Strictly Come Dancing series five
Professional dancers
Darren Bennett (celebrity partner is Letitia Dean)
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Darren is a down to earth, cheeky guy who loves his Northern roots. Darren and his partner and wife Lilia Kopylova, also appearing in Strictly Come Dancing, are currently ranked the number one British Latin American Couple. Darren won series two of the show with Jill Halfpenny, but went out in the fourth week of series three with partner Gloria Hunniford. Last year, dancing with Emma Bunton, he made it to third place.
Brendan Cole (celebrity partner is Kelly Brook)
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Brendan Cole returns for his fifth Strictly Come Dancing competition. 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. 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.
Matthew Cutler (celebrity partner is Alesha Dixon)
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Specialising in Latin American dancing, Matthew was the UK Closed Professional Latin Champion 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2005. He was married to, and danced with, Nicole Cutler (Strictly Come Dancing series two) before they split in 2003. However, after Nicole's decision to stop competing, she and Matthew took the decision to reunite in a non-competitive partnership in July 2006.
Anton Du Beke (celebrity partner is Kate Garraway)
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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. His professional dance partner is Erin Boag, who also appears in Strictly Come Dancing.
James Jordan (celebrity partner is Gabby Logan)
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Straight-talking James is a Latin American specialist. He and his dance partner and wife, Ola, are both taking part in her first Strictly Come Dancing competition. They 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.
Vincent Simone (celebrity partner is Stephanie Beacham)
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Italian Vincent Simone comes from a dancing family; both his parents are professional Ballroom and Latin teachers. Vincent and his partner Flavia have been dancing together for 11 years and turned professional in 2001. They have been UK Professional Ten Dance Champions between 2002 and 2006, UK Professional Showdance Champions between 2003 and 2006, as well as the UK Argentine Champions 2006 and World Argentine Tango Show Champions in 2005 and 2006.
Ian Waite (celebrity partner is Penny Lancaster-Stewart)
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Ian's speciality is Latin American. He's a genuinely warm and charming person who is constantly smiling and who made it to the European Professional Latin Championships finals in 2003. Ian's professional dance partner Camilla Dallerup, is also appearing in Strictly Come Dancing.
Erin Boag (celebrity partner is Willie Thorne)
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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. She has twice made the final of the show in previous series, with partners Julian Clary and Colin Jackson, and last year danced with Peter Schmeichel.
Flavia Cacace (celebrity partner is Matt Di Angelo)
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Flavia and her professional dance partner, Vincent Simone, will be partnering celebrities for the second time, and they have both previously appeared on both Strictly Dance Fever and Strictly Come Dancing as Argentine Tango specialists.
Nicole Cutler (celebrity partner is John Barnes)
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Fun-loving South African Nicole is a Latin American specialist. After splitting up with dance partner and ex-husband, Matthew Cutler, in 2003, Nicole partnered Robin Sewell from June 2005 to June 2006, when they were runners-up in the closed British Championships and ranked second in England.
Camilla Dallerup (celebrity partner is Gethin Jones)
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Camilla is a Danish beauty with huge charisma who specialises in Latin American dancing. 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.
Karen Hardy (celebrity partner is Brian Capron)
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Current reigning champion of Strictly Come Dancing, Karen is one of the most highly regarded women in dancing today. Before her retirement from the competitive world of dance in March 1999, Karen's successful 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.
Lilia Kopylova (celebrity partner is Dominic Littlewood)
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Lilia is gentle and softly spoken, but below the surface lies a cheeky Russian minx. Her speciality is Latin American and together with her partner and husband Darren Bennett (also appearing in Strictly Come Dancing), they are ranked the number one Latin American couple in Britain. She won the third series of Strictly Come Dancing with Darren Gough, and was runner-up partnering Matt Dawson last year.
Aleksandra (Ola) Jordan (celebrity partner is Kenny Logan)
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Polish born, Aleksandra (Ola) is a Latin American specialist and, with her husband James, is taking part in Strictly Come Dancing for the second time. Ola and James have been dancing together for seven years, professionally for the last four years.
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