Ola Jordan
Encyclopedia
Aleksandra "Ola" Jordan (née Grabowska; born 30 September 1982,) is a professional Latin dance specialist best known for her appearances on the British
TV show Strictly Come Dancing
. After winning a championship event in Poland she moved to England and began a new partnership with James Jordan
. She married him in 2003.
The first recorded dance by Ola Grabowska and James Jordan as a partnership was in the Dutch Open in 2000,
though they did not turn professional until 2003. The couple withdrew for a while to teach Latin American dancing in Hong Kong
, though they turned professional again in 2005, after missing competing. In May 2006, the couple came second in the Blackpool
Professional Rising Stars Latin event,
and in November they came third in the British Championships for Professional Latin.
in 2006, partnering DJ Spoony
. They were eliminated in the third round, a result which disappointed some of the audience. In series five
she danced with Scottish rugby player Kenny Logan
while her husband James danced with Kenny's wife, TV presenter Gabby Logan
. Kenny Logan was voted out of the show on the ninth week while Gabby Logan was voted out earlier, in the fourth week. Jordan was knocked out of series 6
in week seven of the competition, with her partner GMTV
presenter Andrew Castle
.
In January–February 2009 Jordan danced with Kenny Logan on the Strictly Come Dancing Tour and in series 7
, she partnered reporter Chris Hollins
, reaching the final and beating rivals Ricky Whittle
and Natalie Lowe
to become the 2009 champions. Their prize was a Strictly Come Dancing glitter ball. Jordan and Hollins became affectionately known as "Team Cola" by viewers and on the show, with Cola being a portmanteau of "Chris" and "Ola".
Jordan partnered magician Paul Daniels
in the eighth season of the show; they were the second couple to be voted off. For Children in Need 2010
, Jordan partnered Harry Judd
from McFly
for a one-off Strictly special, dancing a Paso Doble. The couple won, beating Rochelle Wiseman
of The Saturdays
and her partner.
In the ninth series
of the show she has been partenered with former Wales
international footballer Robbie Savage
.
which was broadcast on 26 December 2009. She and Strictly Come Dancing head judge Len Goodman
appeared as a team in BBC TV's Bargain Hunt
in 2010 for the benefit of the Children in Need
appeal.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
TV show 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...
. After winning a championship event in Poland she moved to England and began a new partnership with James Jordan
James Jordan (dancer)
James Jordan is a British ballroom dancer and choreographer. His dance partner is wife Aleksandra "Ola" Jordan, with whom he turned professional in 2000.-Dancing career:...
. She married him in 2003.
Dancing career
Jordan has been dancing since the age of twelve when her school advertised for a dance club. Before dancing with James Jordan, she had danced with Przemek Lowicki in Poland. She won Poland’s Open Championships in 1999 and went on to take 12th place in the following year’s World Championships.The first recorded dance by Ola Grabowska and James Jordan as a partnership was in the Dutch Open in 2000,
though they did not turn professional until 2003. The couple withdrew for a while to teach Latin American dancing in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, though they turned professional again in 2005, after missing competing. In May 2006, the couple came second in the Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
Professional Rising Stars Latin event,
and in November they came third in the British Championships for Professional Latin.
Strictly Come Dancing
Jordan first appeared on Strictly Come Dancing during the show's fourth seriesStrictly 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:...
in 2006, partnering DJ Spoony
DJ Spoony
DJ Spoony is the stage name of Johnathan Joseph who is a British DJ, and former BBC Radio 1 presenter.-Radio and Dj career:...
. They were eliminated in the third round, a result which disappointed some of the audience. In series five
Strictly Come Dancing (Series 5)
The fifth series of Strictly Come Dancing began on BBC One on 29 September 2007, with Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly returning as presenters....
she danced with Scottish rugby player Kenny Logan
Kenny Logan
Kenny Logan is a rugby union footballer who played wing for London Scottish.- Career :As a schoolboy, Logan had football trials as a goalkeeper for Dundee United and Hearts. He left school at 16 and began his rugby career with Stirling County, making his senior debut at 17.In 1996, he joined Wasps...
while her husband James danced with Kenny's wife, TV presenter Gabby Logan
Gabby Logan
Gabby Logan is a television presenter and radio presenter, as well as a former Wales international gymnast. She currently hosts programmes for BBC Sport, mainly focusing on football.- Early life :...
. Kenny Logan was voted out of the show on the ninth week while Gabby Logan was voted out earlier, in the fourth week. Jordan was knocked out of series 6
Strictly Come Dancing (Series 6)
The sixth series of Strictly Come Dancing began on BBC One on 20 September 2008, with Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly returning as presenters, and Craig Revel Horwood, Arlene Phillips, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli returning as judges....
in week seven of the competition, with her partner GMTV
GMTV
GMTV was the national Channel 3 breakfast television contractor, broadcasting in the United Kingdom from 1 January 1993 to 3 September 2010. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of ITV plc. in November 2009. Shortly after, ITV plc announced the programme would end...
presenter Andrew Castle
Andrew Castle
Andrew Nicholas Castle is an English retired tennis professional, former British No. 1, and now television presenter.-Biography:...
.
