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Karen Hauer

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Karen Hauer
Born
Karen Vanessa Girez Kardenez Andreas

(1982-04-20) 20 April 1982 (age 42)
Valencia, Venezuela
OccupationProfessional dancer
Years active2009–present
TelevisionSo You Think You Can Dance
Strictly Come Dancing
Spouses
Matthew Hauer
​
​
(m. 2000; div. 2009)​
​
​
(m. 2015; div. 2018)​
Jordan Wyn-Jones
​
​
(m. 2022; div. 2024)​

Karen Hauer (formerly Clifton; born 20 April 1982) is a Venezuelan-American professional Latin dance specialist and World Mambo Champion, best known for her appearances on the British television series Strictly Come Dancing. She is currently the longest serving professional dancer on the show, having joined in 2012. She also featured on the American TV series So You Think You Can Dance, and was a principal dancer in the touring live dance show Burn the Floor.

So You Think You Can Dance

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In 2009, Hauer auditioned for season 6 of the US reality show So You Think You Can Dance. She originally auditioned with her husband at the time, Matthew Hauer, but he was eliminated during Vegas week while Karen moved on to the top 20.[1]

Week Partner Style Music Choreographer(s) Results
1 Kevin Hunte Cha-Cha "Push It"—Glee Cast Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin Safe
2 Kevin Hunte Hip-Hop "Ice Cream Paint Job"—Dorrough Tabitha and Napoleon D'umo Safe
3 Kevin Hunte Hustle "Come To Me"—France Joli Maria Torres Bottom 3
4 Kevin Hunte Broadway "If My Friends Could See Me Now"—Christina Applegate Spencer Liff Bottom 3
5 Victor Smalley Tango "Montserrat"— Orquesta del Plata Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin Eliminated
5 Victor Smalley Hip-Hop "Moving Mountains"—Usher Laurie Ann Gibson Eliminated

Strictly Come Dancing

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Hauer joined Strictly Come Dancing as a professional dancer in 2012, partnering Westlife singer Nicky Byrne. They reached the quarter-finals in week 10, before losing the dance-off to Denise van Outen and her partner James Jordan.[2]

Hauer returned for series 11 in 2013 to partner television chef Dave Myers; they were voted out of the competition in week 7, after losing the dance-off to Mark Benton and Iveta Lukosiute.[3]

In series 12, she was paired with television personality Mark Wright, and they made it to the final, coming in 4th place.[4]

In series 13, she was partnered with broadcaster Jeremy Vine; they were eliminated in Week 8 after losing a dance-off with Jamelia and Tristan MacManus.[5]

For the fourteenth series in 2016, Hauer was paired with the singer Will Young, who withdrew from the competition after the third week.[6]

In 2016, Hauer won the Children in Need Special with the taekwondo athlete Lutalo Muhammad.[7] She danced with the celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott for the 2016 Christmas special.[8]

In the fifteenth series in 2017, Hauer partnered television chef Simon Rimmer; they were eliminated in 11th place.[9]

She was paired with actor Charles Venn for the sixteenth series in 2018; they reached the quarter-finals.[10]

During the seventeenth series in 2019, Hauer was partnered with comedian Chris Ramsey; they reached the semi-final.[11]

In the eighteenth series in 2020, she was partnered with Made in Chelsea star Jamie Laing, who returned after injuring his foot in the previous series. With Laing, Hauer reached the final for the second time.[12]

For the nineteenth series in 2021, she was partnered with actor Greg Wise. The couple were eliminated in Week 4. With Hauer returning for her eleventh series, she would now serve as the longest-serving female professional dancer in the history of Strictly Come Dancing.

For the twentieth series in 2022, she was partnered with comedienne Jayde Adams. The couple were eliminated in Week 5 after losing the dance off to Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu.

For the 21st series in 2023, she was partnered with comedian and DJ Eddie Kadi. The couple were eliminated in Week 5 after losing the dance off to Zara McDermott and Graziano Di Prima.

For the 22nd series in 2024, she was partnered with footballer and pundit Paul Merson. The couple were eliminated in Week 5 after losing in the dance-off to JB Gill and Amy Dowden with all judges voting against them.

Highest and lowest scoring performances per dance

Jeremy Vine and Will Young are the only celebrities not to appear on this list.

Series Partner Place Average
Score
10 Nicky Byrne 6th 26.6
11 Dave Myers 10th 18.3
12 Mark Wright 4th 31.7
13 Jeremy Vine 9th 20.3
14 Will Young 13th 29.3
15 Simon Rimmer 11th 18.5
16 Charles Venn 6th 29.7
17 Chris Ramsey 4th 26.2
18 Jamie Laing 2nd 32.0
19 Greg Wise 12th 23.0
20 Jayde Adams 27.4
21 Eddie Kadi 25.0
22 Paul Merson 18.6

Series 10: with celebrity partner Nicky Byrne

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Series 11: with celebrity partner Dave Myers

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Series 12: with celebrity partner Mark Wright

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Series 13: with celebrity partner Jeremy Vine

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In 2015 she partnered BBC Radio 2 presenter Jeremy Vine, for the thirteenth series of the show.

