Few dancers embody the elegance, determination, and artistry of competitive ballroom dancing quite like Monica Nigro. From a small town in northern Italy to the world's most prestigious dance floors, Monica's journey is a story of talent nurtured by passion, relentless hard work, and an unwavering belief in following her heart. Throughout a career spanning decades, she has earned recognition as one of ballroom dancing's most respected professionals while developing an iconic style both on and off the dance floor. 

A Natural Talent Discovered Early

Monica Nigro's introduction to dance happened almost by accident. Born in northern Italy, she grew up watching her parents attend dance classes. While they learned on the dance floor, young Monica would sit nearby and imitate the movements she saw. Her natural ability quickly caught the attention of her parents' dance teacher, who encouraged her mother to enrol her in lessons. Monica was just four years old when her dancing journey officially began. 

Between the ages of six and eleven, she competed successfully in traditional dance, winning competitions across multiple categories and age groups. As her passion developed, she transitioned into Ballroom and Latin dancing, laying the foundations for what would become an extraordinary competitive career. By the age of seventeen, Monica was already representing Italy internationally and gaining valuable experience on the global stage. 

 

Reaching the International Spotlight

A pivotal moment arrived when Monica partnered with Slovenian dancer Domen Krapez. Their partnership began in 2003 and immediately produced remarkable results. After only one month dancing together, they competed at the prestigious Blackpool Dance Festival, one of the most important competitions in the ballroom world, and achieved a finalist position with a sixth-place finish. The result instantly established them among the sport's rising stars. 

Monica turned professional at the age of twenty-three, and her career continued to flourish. Over the following eleven years, she and Domen collected an impressive list of achievements, including:

3rd Place at the World Professional Championship
2nd Place at the European Professional Championship
4th Place at the Blackpool Dance Festival
4th Place at the International Championships
4th Place at the UK Championships
These accomplishments cemented Monica's reputation as one of the leading figures in professional ballroom dancing. 

 

 

 

A New Chapter with Valerio Colantoni

In January 2015, Monica embarked on a new professional partnership with Valerio Colantoni. Despite having only two weeks to prepare together, the pair achieved a remarkable result by reaching the final of the UK Championships in their very first major competition. Their success continued as they regularly appeared in finals at the world's most prestigious events. 

Among their most notable achievements were:

Italian Professional Ballroom Champions
European Professional Ballroom Vice-Champions
4th Place at the World Championships
4th Place at Blackpool
4th Place at the International Championships
Their rapid rise demonstrated the strength of both dancers' experience, professionalism, and ability to perform under pressure. 

A Love for Tango and the Magic of Blackpool

Although Monica enjoys all ten ballroom and Latin dances, she has a special affection for the Tango, with the English Waltz ranking among her favourites as well. She appreciates the drama, character, and intensity that Tango allows dancers to express. 

When it comes to competitions, however, one event stands above all others.

For Monica, the Blackpool Dance Festival represents everything that makes ballroom dancing special. The history, atmosphere, theatre setting, live orchestra, and enthusiastic audience combine to create what she describes as a magical and almost fairytale-like experience for dancers around the world. 

Success Defined by More Than Results

While Monica's career is filled with championship titles and prestigious finals, she often speaks of success in more personal terms.

Rather than focusing solely on trophies, she takes pride in the determination it took to build a career without coming from a professional dance family. She learned to travel independently, organise international schedules, manage training, and oversee the creation of couture competition gowns—all while pursuing excellence at the highest level. 

Among her proudest moments are her first Blackpool final with Domen Krapez and the beginning of her partnership with Valerio Colantoni. Both experiences reinforced her belief that passion, resilience, and commitment can overcome even the most difficult challenges. Her story serves as a reminder that success is often shaped as much by perseverance as by talent. 

 

The Lasting Influence of Chrisanne Clover

Alongside her achievements in competition, Monica has become renowned for her sophisticated ballroom style through her long-standing relationship with Chrisanne Clover, one of the most prestigious names in dance fashion.

Monica describes being selected as a Chrisanne Clover sponsored dancer as a privilege. She has long admired the company's passion, creativity, and commitment to excellence, values that closely align with her own professional approach. Having been associated with the brand for more than a decade, she has collaborated closely with its designers to create some of the most memorable ballroom gowns seen on the international circuit. 

Designing an Iconic Ballroom Image

What makes Monica's Chrisanne Clover dresses instantly recognisable is her dedication to maintaining a distinctive personal style. Throughout the years, she has experimented with many different looks—from fully feathered creations and flowing chiffon gowns to heavily rhinestoned couture pieces and dramatic shaded designs. Yet certain signature elements remain consistent. 

Her gowns are carefully designed to enhance the female silhouette, emphasising natural curves while maintaining elegance and sophistication. Monica prefers dresses that avoid excessive fabric, favouring clean, refined lines that allow movement and presentation to take centre stage. 

One of her favourite design elements is the use of intricate Swarovski® crystal embellishments arranged in tattoo-inspired patterns across the body of the dress. These detailed stone designs create visual drama while maintaining the timeless elegance for which she has become known. 

 

Favourite Dresses and Colours

Among the many gowns created during her partnership with Chrisanne Clover, two designs stand out as personal favourites.

The first was a striking black dress worn at Blackpool in 2014. The dress featured a completely black front, while the back was fully decorated with Aurora Borealis crystals arranged in a design resembling a delicate tattoo. Monica recalls the gown as both unique and unforgettable. 

Her second favourite was worn at Blackpool in 2015—a sophisticated tan-coloured dress embellished with AB crystals and feather detailing that gradually blended into pink tones. The combination of luxurious embellishment and subtle colour transition perfectly reflected her signature blend of glamour and elegance. 

When it comes to colour, Monica's preferences include white, black, fuchsia pink, silver, and blueberry. She is particularly known for incorporating cappuccino tones paired with contrasting colours, a combination she considers both highly effective and uniquely representative of her personal style. 

 

Fashion That Enhances Performance

Monica believes ballroom fashion should do more than look beautiful—it should enhance performance and communicate personality.

Her aesthetic centres on elegance, femininity, confidence, and a subtle touch of glamour. Whether through daring cut-outs, dramatic necklines, sheer cappuccino bodices, or intricate crystal artistry, her gowns consistently balance classic sophistication with contemporary fashion influences. This distinctive vision has made her style instantly recognisable on dance floors around the world. 

 

 

A Legacy of Elegance and Determination

From an energetic four-year-old copying dance steps in the corner of a studio to becoming one of the world's leading professional ballroom dancers, Monica Nigro's journey is a testament to passion, resilience, and artistic excellence.

Her achievements alongside both Domen Krapez and Valerio Colantoni have secured her place among the sport's elite, while her enduring partnership with Chrisanne Clover has helped shape one of ballroom dancing's most elegant and distinctive images. Through every championship, partnership, and couture creation, Monica continues to inspire dancers with a simple philosophy: follow your heart, work tirelessly, and never give up.