Karen Hardy
Encyclopedia
Karen Hardy is a professional ballroom dancer, coach, teacher and adjudicator. In 1998 she won the professional International Latin American Dance Championship with Bryan Watson. She also won the United Kingdom Open, British National, European and World Masters championships. She now runs a dance studio at Imperial Wharf, London.
, 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 in 1990 after two years in America where she teamed up with new partner Mark Lunn. It only took 6 months before they broke into the finals worldwide, representing England.
Karen turned professional in August 1994, after being asked to partner South African dancer Bryan Watson. They were highly successful from 1995–1999. In January 1995 they entered the Professional Final of the Pioneer United Kingdom Open Championship finishing fourth. Their progress to the top continued over the coming year going from fourth to first. The couple won the Carl Alan award for services to the dance world, and were named the most outstanding Latin American couple in 1995 by the Ballroom Dancers' Federation
. During their 5 year partnership they were World Masters, Osaka World Trophy, United Kingdom Open, International Open, British National, Italian Open, London Open, Yankee Classic Professional Latin American Champions.
Discussing her success, she writes:
Hardy retired from competitive dancing in 1999 and moved into coaching. She was named Teacher of the Year in 2002 and 2003 at the Crystal Palace Dance Championships. She is also an adjudicator and now judges all of the Grand Slam events worldwide which she had previously competed in and more. She is a Senior Commentator for EuroSport DanceSport Series. Karen also co-hosts as the Master of Ceremonies in the International Open to the World Championships held annually at the Royal Albert Hall
, London
.
Karen participated in the television series Faking It
(Series 4) for Channel 4
. Along with Paul Harris
they mentored a young female kick boxer to become a Latin American Dancer.
's television series Strictly Come Dancing
. She appeared with journalist and presenter Bill Turnbull
, in the 2005 Christmas show with former World Heavyweight Champion Evander Holyfield
, and won the 2006 series
with cricketer Mark Ramprakash
. She danced in the 2007 series with actor Brian Capron
. They were eliminated in the first round.
In June/July 2007 Karen completed filming the DVD "Strictly Come Dancersize" with Erin Boag
. The DVD went on general release on 4 December 2007.
In the 2008 series of Strictly Come Dancing, Karen partnered Gary Rhodes
. They were knocked out in week 3. The Daily Mail
newspaper reported that she had been "axed" from Strictly Come Dancing on 4 August 2009, although many ballroom fans suspected that she had retired from the show voluntarily to concentrate on her new dance school. She does however continue to make regular appearances on sister-show Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two
giving her professional opinion on the couple's training and performances.
In 2003, Karen married a former dancer from New Zealand, Conrad Murray, on the Greek
island of Santorini
. They have a son named Callum born March 2005. She suffered from post natal depression for some time after the birth of her son.
Dancing career
She started dancing aged five in her home town of BournemouthBournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
, 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 in 1990 after two years in America where she teamed up with new partner Mark Lunn. It only took 6 months before they broke into the finals worldwide, representing England.
Karen turned professional in August 1994, after being asked to partner South African dancer Bryan Watson. They were highly successful from 1995–1999. In January 1995 they entered the Professional Final of the Pioneer United Kingdom Open Championship finishing fourth. Their progress to the top continued over the coming year going from fourth to first. The couple won the Carl Alan award for services to the dance world, and were named the most outstanding Latin American couple in 1995 by the Ballroom Dancers' Federation
Ballroom Dancers' Federation
The Ballroom Dancers' Federation was founded in 1958 to give a voice to competitive ballroom dancers. A previous organisation, called the Competitors' Federation had been disbanded soon after its formation in 1946...
. During their 5 year partnership they were World Masters, Osaka World Trophy, United Kingdom Open, International Open, British National, Italian Open, London Open, Yankee Classic Professional Latin American Champions.
Discussing her success, she writes:
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.
