, Strictly Come Dancing has produced hundreds of memorable routines. Every year, celebrities and professional dancers spend months rehearsing in the hope of delivering a performance that captures the imagination of both the judges and viewers at home.

While every series has standout moments, only a select number of dances continue to be discussed years later. These routines have become part of Strictly folklore, regularly appearing in highlight packages, fan polls and conversations about the greatest performances in the programme’s history.

From perfect-scoring jives to emotional contemporary routines, these are the dances that helped define Strictly Come Dancing.

What Makes A Great Strictly Dance?

Not every memorable Strictly performance receives a perfect score.

The routines that endure often combine several elements. Technical excellence is important, but so too are storytelling, musicality, partnership and emotional connection.

Some dances become famous because they break records. Others are remembered because they create a powerful television moment that resonates far beyond the ballroom.

The greatest Strictly dances often achieve both.

Jay McGuiness And Aliona Vilani – Jive (2015)

For many viewers, this remains the greatest Strictly dance ever performed.

The Wanted singer Jay McGuiness and professional partner Aliona Vilani delivered a breathtaking jive to Misirlou that immediately entered Strictly history.

The routine combined exceptional technique, incredible energy and flawless timing. It quickly became one of the most watched and shared performances from the programme. Years later, it continues to top fan polls and is frequently cited whenever discussions turn to the best Strictly routines of all time.

The dance also played a major role in McGuiness eventually winning the Glitterball Trophy.

Jill Halfpenny And Darren Bennett – Jive (2004)

Before Jay McGuiness, there was Jill Halfpenny.

The actress delivered one of the defining performances of Strictly’s early years when she danced a spectacular jive with Darren Bennett. The routine earned the first perfect score in Strictly history and helped establish Halfpenny as one of the strongest contestants the programme has ever seen.

More than twenty years later, the dance remains a benchmark for future contestants attempting the jive.

Rose Ayling-Ellis And Giovanni Pernice – Couple’s Choice (2021)

Some dances are remembered not only for their quality but also for their wider impact.

Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice created one of the most powerful moments in Strictly history during their Couple’s Choice routine.

The dance featured a section performed in silence, offering viewers a glimpse into Ayling-Ellis’ experience as a deaf performer. The moment received widespread praise and became one of the most talked-about performances ever seen on the programme. For many viewers, it represented the very best of what Strictly can achieve.

Danny Mac And Oti Mabuse – Samba (2016)

Although Danny Mac did not win Strictly, his samba with Oti Mabuse is often included in lists of the programme’s greatest dances.

The Hollyoaks actor demonstrated exceptional rhythm, speed and technique throughout the routine. The performance showcased the difficulty of the samba while still feeling entertaining and accessible to viewers.

Many fans still regard it as one of the finest male celebrity performances in Strictly history.

Caroline Flack And Pasha Kovalev – Charleston (2014)

Caroline Flack produced several outstanding performances during her winning series, but her Charleston remains particularly memorable.

The routine combined speed, personality and precision, perfectly capturing the spirit of the dance style. It became one of the standout moments of the 2014 series and helped cement Flack’s reputation as one of Strictly’s most accomplished winners.

Kelvin Fletcher And Oti Mabuse – Samba (2019)

Kelvin Fletcher’s Strictly journey was remarkable from start to finish.

Joining the competition shortly before the series began, the former Emmerdale actor quickly became one of the strongest contestants in recent memory.

His samba with Oti Mabuse showcased athleticism, confidence and technical ability, helping establish him as one of the leading performers of the modern era. The routine remains one of the defining dances of recent Strictly history.

Bill Bailey And Oti Mabuse – Couple’s Choice (2020)

Bill Bailey’s victory demonstrated that Strictly is about more than youth and athleticism.

His Couple’s Choice routine with Oti Mabuse became one of the most celebrated dances of the series.The performance combined humour, creativity and genuine dance quality, perfectly reflecting Bailey’s personality.

It helped create one of the most popular and memorable winning journeys in the programme’s history.

Hamza Yassin And Jowita Przystał – Couple’s Choice (2022)

Wildlife presenter Hamza Yassin won viewers over throughout his Strictly journey.

His Couple’s Choice routine with Jowita Przystał became one of the most memorable performances of the series.

The dance blended storytelling with technical skill and highlighted the partnership’s warmth and chemistry. For many fans, it encapsulated everything that made Yassin such a popular champion.

Ellie Leach And Vito Coppola – Showdance (2023)

Coronation Street actress Ellie Leach delivered several standout routines during her winning campaign, but her showdance with Vito Coppola remains particularly memorable.

The performance brought together many of the skills she had developed throughout the competition and provided a fitting conclusion to her Strictly journey. It became one of the standout performances from her winning campaign and added another memorable dance to Strictly’s growing archive.

