Karen Hardy

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Karen Hardy (born Bournemouth, Dorset), is a retired professional Latin American dancer, and is a former international, United Kingdom Open, British National, European and World Masters Champion.

She started dancing aged five in her home town of Bournemouth, and competed in the United States for two years from the age of 18 winning both East and West Coast amateur championship titles. She returned to the UK after two years, and teamed up with Mark Lunn - after six months, the couple were competing in the World Latin Dance championships.

Hardy turned professional in August 1994, after being asked by South African dancer Bryan Watson. Hardy and Watson were the best in the entire profession in the 1990s, and they have been credited with breaking the mould of Latin-American dancing, and dragging the dance form into the 21st century. The couple were named the most outstanding Latin American couple for 1995, and won the Carl Alan award for services to the dance world.

“	To create a step and then see it copied around the world is an indescribable reward. They don't come any more dedicated and focused than Bryan, and that's why we were able to break what had been set in stone for so long.	”
—Karen Hardy, Strictly Come Dancing Official Guide, 2005

Hardy retired in 1999 for family reasons, and she had a son, Callum in March 2005.

After being away from competitive dancing for seven years, she did not expect to be doing it all again with celebrities! She competed in the third series of the BBC's television series Strictly Come Dancing with journalist and presenter Bill Turnbull, in the 2005 Christmas showdown with former World Heavyweight Champion Evander Holyfield, winning the 2006 series with cricketer Mark Ramprakash.

She now regularly partners Brendan Cole for professional work.

[edit] Personal life

In 2003, Karen married New Zealand actor Conrad Murray^[1] on the Greek island of Santorini^[2]. The couple later had a son named Callum.

Won 2006 Series of Strictly Come Dancing with cricketer Mark Ramprakash.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Personal website

Preceded by Darren Gough and Lilia Kopylova	Strictly Come Dancing Champion (with partner Mark Ramprakash) Series 4 (2006)	Succeeded by N/A: Most recent