Karen Hauer

Strictly Come Dancing

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''

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.

''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

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

Series 10: with celebrity partner Nicky Byrne

Series 11: with celebrity partner Dave Myers

Series 12: with celebrity partner Mark Wright

• Score awarded by guest judge Donny Osmond

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.

• 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

• 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.

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 (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.

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 (until 2009), then to fellow professional dancer Kevin Clifton (2015–2018) and later to Jordan Wyn-Jones (2022–2024), whom she married at Chewton Glen. She is currently dating former rugby player Simon Davidson.

References

References

1. (2015-08-20). "The Secret Talent Show Pasts Of The 'Strictly' Pro Dancers".
2. (2012-12-10). "Nicky Byrne eliminated from Strictly". [[RTE]].
3. (2013-11-11). "Strictly Come Dancing 2013: Hairy Biker Dave Myers sent home".
4. Finbow, Katy. (2014-12-20). "Strictly: Who finished in fourth place?".
5. (2015-11-15). "Strictly Come Dancing 2015 week 8 results".
6. "BBC One – Strictly Come Dancing – Karen Hauer".
7. Harp, Justin. (2016-11-18). "Which Olympian won Strictly's Children in Need show?".
8. "Who is Ainsley Harriott? Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special contestant guide".
9. "BBC One - Strictly Come Dancing - Karen Hauer".
10. "Meet Jamie Laing – Strictly Come Dancing 2020 contestant and Made in Chelsea star".
11. (2024-12-25). "Josh Widdicombe and Karen Hauer Charleston to Let It Snow by Glee Cast ✨ BBC Strictly 2024".
12. "Information".
13. (2010-04-14). "4* Weekend Break with the stars of Strictly Come Dancing".
14. "Karen Hauer".
15. "BBC One – Strictly Come Dancing – Karen Clifton".
16. West, Amy. (2021-03-25). "Strictly Come Dancing's Karen Hauer celebrates show milestone in Instagram video".
17. Douglas, Nicole. (15 March 2018). "Kevin and Karen Clifton CONFIRM split: Strictly Come Dancing couple to divorce".
18. (8 June 2022). "Strictly's Karen Hauer marries Jordan Wyn-Jones in intimate ceremony – EXCLUSIVE".
19. Sansome, Jessica. (2 June 2025). "Strictly's Karen Hauer gushes 'the two of us' after heartbreaking marriage talk". Manchester Evening News.