Bruno Tonioli
Born/Date of Birth: 25 November 1955
Place of Birth: Ferrara, Italy
Height: 1.7 m
Partner: Jason Schanne (2012–)
Nationality: British, Italian
Occupation: Television personality, choreographer, ballroom dancer
Books: Bruno My Story, Bruno My Story *Signed Edition*
Bruno Tonioli (Italian pronunciation: [ˈbruno tonˈjɔli]; born 25 November 1955) is an Italian choreographer, ballroom and Latin dancer, and TV personality. He appears as a judge on the British television dance competition Strictly Come Dancing and its American adaptation Dancing with the Stars on ABC TV in the US. Tonioli co-created and appeared on the BBC talent show DanceX, and its American adaptation, Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann. He earns £200,000 to £249,000 as a BBC contributor.

Career
In 1980, Tonioli unsuccessfully, as part of the group Duke and the Aces, took part in the United Kingdom's competition to select an entry for the Eurovision Song Contest.

Tonioli has worked in the music business as a choreographer for music videos, stage shows, and tours for artists such as Tina Turner, Sting, Elton John, the Rolling Stones, Freddie Mercury, Sinitta, Boy George, Dead or Alive, Bananarama, and Duran Duran. He danced in Elton John's 1983 "I'm Still Standing" video.

Tonioli choreographed the band Arcadia's music video for their song "Election Day" as documented in a 1980s documentary entitled The Making of Election Day. He was the choreographer for Ella Enchanted's Minnie Driver.

Tonioli's commentary style often includes colourful descriptives. As examples, during his time with the U.S. Dancing With the Stars, Tonioli called Cheetah Girl Sabrina Bryan "a little lynx on the prowl" and labelled singer and actor Billy Ray Cyrus "a crazy bear lost in a swamp".

A minor controversy arose following Tonioli's remarks to U.S. Dancing With the Stars contestant Michael Bolton and dance partner Chelsie Hightower on the 27 September 2010 after show, when the judge called Bolton's jive dance the worst he had seen in all 11 seasons. Bolton expressed his dissatisfaction prominently in the media afterward, prompting ABC to release a statement defending Tonioli.

In 2016, a surprise challenge saw Tonioli work with Jodie Sweetin and season 22 (U.S.) eventual-winner Nyle DiMarco and their professional partners. During the sequence, the two celebrities swapped partners, seeing DiMarco and Keo Motsepe dance the tango in ballroom hold, with both men shirtless, and Mostsepe lift and twirl DiMarco. This was the first time a same-sex pairing danced in any franchise of the show.

In November 2016 he lent his name to an album released by Decca entitled An Italian Romance – a compilation of Italian songs by various artists selected by Tonioli. The cover of the album was shot by John Mac.

In November 2018 Tonioli presented the BBC Radio 2 series Bruno Tonioli at the Opera.

Public image
In 2009 Rolling Stone magazine said that Tonioli had "won America's heart with his gay-Italian-maniac steez."

Personal life
Tonioli is fluent in five languages: Italian, English, Portuguese, Spanish, and French. He has lived in London since 1975.

Tonioli is gay, and has spoken of the homophobic bullying he suffered in his youth.