Hardy retired from competitive dancing in 1999 and moved into coaching. She was named Teacher of the Year in 2002 and 2003 at the Crystal Palace Dance Championships. She is also an adjudicator and now judges all of the Grand Slam events worldwide which she had previously competed in and more. She is a Senior Commentator for EuroSport DanceSport Series. Karen also co-hosts as the Master of Ceremonies in the International Open to the World Championships held annually at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Karen participated in the television series Faking It
Faking It
Faking It was a television programme originating on Channel 4 which has spawned various international remakes, including a US version which began in 2003 on the TLC network...
(Series 4) for Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
. Along with Paul Harris
Paul Harris (choreographer)
Paul Harris is an English choreographer, dance teacher and movement director in film, television and theatre. His notable works include the famous laser scenes for Catherine Zeta-Jones in the movie Entrapment, the BAFTA Award-winning Bleak House and the wand fight sequences in Harry Potter and the...
they mentored a young female kick boxer to become a Latin American Dancer.
Strictly Come Dancing
After seven years retirement from competitions, Karen appeared in the third series of the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's television series Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing is a British television show, featuring celebrities with professional dance partners competing in Ballroom and Latin dances. The title of the show suggests a continuation of the long-running series Come Dancing, with an allusion to the film Strictly Ballroom...
. She appeared with journalist and presenter Bill Turnbull
Bill Turnbull
William Robert "Bill" Turnbull is an English journalist and presenter, currently employed by the BBC and best known for presenting BBC Breakfast...
, in the 2005 Christmas show with former World Heavyweight Champion Evander Holyfield
Evander Holyfield
Evander Holyfield is a professional boxer from the United States. He is a former undisputed world champion in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions, earning him the nickname "The Real Deal"...
, and won the 2006 series
Strictly Come Dancing (Series 4)
The fourth series of Strictly Come Dancing started on 7 October 2006 and ended on 23 December 2006. It was presented by Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly, and the winner was Mark Ramprakash along with his dancing partner Karen Hardy.-The show:...
with cricketer Mark Ramprakash
Mark Ramprakash
Mark Ravin Ramprakash is an English cricketer, playing for Surrey and England. A right-handed batsman, he initially made his name playing for Middlesex, and was selected for England aged 21...
. She danced in the 2007 series with actor Brian Capron
Brian Capron
Brian Capron, born 11 February 1947 at Eye in Suffolk, is a British actor, who trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art . His father was an Algerian pilot, of French descent, who died in a plane crash before Brian was born....
. They were eliminated in the first round.
In June/July 2007 Karen completed filming the DVD "Strictly Come Dancersize" with Erin Boag
Erin Boag
Erin Boag is a professional ballroom dancer. She has danced from the age of three, originally starting ballet and later moving into ballroom, Latin and jazz...
. The DVD went on general release on 4 December 2007.
In the 2008 series of Strictly Come Dancing, Karen partnered Gary Rhodes
Gary Rhodes
Gary Rhodes OBE is an English restaurateur, cookery writer, and chef, known for his love of British cuisine and distinctive spiked hair style ....
. They were knocked out in week 3. The Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
newspaper reported that she had been "axed" from Strictly Come Dancing on 4 August 2009, although many ballroom fans suspected that she had retired from the show voluntarily to concentrate on her new dance school. She does however continue to make regular appearances on sister-show Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two
Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two
Strictly: It Takes Two is a British television programme, the companion show to the popular BBC One programme Strictly Come Dancing. It airs on weeknights during the run of the main show on BBC Two at 6:30pm...
giving her professional opinion on the couple's training and performances.
Personal life
At the age of eight Hardy was diagnosed with a rare and acute form of ear cancer. Despite successive operations the cancer returned three times, before a last-ditch operation when she was twenty one cleared the cancer permanently. As a result of the cancer Hardy has lost 70% of the hearing in her left ear.In 2003, Karen married a former dancer from New Zealand, Conrad Murray, on the Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
island of Santorini
Santorini
Santorini , officially Thira , is an island located in the southern Aegean Sea, about southeast from Greece's mainland. It is the largest island of a small, circular archipelago which bears the same name and is the remnant of a volcanic caldera...
. They have a son named Callum born March 2005. She suffered from post natal depression for some time after the birth of her son.