Strictly Come Dancing series six
The professional dancers
The Men
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Darren Bennett (Strictly Come Dancing partner is Jessie Wallace)
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Darren is a down-to-earth, cheeky guy who loves his Northern roots. Darren's partner and wife Lilia Kopylova, is also appearing in Strictly Come Dancing.
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Darren had always danced "10 Dance" (both Ballroom and Latin) before he met Lilia in 1997 but they decided to specialise in Latin American.
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Darren won series two of the show with Jill Halfpenny and last year made it to Week 10 with Letitia Dean.
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Darren says: "If I can't win, I would love my wife to do it instead!"
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Brendan Cole (Strictly Come Dancing partner is Lisa Snowdon)
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Brendan Cole returns for his sixth Strictly Come Dancing competition.
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Kiwi Brendan moved to London when he was 18 to seek a career in dance. During that time he financed himself with a number of jobs including being a warehouseman and a builder.
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He specialises in Latin American dancing, is Asian Pacific Latin America Champion and New Zealand Latin American Champion, and won the first series of Strictly Come Dancing with partner Natasha Kaplinsky.
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This year Brendan thinks the show will be "harder than ever, more competition and more pressure, tempers will fray and probably not just mine!"
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Matthew Cutler (Strictly Come Dancing partner is Christine Bleakley)
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Specialising in Latin American dancing, Matthew was the UK Closed Professional Latin Champion 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2005.
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Last year was Matthew's best, winning Strictly Come Dancing with Alesha Dixon.
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He says: "Winning Strictly Come Dancing last year was like a dream come true for me. Alesha was amazing, she had the rare balance of dedication, fun and talent.
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"The whole experience was mad, exciting, exhausting – I loved it!"
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Anton du Beke (Strictly Come Dancing partner is Gillian Taylforth)
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Anton is a typical English gentleman with a naughty sense of humour who specialises in ballroom dancing. He is IDTA Classic Champion 2003.
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In the last series Anton partnered GMTV presenter, Kate Garraway, who controversially got through week after week.
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He says: "Kate was the most wonderful person to spend that amount of time with – she was fabulous and lovely."
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His hopes for the series are "to still be (competing) in the show in November and December!"
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Anton adds: "Since being involved in Strictly Come Dancing my life has changed completely."
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Brian Fortuna (Strictly Come Dancing partner is Heather Small)
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New Strictly Come Dancing dancer Brian was born and raised in Philadelphia and comes to the UK having participated in season four of Dancing With The Stars in the United States where he partnered former Miss USA Shandi Finnessey.
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He has appeared in three live US Dancing With The Stars tours and Brian was also the host of the ABC.com online results show Dancing With The Stars Online Encore.
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He is excited coming to the UK and says: "It's a blast to introduce a celebrated artist to the magic of dance. It changes their life forever."
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James Jordan (Strictly Come Dancing partner is Cherie Lunghi)
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Straight-talking James is a Latin American specialist. Last series he danced with Gabby Logan who was controversially knocked out in the early stages.
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He and his dance partner and wife Ola Jordan have been dancing together for six years and turned professional in 2003. Since then they have been Closed British finalists in 2005, UK Open Rising Star finalists and British Open Rising Star Professional Latin runners-up in 2006.
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This will be James's third series of Strictly Come Dancing and his aim this year is "to get past week four!"
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He is looking forward to returning to Strictly Come Dancing and says: "I enjoy the whole process of taking someone who can't dance up to a good standard."
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Vincent Simone (Strictly Come Dancing partner is Rachel Stevens)
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Italian Vincent Simone comes from a dancing family – both his parents are professional Ballroom and Latin teachers.
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Vincent and his partner Flavia have been dancing together for 12 years and turned professional in 2001. They have been UK Professional Ten Dance Champions and UK Professional Showdance Champions, as well as UK Argentine Champions and World Argentine Tango Show Champions.
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He says: "I think people realise straight away that I am easy to get along with, and I'm great fun. I like to joke with people and am an outrageous flirt so watch out!"
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Ian Waite (Strictly Come Dancing partner is Jodie Kidd)
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Ian's speciality is Latin American. He made it to the European Professional Latin Championships finals in 2003.
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Ian's professional dance partner, Camilla Dallerup, is also appearing in Strictly Come Dancing.
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Last year Ian danced with Penny Lancaster Stewart and they were knocked out in week six.
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He says: "Penny was absolutely wonderful. So caring and down to earth, hard working and full of enthusiasm. A joy to work with."
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Ian adds: "Even though this is my fifth year on Strictly Come Dancing I am more excited than ever! I think this coming series is going to be the best ever and I cannot wait for it to begin."
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The Women
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Erin Boag (Strictly Come Dancing partner is Austin Healey)
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The IDTA Classic Champion for 2003, Erin is a strong, vivacious Kiwi, who specialises in ballroom dancing. Her professional dance partner is Anton du Beke, also appearing in Strictly Come Dancing.