Series 14: with celebrity partner Will Young

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She partnered singer Will Young, for the fourteenth series of the show.

Series 15: with celebrity partner Simon Rimmer

[edit]

She partnered chef Simon Rimmer, for the fifteenth series of the show.

Series 16: with celebrity partner Charles Venn

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She partnered actor Charles Venn, for the sixteenth series of the show.

Series 17: with celebrity partner Chris Ramsey

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She was partnered with comedian Chris Ramsey, for the seventeenth series. The couple reached the semi-final and finished fourth.

Series 18: with celebrity partner Jamie Laing

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Series 19: with celebrity partner Greg Wise

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Series 20: with celebrity partner Jayde Adams

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Series 21: with celebrity partner Eddie Kadi

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Series 22: with celebrity partner Paul Merson

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  • Red number indicates Paul and Karen were at the bottom of the leaderboard

Dance tours and other professional engagements

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In August 2017, Karen & Kevin Clifton announced they would be touring the UK again in 2018 with their theatre tour, following the sell out success of their first nationwide tour in 2017.[13]

In August 2023, Hauer announced that she would be teaching & performing with Gorka Márquez at Donahey's 'Dancing with The Stars Weekends' in 2024.[14]

Hauer has performed on the Strictly Come Dancing Live! tour several times, either with a partner or as an additional dancer.

In 2020, Hauer's 'Firedance' tour with Gorka Márquez was postponed after a number of performances due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[15]

Personal life

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Hauer was born Karen Vanessa Girez Kardenez Andreas, in Valencia, Venezuela, and took up dancing after moving to New York when she was eight.[16] She studied at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance, and then the High School of Performing Arts (otherwise known as "The Fame School"), majoring in ballet and contemporary dance before going on to study Ballroom and Latin at the age of 19.[17][18]

Hauer was named World Mambo Champion in 2008, and Professional American Rhythm Rising Star Champion in 2009.[19]

Hauer became the longest serving female professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing when she was confirmed to appear in her tenth series in 2021.[20]

Hauer is a certified Personal Trainer and a health and fitness enthusiast, and in 2019 she launched her online fitness programme 'Hauer Power'.[21]

Hauer has been married three times: first to former dance partner Matthew Hauer (until 2009), then to fellow professional dancer Kevin Clifton (2015-2018)[22] and latterly to Jordan Wyn-Jones, who she married at Chewton Glen in 2022.[23]

References

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  1. ^ "The Secret Talent Show Pasts Of The 'Strictly' Pro Dancers". HuffPost UK. 20 August 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Nicky Byrne eliminated from Strictly". 10 December 2012. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ "Strictly Come Dancing 2013: Hairy Biker Dave Myers sent home". The Independent. 11 November 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  4. ^ Finbow, Katy (20 December 2014). "Strictly: Who finished in fourth place?". Digital Spy. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Strictly Come Dancing 2015 week 8 results". The Independent. 15 November 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  6. ^ "BBC One - Strictly Come Dancing - Karen Hauer". BBC. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  7. ^ Harp, Justin (18 November 2016). "Which Olympian won Strictly's Children in Need show?". Digital Spy. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  8. ^ "Who is Ainsley Harriott? Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special contestant guide". Radio Times. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  9. ^ "BBC One - Strictly Come Dancing - Karen Hauer". BBC. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  10. ^ "BBC One - Strictly Come Dancing - Karen Hauer". BBC. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  11. ^ "BBC One - Strictly Come Dancing - Karen Hauer". BBC. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  12. ^ "Meet Jamie Laing – Strictly Come Dancing 2020 contestant and Made in Chelsea star". Radio Times. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  13. ^ "Information". Kevinandkarenlive.com. Archived from the original on 8 October 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  14. ^ "4* Weekend Break with the stars of Strictly Come Dancing". Donaheys.co.uk. 14 April 2010.
  15. ^ "Karen Hauer". InterTalent Rights Group. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  16. ^ "Karen Hauer Height, Husband, Long Hair, Partner, Wiki, Age, Maiden Name, First Husband, Married, Net Worth |". 10 September 2022.
  17. ^ "Karen Hauer". InterTalent Rights Group. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  18. ^ "BBC One - Strictly Come Dancing - Karen Clifton". BBC.
  19. ^ "BBC One - Strictly Come Dancing - Karen Hauer". BBC. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  20. ^ West, Amy (25 March 2021). "Strictly Come Dancing's Karen Hauer celebrates show milestone in Instagram video". Digital Spy. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  21. ^ "Karen Hauer". InterTalent Rights Group. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  22. ^ Douglas, Nicole (15 March 2018). "Kevin and Karen Clifton CONFIRM split: Strictly Come Dancing couple to divorce". OK! Magazine.
  23. ^ "Strictly's Karen Hauer marries Jordan Wyn-Jones in intimate ceremony - EXCLUSIVE". HELLO!. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
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