Kevin and I splitting up was nothing to do with Strictly ‘curse’
After her marriage break-up, dancer Karen Hauer has found love and is feeling more confident than ever, as discovers
ALONG with millions of Strictly fans, Karen Hauer – the longest serving female professional dancer on the show – is eager to hear when the series will return in 2020.
It’s not in this determined woman’s character, though, to sit around waiting. Instead, she’s “staying busy, active and positive and taking it day by day”. This includes promoting her online Hauer Power fitness programme, sharing home workouts, and recently joining fellow Strictly star, Oti Mabuse, to set up the Home Festival online community.
Along with their partners – Karen is joined by boyfriend, David Webb – and a host of friends, from fellow Strictly dancers to tennis star Boris Becker and Olympic athlete Greg Rutherford, they’ve streamed classes covering everything from dancing and baking to sports coaching.
In truth, Karen, 38, is no stranger to overcoming challenges. Born in Venezuela, she moved to New York aged eight – then her dad left – and Karen has previously talked about the “hard” times growing up.
Two years ago, she dealt with the breakdown of her marriage with Strictly pro Kevin Clifton – but has emerged “transformed”, with a new look and approach to life.
“My separation from Kevin led me to a path of prioritising myself. I’ve made a lot of life changes. It’s been so worth it because I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy and content in my own skin,” reflects the dancer, whose long, dark hair has been replaced by a glamorous crop.
She’s talking from the home she shares with her partner David, 36 – an opera singer – and their three rescue dogs. Clearly blissfully happy, the pair delight in performing together online.
“I’m in such a good place. Before, I was always worrying about what people might think of me. Now I feel, for the first time, free to be myself,” says Karen, who joined Strictly in 2012.
She and Kevin quickly became one of the show’s golden couples. But the pressures of work and preserving a relationship proved tough and the pair, who married in 2015, eventually split.
“The year we broke up was traumatic and heartbreaking,” Karen says quietly. “A marriage ending is never something you expect or want. It was a shock for us both, but I think it was a long time coming and we ignored the signs.
“We got caught up in the whole work, work, work thing – we were living and breathing it 24 hours a day – and it kind of overwhelmed our relationship.”
Karen, who’s remained friends with her ex and gets on well with his new partner, Stacey Dooley, adds happily: “Kevin and I will always be friends, which is wonderful and I love Stacey to bits.
“When I look back, I don’t think we were ready for marriage. We were still growing as performers, as people, as lovers, and sometimes you just can’t find a way to fix things.
“It’s certainly nothing to do with the Strictly ‘curse’ – I don’t believe in that. Relationships can happen to anyone and it’s just life.”
She admits it plunged her into a period of struggling “to see a way ahead. I wasn’t sleeping, eating or taking care of myself properly for a while,” reveals Karen, who turned to former Strictly professional Camilla Dallerup, for life coaching to help her through the challenging time.
“I was so hurt and emotionally upset and my self-esteem was on the floor.”
The chapter has led to a new perspective on life.
“I realised I had to sort myself out,” she says. “Before, I was always afraid of not fitting in. I used to think I had to act a certain way, to be the perfect girl with the perfect hair and always smiling.
“Now I feel grounded and comfortable with who I am – I don’t want to fit the mould – and I realise beauty isn’t about being perfect.”
Her relationship with David, who she started dating in 2018, has been a blessing too. “There was an instant connection when we met. He’s a creative artist and loves fitness, so we share that. He always makes me laugh which is so sexy,” Karen says, smiling.
“He understands me on a different level, sees me for who I am and doesn’t judge me. I can be wild, but at the same time I’m also calm, collected, shy at times but also very driven. There are so many levels but he doesn’t get afraid of them.”
That drive and determination was forged during her childhood. “My mom, Miriam, became a single parent and bringing up me and my brother and sister was tough. She often worked three jobs to keep us fed and clothed,” she says proudly.
After working as a fitness trainer and winning global dance competitions, Karen came to England in 2012 to audition for Strictly.
“It was scary to start a career here, but my mom is such an inspiration,” she says. “She has such a strong backbone and never gives up and instilled that in me. As a child, I was obsessed by dancing, I won scholarships and think it was an outlet for my emotions and an escape into another world.”
Her fitness plan, Hauer Power, is symbolic of her new determination to fulfil her own goals.
“I’ve longed to do this blend of dance, body resistance training and Pilates and yoga for years. I have so much energy nowadays, which has refuelled my ambition and allowed me to fulfil my dream to show people how you can get fit, toned and strong, without joining a gym or leaving the house” she says.
Karen’s vigilant now about safeguarding her wellbeing.
“I’m much more into self-care these days. I meditate, do stretching sessions when I’m not training, and love relaxing with David and the dogs at home.”
Her plans for the future focus on resuming her career post-lockdown – her tour with Gorka Marquez in Latin dance show, FireDance, was cut short – and maintaining her personal happiness.
“David and I have talked about marriage and children, but we talk more about adopting more dogs,” she says, laughing. “I’m just quite enjoying being this new person I’ve discovered. If it happens that we have a child, I’d love that, but for the moment I’m happy as things are.
“I want to stay true to myself and I recognise all this ‘celebrity’ stuff is a kind of fantasy,” she reflects.
“My priorities are straight now,” says Karen. “I take proper time off and make sure my work, which I love, and my personal life are separate.
“When the lights of the stage go out, I know I will still have my family, my lover and my health. Knowing that gives me the all the strength I need to continue and face whatever life throws at me.”