Karen Hauer
Karen Haueris a Venezuelan–American 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.
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.
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.
For the twelfth series, she was paired with television personality Mark Wright; they made it to the final, coming in 4th place.
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.
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.
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.
For the twenty-third series, she was paired with Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and the pair were the sixth couple to be eliminated.
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."
