Karen Hauer facts for kids

Karen Hauer (born on April 20, 1982) is a professional dancer from Venezuela. She is an expert in Latin dance and is a World Mambo Champion. Many people know her from the British TV show Strictly Come Dancing.

Hauer is the longest-serving professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing, having joined in 2012. She has also appeared on the American show So You Think You Can Dance. Additionally, she was a main dancer in the live dance show Burn the Floor.

Early Life and Career

Karen Hauer was born in Valencia, Venezuela. When she was eight years old, she moved to New York City. This is where her journey in dancing began.

She studied at famous schools like the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. She also attended the High School of Performing Arts, which is sometimes called "The Fame School." There, she focused on ballet and contemporary dance. At age 19, she started learning Ballroom and Latin dance styles.

Her hard work paid off. In 2008, she became the World Mambo Champion. The next year, she won the Professional American Rhythm Rising Star Champion title.

Television Appearances

So You Think You Can Dance

In 2009, Hauer competed on the American TV show So You Think You Can Dance. She made it to the top 20 contestants. She performed several different dance styles on the show, including the Cha-Cha, Hip-Hop, and Tango. She was eliminated in the fifth week of the competition.

Strictly Come Dancing

In 2012, Hauer joined the popular UK show Strictly Come Dancing as a professional dancer. She has danced with many celebrity partners over the years. She is known for her amazing choreography and teaching skills.

As of 2024, Hauer has been on the show for 12 years, making her the longest-serving female professional dancer in the show's history. She has reached the final twice, with partners Mark Wright in 2014 and Jamie Laing in 2020.

Here is a list of her celebrity partners and how they did on the show:

Hauer has also participated in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas specials and the Children in Need specials. In 2016, she won the Children in Need trophy with taekwondo athlete Lutalo Muhammad.

Dance Tours

Besides her TV work, Hauer performs in live dance tours. She has toured the UK with fellow dancer Kevin Clifton. She also toured with Gorka Márquez in a show called 'Firedance'.

Hauer often performs on the Strictly Come Dancing Live! tour. She also teaches dance at special events, sharing her skills with fans.

Personal Life

Hauer is also a certified personal trainer. She is passionate about health and fitness. In 2019, she started her own online fitness program called 'Hauer Power'.

She has been married three times. Her first husband was her former dance partner, Matthew Hauer. She was later married to fellow Strictly professional Kevin Clifton. In 2022, she married Jordan Wyn-Jones.

See also

In Spanish: Karen Hauer para niños