The Most Emotional Strictly Dances

Strictly is often at its strongest when performances tell a story.

*Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice’s silent Couple’s Choice routine remains one of the most emotional moments ever broadcast by the programme.

*Bill Bailey’s performances frequently resonated with viewers because of the joy and determination he brought to the ballroom.

*Hamza Yassin’s routines often reflected his personality and warmth, helping create memorable television moments that extended beyond technical scores.

These performances demonstrate that emotional connection can be just as powerful as technical perfection.

The Highest Scoring Strictly Dances

Several routines have achieved perfect scores from the judging panel over the years.

Jill Halfpenny’s jive became the first perfect-scoring dance in Strictly history and helped establish a standard that future contestants would aspire to.

Since then, numerous celebrities have achieved perfect scores throughout the competition. While some of the dancers featured in this list later went on to achieve perfect marks, many of the routines remembered most fondly by viewers are celebrated because of their impact rather than their score alone.

Perfect scores remain one of the clearest indicators that a routine has delivered something special, but they are not the only measure of a dance’s legacy.

The Most Viewed And Most Talked About Strictly Dances

While viewing figures vary across platforms, several routines consistently appear in fan discussions and official Strictly highlight collections.

Jay McGuiness and Aliona Vilani’s jive remains one of the most frequently referenced performances in the programme’s history. Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice’s silent Couple’s Choice routine is regularly cited as one of Strictly’s most significant television moments.

Jill Halfpenny’s perfect-scoring jive helped establish the programme’s reputation in its early years, while more recent performances from Hamza Yassin, Ellie Leach and Kelvin Fletcher have ensured new generations of viewers have their own iconic ballroom memories.

The fact that routines from different eras continue to be discussed demonstrates the lasting impact Strictly Come Dancing has had on British television.

Which Professional Dancers Created The Most Iconic Routines?

Professional dancers play a crucial role in creating Strictly’s most memorable performances.

Aliona Vilani is associated with some of the programme’s most celebrated dances, including Jay McGuiness’ famous jive.

Oti Mabuse has built an impressive catalogue of iconic routines through partnerships with Danny Mac, Kelvin Fletcher and Bill Bailey.

Giovanni Pernice helped create one of the programme’s most significant television moments alongside Rose Ayling-Ellis.

Meanwhile, dancers such as Darren Bennett, Pasha Kovalev, Vito Coppola and Jowita Przystał have all contributed memorable performances to Strictly history.

Why These Dances Still Matter

The greatest Strictly dances are remembered because they represent more than competition results.

Some changed expectations about what celebrity contestants could achieve. Others created moments of genuine cultural significance.

Together, they demonstrate why Strictly Come Dancing remains one of Britain’s most popular television programmes more than twenty years after it first appeared on screen.

Every new series introduces fresh routines, but these performances continue to set the standard for future contestants hoping to create ballroom history.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1.What is the most famous Strictly Come Dancing dance?

Many viewers consider Jay McGuiness and Aliona Vilani’s jive from 2015 to be the most famous Strictly dance ever performed.

2.Which dance received the first perfect score on Strictly?

Jill Halfpenny and Darren Bennett’s jive became the first routine in Strictly history to receive a perfect score.

3.What was Rose Ayling-Ellis’ most famous dance?

Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice’s Couple’s Choice routine featuring a silent section is widely regarded as her most famous performance.

4.Which Strictly winner produced the most memorable dances?

Contestants such as Jill Halfpenny, Jay McGuiness, Rose Ayling-Ellis, Kelvin Fletcher and Ellie Leach are frequently mentioned among the programme’s most memorable performers.

5.Has anyone scored perfect marks on Strictly?

Yes. Numerous contestants have achieved perfect scores throughout the programme’s history.

6.What is the hardest dance style on Strictly?

Many professionals consider the samba, jive and quickstep among the most challenging dance styles for celebrity contestants.

7.Which professional dancer created the most iconic routines?

Aliona Vilani, Oti Mabuse, Giovanni Pernice and Darren Bennett are among the professionals most frequently associated with iconic Strictly performances.

Where To Watch Strictly Come Dancing

Strictly Come Dancing airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The programme traditionally returns each autumn, with the launch show usually broadcast in September before the live competition begins.

Viewers can watch episodes live on BBC One or stream them on demand through BBC iPlayer. Previous highlights, interviews and selected performances are also available across the BBC’s digital platforms. The BBC is expected to confirm full broadcast details for the next series closer to transmission.

Image Credits: All Strictly Come Dancing images used in this article remain copyright of the BBC and associated production partners. Images are used for editorial and reporting purposes only. Strictly Come Dancing is produced by BBC Studios for BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Sources :BBC Strictly Come Dancing, BBC Media Centre, BBC Programme Information, BBC iPlayer, Radio Times and official Strictly Come Dancing archives.