Ian Waite
Ian Waite | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 29 January 1971 |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation(s) | Dancer, choreographer |
| Known for | Strictly Come Dancing (2004–09) Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two (2010–2020) Dancing with the Stars (Australian TV series) (2023–) |
| Spouse |
Drew Merriman (m. 2017) |
Ian Waite (born 29 January 1971) is a British professional dancer specialising in
Biography
Waite was born in Reading, Berkshire.[1] He started dancing at the age of 10. Mary Richardson, a former Latin American champion (and now his stepmother) put him through a rigorous medallist regime. By the age of 14, he had completed all his grades and won almost every competition that he had entered. He went on to the open circuit where he achieved international success by becoming the European Youth Latin American Champion. This started a ten-year partnership with Melanie Walker (now Melanie Lane), with whom he competed all over the world, representing England in many World and European championships.
He turned professional in 1997 and formed a partnership with the former Latin American world champion, Inga Haas. After nine months, they came third in the British Professional Rising Stars.[2]
He decided to further his dance career by moving to the
After five years in the Netherlands he returned to home. By the summer of 2004, he had started to dance with
Waite lives in
Waite created a Ballroom and Latin dance fitness programme with Mark Foster and fellow Strictly Come Dancing professional Natalie Lowe called FitSteps.[4]
Strictly Come Dancing
Waite has taken part in 7 series of Strictly Come Dancing, a popular televised celebrity ballroom competition, appearing as a professional dancer. His partners on the programme have been:
- Athlete 2004.
- Presenter 2005, finishing in 3rd place.
- Singer 2006.
- Model 2007.
- Model 2008.
- Athlete 2009. Ian danced with Natalie Lowe in Series 7, as his professional partner, Camilla Dallerup, no longer appeared on Strictly Come Dancing.[citation needed]
- In series 8 Ian Waite did not have a celebrity partner to teach but appeared in the newly formed dance troupe, the Strictly Showdancers,[5] and choreographed several of their routines. He returned to the Saturday night show on 23 October 2010 when he partnered Michelle Williams whilst Brendan Cole was unable to do so, and appeared regularly on Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two using a telestrator to illustrate his critiques of contestants' rehearsals.[6]
Waite has also appeared in three Strictly Come Dancing tours, reprising his partnerships with Zoë Ball in 2008, and with Jodie Kidd in 2009. In the 2010 tour Ian Waite appeared with Natalie Lowe in a showdance. In the 2011 tour he took on the role of the choreographer for all the Pro and Pro/Celeb group dances. He has also appeared in Strictly Come Dancing Christmas specials, with his best performances being runner-up with Denise Lewis in 2004 and Zoë Ball in 2006.
Dancing with the Stars
In 2023, Waite joined the cast of the
Dance tours and other professional engagements
In August 2021, Waite announced he would be teaching at Donahey's Dancing with The Stars Weekends in 2022.[7]
In August 2017, Waite & Oti Mabuse announced a 60 date 2018 UK Tour An Audience With.[8][9]
Personal life
In the first episode of It Takes Two in 2017, it was announced that Waite had married his boyfriend Drew Merriman earlier that year on 22 July.[10]
References
- ^ "Ian Waite". Biogs.
- ^ "Results of Ian Waite & Inga Haas", Dancesportinfo.net, 30 April 2008
- ^ "Results of Ian Waite & Natalia Panina", Dancesportinfo.net, 30 April 2008
- ^ fitsteps.co.uk
- ^ "BBC – Strictly Come Dancing 2010 – Dancers – Showdancers". BBC.
- ^ "BBC Two – Strictly – It Takes Two, Series 9, Episode 32". BBC.
- ^ "5* Weekend Break with the Stars of BBC Strictly Come Dancing". www.donaheys.co.uk.
- ^ "An Audience with website". Retrieved 4 August 2017.
- ^ "Broadway World". 4 August 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
- ^ "Zoe Ball supports Strictly Come Dancing star Ian Waite at his wedding". Daily Mirror. August 2017.