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She has twice made the final of the show in previous series, with partners Julian Clary and Colin Jackson, and last year danced with Willie Thorne.
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Erin admits Strictly Come Dancing has changed her life, saying: "The show has opened new paths for me and given me opportunities I wouldn't have had otherwise.
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"It's great to be respected as a dancer outside of the dance industry and to be recognised in the street."
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Flavia Cacace (Strictly Come Dancing partner is Phil Daniels)
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Hailing from Naples in Southern Italy, Flavia moved to Guildford in Surrey with her family when she was four.
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Flavia was runner-up in the final of the last series of Strictly Come Dancing with her dance partner Matt Di'Angelo.
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She and professional dancing partner Vincent Simone have been extremely successful on the competition circuit, dancing together for the past 12 years.
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They have an impressive list of titles between them, both on an amateur and professional level, and have appeared on Strictly Dance Fever and Strictly Come Dancing as Argentine Tango specialists.
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Flavia is really looking forward to being able to teach a celebrity again. She thinks she will be quite patient yet easy to understand.
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She says: "'I was thrilled to make the final last year. It was a huge achievement which made me very happy and I'm really looking forward to having another go this series."
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Camilla Dallerup (Strictly Come Dancing partner is Tom Chambers)
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Camilla is a blonde, Danish beauty with huge charisma who specialises in Latin American dancing. Her parents used to bring her twice a year to compete as a junior in dancing competitions at Blackpool.
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She is Asian Pacific Latin American Champion and New Zealand Latin American Champion. Her professional dance partner is Ian Waite, who also appears in Strictly Come Dancing.
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This year Camilla's hopes are simple: "to win Strictly Come Dancing." In fact, she says she is "determined".
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Karen Hardy (Strictly Come Dancing partner is Gary Rhodes)
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Karen was the Strictly Come Dancing winner, dancing with Mark Ramprakash, in 2006.
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Before her retirement from the competitive world of dance in March 1999, Karen's partnership with Bryan Watson saw them as undefeated United Kingdom, International, British National, World Masters, Open Italian, Yankie Classic, London Open and Osaka World Trophy Champions of Latin American dance.
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Although Karen has now retired from competitive dance, she describes herself as "the most competitive person" – always wanting to be the best in whatever she does, whether it is dancing, teaching or DIY.
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She describes winning the show with Mark Ramprakash as "the most wonderful experience ever" and describes him as "a true sportsman in every way".
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Hayley Holt (Strictly Come Dancing partner is Mark Foster)
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New dancer Hayley is a New Zealand professional Ballroom Champion and this will be her first series of Strictly Come Dancing. Her favourite Latin dance is the cha-cha.
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She loves a challenge and is very competitive but she's also cheeky and likes socialising and having fun.
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Alongside her dancing career Hayley has a great passion for snowboarding. She has been a sponsored snowboarder for almost 10 years and it has taken her around the world.
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"I try to make it fun and be friendly and happy every day. I also have to judge how far I can push the individual and figure out how best they learn. I am chomping at the bit to get started," she says.
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Ola Jordan (Strictly Come Dancing partner is Andrew Castle)
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Polish born, Aleksandra (Ola), with her husband James, is also once again taking part in Strictly Come Dancing.
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She and James have been dancing professionally since 2000 and first took part in Strictly Come Dancing series four.
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Ola feels her style is "sweet and quiet in the beginning and then I'll be much stronger once I get to know my celebrity. If they need a kick, I would give them that. I'm not afraid to be nasty if that's what it takes."
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Lilia Kopylova (Strictly Come Dancing partner is Don Warrington)
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Lilia is gentle and softly spoken but below the surface lies a cheeky Russian minx. Born in Moscow, Lilia moved to Denmark and then settled in London in her teens.
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Her speciality is Latin American. Her partner and husband Darren Bennett is also appearing in Strictly Come Dancing.
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Lilia and Darren train many of the top Junior, Youth and Amateur couples in the UK, including the British Junior champions and No.1 Youth couple in the UK.
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She won the third series of Strictly Come Dancing with Darren Gough and last year partnered Dominic Littlewood.
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She says: "I'm really looking forward to this year, I did pretty good in my first three series, last year I was out at week five, but this year I'm ready to go!"
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Kristina Rihanoff (Strictly Come Dancing partner is John Sergeant)
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New to Strictly Come Dancing, Siberian-born Latin American mambo specialist Kristina has danced all around the world and has a pedigree which includes South African International Latin Champion and British Open Latin semi-finalist.
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Kristina is a dedicated and vivacious professional dancer, passionate about everything to do with Ballroom and Latin dancing.
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Kristina's hobby is professional make-up. She has a passion for making ladies look beautiful on the dance floor and has written a make-up book for ladies in the dancing world.
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She believes there is a definite skill in teaching anyone to dance and says: "The main thing is to understand the other person's way of learning. Then, even when the work gets hard, they still feel like they are having a good time and accomplishing something great.
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"I want my partner to have a mind like a parachute – open and ready to do anything!"
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