Karen Hauer


Karen Hauer 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''

In 2009, Hauer auditioned for So You Think [You Can Dance (season 6)|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.
WeekPartnerStyleMusicChoreographerResults
1Kevin HunteCha-Cha"Push It"—Glee CastTony Meredith and Melanie LaPatinSafe
2Kevin HunteHip-Hop"Ice Cream Paint Job"—DorroughTabitha and Napoleon D'umoSafe
3Kevin HunteHustle"Come To Me"—France JoliMaria TorresBottom 3
4Kevin HunteBroadway"If My Friends Could See Me Now"—Christina ApplegateSpencer LiffBottom 3
5Victor SmalleyTango"Montserrat"— Orquesta del PlataTony Meredith and Melanie LaPatinEliminated
5Victor SmalleyHip-Hop"Moving Mountains"—UsherLaurie Ann GibsonEliminated

''Strictly Come Dancing''

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.
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.
In series 12, she was paired with television personality Mark Wright; they made it to the final, coming in 4th place.
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.
For the fourteenth series in 2016, Hauer was paired with the singer Will Young, who withdrew from the competition after the third week.
In 2016, Hauer won the Children in Need Special with the taekwondo athlete Lutalo Muhammad. She danced with the celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott for the 2016 Christmas special.
In the fifteenth series in 2017, Hauer partnered television chef Simon Rimmer; they were eliminated in 11th place.
She was paired with actor Charles Venn for the sixteenth series in 2018; they reached the quarter-finals.
During the seventeenth series in 2019, Hauer was partnered with comedian Chris Ramsey; they reached the semi-final.
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.
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 comedian 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. She appeared in the 2024 Christmas special, dancing a charleston with Josh Widdicombe to the song "Let It Snow" while dressed as a penguin.
Highest and lowest scoring performances per dance
DancePartnerHighestPartnerLowest
American SmoothJayde Adams31Simon Rimmer16
Argentine TangoNicky Byrne
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey		30
Cha Cha ChaMark Wright35Chris Ramsey13
CharlestonNicky Byrne
Mark Wright		36Simon Rimmer21
Couple's ChoiceJamie Laing 39Greg Wise23
Dance-a-thonCharles Venn3Mark Wright2
FoxtrotMark Wright35Chris Ramsey28
JiveMark Wright35Dave Myers19
Paso DobleChris Ramsey31Dave Myers16
QuickstepJamie Laing32Simon Rimmer19
RumbaCharles Venn35Nicky Byrne25
SalsaChris Ramsey33Paul Merson15
SambaCharles Venn38Greg Wise
Simon Rimmer
Paul Merson		19
ShowdanceJamie Laing39Mark Wright35
TangoMark Wright
Jamie Laing		32Dave Myers20
Viennese WaltzMark Wright33Chris Ramsey26
WaltzMark Wright31Nicky Byrne17

Eddie Kadi, Jeremy Vine and Will Young are the only celebrities not to appear on this list.
SeriesPartnerPlaceAverage
Score
10Nicky Byrne6th26.6
11Dave Myers10th18.3
12Mark Wright4th31.7
13Jeremy Vine9th20.3
14Will Young13th29.3
15Simon Rimmer11th18.5
16Charles Venn6th29.7
17Chris Ramsey4th26.2
18Jamie Laing2nd32.0
19Greg Wise12th23.0
20Jayde Adams12th27.4
21Eddie Kadi12th25.0
22Paul Merson12th18.6
23Harry Aikines-Aryeetey9th27.0

Series 10: with celebrity partner Nicky Byrne

Series 11: with celebrity partner Dave Myers

Series 12: with celebrity partner Mark Wright

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.
  • Score awarded by guest judge Alfonso Ribeiro

    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.
  • Score awarded by guest judge Alfonso Ribeiro

    Series 18: with celebrity partner Jamie Laing

  • Score awarded by Anton Du Beke

    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

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.
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.
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.

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. She studied at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance, and then the High School of Performing Arts, majoring in ballet and contemporary dance before going on to study Ballroom and Latin at the age of 19.
Hauer was named World Mambo Champion in 2008, and Professional American Rhythm Rising Star Champion in 2009.
Hauer became the longest-serving female professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing when she was confirmed to appear in her tenth series in 2021.
Hauer is a certified Personal Trainer and a health and fitness enthusiast, and in 2019 she launched her online fitness programme 'Hauer Power'.
Hauer has been married three times: first to former dance partner Matthew Hauer, then to fellow professional dancer Kevin Clifton and later to Jordan Wyn-Jones, whom she married at Chewton Glen. She is currently dating former rugby player Simon Davidson.