Strictly Come Dancing professional Karen Hauer has confirmed that she is leaving the BBC dance competitors after 14 years.
The 43-year-old Venezuelan–American dancer, who’s the programme’s longest-running feminine professional, broke down in tears as she shared the information of her departure with followers in a video posted to Instagram.
Hauer stated it was the “right time” for her to shut her Strictly chapter and deliberate to “take on new projects in other areas that I’m passionate about” somewhat than proceed acting on the much-loved BBC present.
The dancer, who described herself as “a young girl from the Bronx”, stated Strictly had “completely changed” her life 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,” she stated, including that she had moved to the UK for the programme with “no idea what I was getting myself into”.
Hauer shared that she was going to overlook the welfare employees on the collection who “take such good care” of the Strictly execs. The collection has endured numerous scandals throughout her 14 years on the programme, together with allegations towards Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima.
The 43-year-old, who spoke out final season over the Strictly choose’s “harsh” choreography feedback, added she’d even miss Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Motsi Mabuse, and Craig Revel Horwood regardless of “secretly disagreeing” with them whereas “smiling politely”.
The star’s final superstar associate on the collection was Gladiator star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, whereas the yr earlier than she danced with former footballer Paul Merson, who completed in twelfth place.
She has additionally been partnered with stars together with the late Hairy Bikers chef Dave Myers and Made in Chelsea star Jamie Laing since her 2010 debut, with whom she completed in second place.
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Hauer added that she would at all times be cheering her fellow professionals on from the sidelines regardless of her exit and recalled working with the late Sir Bruce Forsyth and Len Goodman when she first joined the present.
The dancer’s departure follows the exit of Strictly hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who aired their final episode of the programme in December. The skilled stated she hoped she may now be “ladies who lunch” with the duo from this autumn.
However, Hauer assured followers that her announcement “isn’t a goodbye, it’s simply see you later, because I will never stop dancing”.
The BBC later launched a press release, saying: “We would like to say a huge and heartfelt thank you to Karen Hauer for her incredible contribution to Strictly Come Dancing over the last 14 years.
“As the longest-serving female professional dancer in the history of the show, Karen has given so much of herself and her time to the programme, and we are extremely grateful for the passion, creativity and dedication she has brought to every single performance.”
The long-standing skilled’s exit comes after stories claiming that several professional dancers have been axed forward of the 2026 collection.
It’s believed that Gorka Márquez, Luba Mushtuk, Michelle Tsiakkas and Nadiya Bychkova have all been informed they received’t be returning to the dance ground for the approaching season.