In January–February 2009 Jordan danced with Kenny Logan on the Strictly Come Dancing Tour and in series 7
Strictly Come Dancing (series 7)
The seventh series of Strictly Come Dancing commenced on BBC One on 18 September 2009. Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly returned as presenters together with Craig Revel Horwood, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli as judges. Series 5 winner, Alesha Dixon, joined the judging panel, replacing Arlene Phillips...
, she partnered reporter Chris Hollins
Chris Hollins
Chris Hollins is an English journalist, presenter and sportsman, currently employed by the BBC and best known for being the sports correspondent for BBC Breakfast, and for winning Strictly Come Dancing 2009.-Early life:...
, reaching the final and beating rivals Ricky Whittle
Ricky Whittle
Ricky Whittle is a British actor from Oldham, Greater Manchester.-Biography:The son of former Royal Air Force serviceman Harry Whittle, Whittle grew up travelling with his father's career around the world, with a home base at Burghfield Common near Reading, Berkshire.A keen sportsman, Whittle...
and Natalie Lowe
Natalie Lowe
Natalie Lowe is an Australian professional dancer and Ballroom expert.She is a four-time Australian Dance Champion, She is from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
to become the 2009 champions. Their prize was a Strictly Come Dancing glitter ball. Jordan and Hollins became affectionately known as "Team Cola" by viewers and on the show, with Cola being a portmanteau of "Chris" and "Ola".
Jordan partnered magician Paul Daniels
Paul Daniels
Paul Daniels, born Newton Edward Daniels on 6 April 1938, is a British magician and television performer. He achieved international fame through his television series The Paul Daniels Magic Show, which ran on the BBC from 1979 to 1994.-Early life:...
in the eighth season of the show; they were the second couple to be voted off. For Children in Need 2010
Children in Need 2010
Children in Need 2010 was a campaign held in the United Kingdom to raise money for Children in Need. 2010 marked the 30th anniversary of the appeal which culminated in a live broadcast on BBC One which began on the evening of Friday 19th November and ran until the early hours of Saturday 20th...
, Jordan partnered Harry Judd
Harry Judd
Harry Mark Christopher Judd is an English musician who is best known as the drummer for British pop rock band McFly, along with fellow band members Tom Fletcher, Dougie Poynter and Danny Jones...
from McFly
McFly
McFly are an English pop rock band who first found fame in 2004. The band consists of Tom Fletcher , Danny Jones , Dougie Poynter and Harry Judd . They were signed to the Island Records label from their 2004 launch until December 2007, before creating their own label, Super Records...
for a one-off Strictly special, dancing a Paso Doble. The couple won, beating Rochelle Wiseman
Rochelle Wiseman
Rochelle Eulah Eileen Wiseman is an English singer, actress and television presenter. She is best known for her work in pop groups S Club 8 and The Saturdays...
of The Saturdays
The Saturdays
The Saturdays are a British and Irish pop girl group based in London, United Kingdom. The group consists of five members Una Healy, Mollie King, Frankie Sandford, Vanessa White and Rochelle Wiseman. In 2007 the band were formed through Fascination Records which gave them an instant record deal with...
and her partner.
In the ninth series
Strictly Come Dancing (series 9)
The ninth series of Strictly Come Dancing began on 10 September 2011 with a Launch Show, and the live shows started on 30 September and 1 October 2011. The show was broadcast from Wembley Arena on 19 November with all proceeds going to the BBC charity, Children in Need...
of the show she has been partenered with former Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
international footballer Robbie Savage
Robbie Savage
Robert William "Robbie" Savage is a football pundit and former Welsh professional footballer who played predominantly as a midfielder. During his career he captained Derby County, and also played for the Welsh national team. He now presents 606 on BBC Radio Five Live on Sunday evenings alongside...
.
Other television appearances
Ola and James Jordan took part in a celebrity version of television programme Total WipeoutTotal Wipeout
Total Wipeout is a British game show, hosted by Richard Hammond and Amanda Byram, which first aired on 3 January 2009. Each week 20 contestants compete in a series of challenges in an attempt to win £10,000. These challenges are based in large pools of water or mud and generally involve large...
which was broadcast on 26 December 2009. She and Strictly Come Dancing head judge Len Goodman
Len Goodman
Leonard Gordon 'Len' Goodman is a British professional ballroom dancer, dance judge, and coach. He is a leading personality on television dance programmes such as Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing with the Stars and runs a ballroom dance school in Dartford, Kent.-Early life and career:Goodman was...
appeared as a team in BBC TV's Bargain Hunt
Bargain Hunt
Bargain Hunt is a British television programme in which two pairs of contestants are challenged to buy antiques at a fair and then sell them in an auction for a profit. It has aired on BBC One since 13 March 2000 in a daytime version and from 22 August 2002 to 13 November 2004 in a primetime version...
in 2010 for the benefit of the Children in Need
Children in Need
Children in Need is an annual British charity appeal organised by the BBC. Since 1980 it has raised over £500 million. The highlight of the Children in Need appeal is an annual telethon, held in November. A teddy bear named "Pudsey Bear" fronts the campaign, while Terry Wogan is a long...
appeal.
External links
- James and Ola Jordan – official website
- BBC - Strictly Come Dancing series 4