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Karen Hauer

Professional dancer (born 1982) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Karen Hauer (formerly Clifton; born 20 April 1982) is a VenezuelanAmerican professional Latin dance specialist and World Mambo Champion, best known for appearing on the British television series Strictly Come Dancing. She was the longest-serving female professional dancer on the show, appearing from 2012 until 2025. 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.

Born
Karen Vanessa Girez Kardenez Andreas

(1982-04-20) 20 April 1982 (age 44)
Valencia, Venezuela
OccupationProfessional dancer
Yearsactive2009–present
Quick facts Born, Occupation ...
Karen Hauer
Born
Karen Vanessa Girez Kardenez Andreas

(1982-04-20) 20 April 1982 (age 44)
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)
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So You Think You Can Dance

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]

More information Week, Partner ...
Week Partner Style Music Choreographer(s) Results
1 Kevin Hunte Cha-Cha "Push It"—Glee Cast Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin Safe
2 Hip-Hop "Ice Cream Paint Job"—Dorrough Tabitha and Napoleon D'umo Safe
3 Hustle "Come To Me"—France Joli Maria Torres Bottom 3
4 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
Hip-Hop "Moving Mountains"—Usher Laurie Ann Gibson Eliminated
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Strictly Come Dancing

Hauer joined Strictly Come Dancing as a professional dancer in 2012, partnering Westlife singer Nicky Byrne for the tenth series. 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 the eleventh series 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]

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

For the thirteenth series, 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.[9]

During the seventeenth series in 2019, Hauer was partnered with comedian Chris Ramsey; they reached the semi-final.[9]

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.[10]

For the nineteenth series in 2021, she was partnered with actor Greg Wise. The couple were eliminated in Week 4.

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

For the twenty-first 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 twenty-second 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. She appeared in the 2024 Christmas special, dancing a charleston with Josh Widdicombe to the song "Let It Snow" while dressed as a penguin.[11]

For the twenty-third series, she was paired with Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and the pair were the sixth couple to be eliminated.[12]

In March 2026, it was announced that Hauer would be departing the show after 14 years, along with several other professional dancers, making her the longest serving female professional at the time of her departure. Speaking on her exit she said, "Strictly completely changed my life, not only as a performer and a teacher but as a human being. I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many incredible people and brilliant celebrity partners who have become close friends and people I admire so much."[13]

Highest and lowest scoring performances per dance

More information Dance, Partner ...
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Eddie Kadi, Jeremy Vine and Will Young are the only celebrities not to appear on this list.

More information Series, Partner ...
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
23 Harry Aikines-Aryeetey 9th 27.0
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Series 10: with celebrity partner Nicky Byrne

Series 11: with celebrity partner Dave Myers

Series 12: with celebrity partner Mark Wright

Series 13: with celebrity partner Jeremy Vine

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

Series 14: with celebrity partner Will Young

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

Series 15: with celebrity partner Simon Rimmer

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

Series 16: with celebrity partner Charles Venn

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

Series 17: with celebrity partner Chris Ramsey

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

Series 19: with celebrity partner Greg Wise

Series 20: with celebrity partner Jayde Adams

Series 21: with celebrity partner Eddie Kadi

Series 22: with celebrity partner Paul Merson

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

Series 23: with celebrity partner Harry Aikines-Aryeetey

Dance tours and other professional engagements

In August 2017, Karen and 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.[14]

In October 2025, Hauer announced that she would be teaching and performing with Gorka Márquez at Donahey's 'Dancing with The Stars Weekends' in 2026.[15]

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

In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hauer's 'Firedance' tour with Gorka Márquez was postponed after a number of performances.[16]

Personal life

Hauer was born Karen Vanessa Girez Kardenez Andreas, in Valencia, Venezuela, and took up dancing after moving to New York when she was aged eight.[citation needed] 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.[16][17]

Hauer was named World Mambo Champion in 2008, and Professional American Rhythm Rising Star Champion in 2009.[6]

Hauer became the longest-serving female professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing when she was confirmed to appear in her tenth series in 2021.[18]

Hauer is a certified Personal Trainer and a health and fitness enthusiast, and in 2019 she launched her online fitness programme 'Hauer Power'.[16]

Hauer has been married three times: first to former dance partner Matthew Hauer (until 2009), then to fellow professional dancer Kevin Clifton (2015–2018)[19] and later to Jordan Wyn-Jones (2022–2024), whom she married at Chewton Glen.[20] She is currently dating former rugby player Simon Davidson.[21]

References

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