Karen Hauer has landed a new job after being axed from Strictly Come Dancing. The dancer, 43, was a victim of the BBC bloodbath in which a slew of stars were sensationally cut from the show. However, Karen has landed on her feet as she has joined the revival of comedy theatre production Stepping Out, according to The Mirror.
The play, written by Richard Harris, follows eight people from different backgrounds who all attend a North London tap dancing class where they bond and perform in a charity showcase. Karen will portray Mavis, the group's dance teacher.
Speaking about joining the show, she said: 'I'm so pleased to be performing in this brand-new production of Stepping Out. It's a play about ordinary people achieving extraordinary things through dance, and in the role of their teacher and mentor, it certainly resonates with me! I'm looking forward to dusting off my tap shoes and working with a great company of actors and dancers to bring this heart-warming, feel-good comedy to the stage.'
The director of the production, Chris Jordan, said: 'I am absolutely delighted to have Karen joining us for Stepping Out this summer. We're going to have so much fun, as are our audiences. Karen is such a well-loved dancer from her years working on Strictly as teacher and mentor to so many different partners and that is why this role, in this play, is such a great fit for her.'
During an appearance at the LitPet's Sunday Dog Social in March, Karen told how being axed from Strictly was 'stressful and emotional'. She said: 'It's been a terribly stressful and emotional time and my four dogs have really helped me get through it. What's just happened is part of life and the stresses that go with it.'
Karen leaving Strictly came after Nadiya Bychkova, 36, Michelle Tsiakkas, 30, Luba Mushtuk, 36, and Gorka Márquez, 35, were also axed from the series, with sources claiming all of the Strictly pros are already aware of their fate. One insider said: 'Karen is the latest professional dancer to be told her contract will not be renewed this year. It's very much a case of out with the old and in with the new. As the longest-serving female dancer, Karen found out last week that her time on Strictly is over.'
A second source added: 'It's an awful fate for the professional dancers who have dedicated their careers to the show. Karen was obviously very upset after being told the news, but she is trying to remain positive about the future. She works as a choreographer and knows she can focus more on that, as well as her work in the fitness industry.'
Karen's last celebrity partner on the series was Gladiator star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, while the year before she danced with former footballer Paul Merson and, in 2023, comedian Eddie Kadi. She showcased her versatility as a choreographer by performing with comic Jayde Adams in 2022, following on from Katya Jones, who was the first Strictly female pro to perform in a same-sex pairing. Other celebrity partners Karen has performed with include Sunday Brunch host Simon Rimmer and TOWIE's Mark Wright, one of the first reality stars signed to the show.
Despite her long-standing commitment, Karen has never won the Strictly glitterball trophy, though she did reach the final with Mark Wright in 2014. Karen was previously married to former Strictly pro Kevin Clifton, but their marriage ended after three years. Despite the split, the pair continued to work together on the show.
