Interesting facts about the 'Let's Dance' judge

Joachim Llambi turns 60 - Interesting facts about the "Let's Dance" judge

The "Let's Dance" world will celebrate a special birthday child on July 18: Jury member Joachim Llambi turns 60. How did he become a star of RTL's dance show (also on RTL+) and what are his other passions?

Spanish Roots

Joachim Llambi was born on July 18, 1964, in Duisburg. "I was just a normal working-class child," Llambi told the "Bild" newspaper in 2023. "My mother worked in the tax office, my father - before his serious brain tumor - was a blacksmith." When he was eleven years old, his Barcelona-born father "became a ward of the state due to his terrible brain tumor."

Through his grandfather, his mother and he received financial support. "It was still a hard time. When I began my banking apprenticeship at the Sparkasse in Duisburg, we pooled our money and looked for ways to get by." At that time, he learned firsthand "how quickly a family can be in the middle of the month without money and how burdensome that can be." RTL reports that the two cared for the father for nine years until his death.

Career on the Stock Exchange

After graduating from high school in 1984 and completing his banking training at the City Sparkasse Duisburg, Llambi went to work as a stock market trader at the Düsseldorf Stock Exchange in the late 1980s. From 1997 to 2012, he was active as a stock market trader at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

"Working at the stock exchange every day was not compatible with my other engagements," Llambi explained in 2013 in an interview with Handelsblatt. The stock exchange and the dance floor had some similarities: "At the stock exchange, you need a lot of discipline when juggling numbers, and in dancing, you need training discipline, as well as for the performance on 'Let's Dance'. Additionally, there was more show back then, when I started on the Frankfurt dance floor in the late 90s."

Big in the Dance World

Already at the age of 16, Llambi entered the dance world. In a Duisburg dance school, where his mother worked as a secretary, he took part in his first course. In 1989, he switched from the amateur to the professional league. As a professional tournament dancer, he could score points especially in the "10 Dances" section and participated in World and European championships. In addition, he began a career as a judge and was chairman of the Professional Division in the German Dance Sport Association (DTV) and Sports Director of the international Dance Sport Federation WDSF.

His image and thus his success in the dance show he owes "basically to Hape Kerkeling," Llambi revealed in an RTL interview. "Because I came into this show and was unknown in Germany. Hape introduced me as 'Mr. Llambi'." Kerkeling (59) moderated the first two seasons of the RTL dance show and often drew attention to the jury member with his stern gaze. Through his respected and feared criticism, Llambi also became an author: in 2014, his book "That's something I've wanted to tell you: Honest Criticism" was published.

Great Passion

Away from the dance floor, Llambi spends his time not only golfing or cycling, as an Instagram post shows. There, the dance jury member, who has over 113,000 followers on Instagram, regularly reports from the football stadium. His heart beats for FC Barcelona and MSV Duisburg. To the latter club, he regularly gives his opinion as a celebrity fan and distributed criticism, especially before the team's relegation from the third league.

He still stands by Duisburg and the club, he declared in a "Let's Dance" broadcast. In that context, the audience could also witness Llambi's softer side. While presenting a jersey gift to departing candidate Tony Bauer (28), juror Tränchen pressed tears from his eyes.

His soft side is also evident as a family man. "My father is just an ordinary father at home. Like everyone else, stable and always strives for the best for me and gives me advice," daughter Helena Llambi (19) recently shared in an RTL interview. The duo maintains a father-daughter relationship "at eye level." Helena Llambi, who has already moderated several dance events with her father, is the daughter of Joachim Llambi and his second wife Ilona. The couple married in 2005. Ilona brought a 1999-born daughter from a previous relationship into the marriage.

New Job

Professionally, things are going well for the "Let's Dance" juror. Joachim Llambi recently wrote on Instagram about his new commitment in a "Bild" headline: "It's out earlier than expected, and what a great joy for me! I will be part of the fantastic talkshow 'Riverboat' on MDR starting in the fall!" He is thrilled about his colleagues Kim Fisher (55), Klaus Brinkbäumer (57), Matze Knop (49), and Wolfgang Lippert (72), according to Llambi. He is also excited about the wonderful audience, who have made "Riverboat" one of the most successful shows on MDR and the ARD Group. Thank you to all who have given me their trust.

What about his jury position? "Well, 'Riverboat' airs on Fridays evenings - just like 'Let's Dance' - live," quotes RTL Llambi. "And the 'Let's Dance' family need not worry. It's all arranged so that I can always be there for 'Let's Dance!'" It was reported in February that the trio of Llambi, Motsi Mabuse (43), and Jorge González (56) had extended their contracts with RTL. "We extended the running contract prematurely for several years last year, we can safely reveal that," said González. The jury will not be "switched like underwear," added Llambi.

Llambi is unlikely to earn additional money through advertising. He told the "Bild" newspaper, "I have been approached on Instagram for bleaching toothpaste for particularly white teeth or even for sports clothing. But I don't do that for such products. It makes me an unreliable juror as an independent juror."

Despite his successful career on "Let's Dance" and RTL+, Joachim Llambi reminisces about his humble beginnings in Duisburg, where he was a "Right to Left" child with a mother working in the tax office and a father who was a blacksmith before his brain tumor.
In a Duisburg dance school, Joachim Llambi found his passion for dancing at the age of 16, and his love for it only grew when he switched to the professional league in 1989.
In an interview with Handelsblatt, Joachim Llambi discussed how his experience as a stock market trader at Düsseldorf Stock Exchange in the 1980s and Frankfurt Stock Exchange from 1997 to 2012 helped him manage numbers and discipline on the dance floor.
On Instagram, Joachim Llambi shares his love for soccer, especially for FC Barcelona and MSV Duisburg, where he regularly provides criticism and opinions, as shown in an RTL interview.
Joachim Llambi's success in the RTL dance show is largely attributed to Hape Kerkeling, who introduced him to the German audience, earning him respect and a feared criticism reputation.
In 2014, Joachim Llambi published his book "That's something I've wanted to tell you: Honest Criticism," showcasing his ability to provide constructive feedback and express his thoughts honestly.
Joachim Llambi is spreading his love for entertainment beyond the dance show, revealing in an Instagram post that he will be joining the talkshow 'Riverboat' on MDR starting in the fall.
Despite the exciting opportunity to join a new project, Joachim Llambi reassures the "Let's Dance" family and fans that he will continue to be an active jury member, ensuring that both shows can coexist in his busy schedule.