New pro dancer confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing 2014
The BBC has announced a new addition to the Strictly Come Dancing 2014 professional dancer line-up. Australian-born Trent Whiddon joins the show after Robin Windsor had to withdraw from the competition owing to injury.
Trent will bring stiff competition to this year’s contest; he is the Australian Professional Ten Dance Champion and is a two-time British Championships Latin finalist.
Trent began dancing at the age of seven and won numerous Australian youth and junior titles. Aged 17, he joined the cast of Burn the Floor as lead dancer and has spent twelve years with the company, including six years as the dance captain and company manager of the Broadway production.
He has also appeared on Dancing with the Stars in both Australia and the USA and has spent two seasons as a choreographer on So You Think You Can Dance Australia.
“I am so excited to have been asked to join Strictly. It’s such an honour to be a part of the show and I can’t wait to step onto the famous Strictly dancefloor!” says Trent.
Robin Windsor, who joined Strictly’s cast of professional dancers in 2010, had been expected to take part in this year’s contest but has had to withdraw after suffering a back injury.
Robin says: "I'm devastated to have to pull out of Strictly this year due to a pre-existing back injury. It's been a really difficult decision but I plan to focus 100 per cent on my recovery and hope to be back in the ballroom as soon as possible, doing what I love best.
"In the meantime, I wish the rest of the cast and crew the best of luck with the new series which I'll be watching every week."
Executive Producer, Louise Rainbow, says: “We are of course sad to lose Robin from this year’s show. He is a valued member of the Strictly family and we wish him the very best with his recovery. But every cloud has a silver lining and I am delighted to welcome Trent to our team of professional dancers.”
Trent will be one of three new professional dancers joining the cast of Strictly 2014, alongside Joanne Clifton and Tristan MacManus.
Joanne is the sister of Kevin Clifton, who joined Strictly in 2013 and was partnered with Susanna Reid. They are the first siblings to participate in the show.
She is World Ballroom Showdance Champion, five-time British Champion, European Professional Champion and most recently, champion of the World Dancesport Games in Taiwan.
Irish-born Tristan MacManus joins Strictly following three years as a professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars in America, where he most notably partnered Gladys Knight and Pamela Anderson.
Tristan began dancing his home of Dublin before competing around Europe, winning numerous juvenile, junior and amateur competitions. He has appeared in many successful stage shows including Dirty Dancing and Burn the Floor.
The full line-up of professional dancers for Strictly Come Dancing 2014 is as follows:
Females
Aliona Vilani
Iveta Lukosiute
Janette Manrara
Joanne Clifton
Karen Hauer
Kristina Rihanoff
Natalie Lowe
Ola Jordan
Males
Aljaz Skorjanec
Anton du Beke
Brendan Cole
Kevin Clifton
Pasha Kovalev
Trent Whiddon
Tristan MacManus
