Neil Jones (dancer)

Neil Jones (born 4 May 1982) is a British dancer and choreographer, best known for his role as a professional dancer in the BBC One dance series Strictly Come Dancing.

Neil Jones
Born (1982-05-04) 4 May 1982[1]
Münster, West Germany
NationalityBritish
CitizenshipUnited Kingdom
OccupationDancer, choreographer
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Spouse(s)Katya Jones (m. 2013–2019)

Dance career

Jones began dancing at the age of three.[2] He has danced ballet and trained in tap, modern, ballroom and Latin styles.[3]

He has represented Finland, the Netherlands and the UK during the course of his competitive career. He holds 45 dance championship titles, including 8 times British National ,8 times Dutch National, European and 4 times World Latin Champion including World Latin Showdance Champion.[2]

With his partner Katya Jones he was introduced at Blackpool in 2008. The couple became undefeated four-time British National Champions, and the three-time winners of the World Amateur Latin Championships. Katya Jones is also a professional dancer who also appears on the BBC celebrity dancing show Strictly Come Dancing.[3]

In 2016 he appeared in series 14 of Strictly Come Dancing.[3] He was not partnered with a celebrity, but participated in group dances and was on standby for any female celebrity whose partner was unable to dance, though this did not happen. Female dancer Chloe Hewitt performed the same role for the male celebrities.[4] Jones also appeared in the Children in Need 2016 Strictly Come Dancing special, where he was partnered with Hollie Webb.[5] Jones took part in the national Strictly Come Dancing - The Live Tour in 2017.

In September 2018, Jones announced he would be appearing with Katya Jones at Donahey's Dancing with The Stars Weekend in 2019.[6]

Performances with Alex Scott

He partnered former professional footballer Alex Scott, for the seventeenth season of Strictly Come Dancing, the first time he partnered a celebrity.[7] The couple were eliminated in week 11, coming 5th.

* Score awarded by guest judge Alfonso Ribeiro
** Neil was injured during week 6 rehearsals, so Kevin Clifton danced in his place

  • Red number indicates Alex and Neil were at the bottom of the leaderboard

Stage performances

Jones directed, choreographed and starred in dance show 'Somnium: A Dancer's Dream'[8] alongside Katya Jones. The show was performed from the 20th-22nd of June 2019 at Sadler's Wells Theatre.

In 2020 it was announced Jones would be appearing with Katya Jones at Donahey's Dancing with The Stars Weekends in 2021.[9]

Personal life

Jones was born in the British Army Camp in Munster, West Germany.[3]

Jones married fellow Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Katya Jones (nee Sokolova) in August 2013.[10] During the 2018 series, media interest in Katya's relationship with her series partner Seann Walsh led to both publicly apologising for their conduct. After six years of marriage, on 18 August 2019, Neil and Katya announced their separation.[11] The Walsh incident was partly blamed for the split, but the couple insisted they would remain friends and would both continue to appear on Strictly.[12] He confirmed in August 2020 that he was in a new relationship, his partner was later revealed to be Colombian dancer Luisa Eusse.[13][14] In December 2020, Jones and Eusse split. Eusse stated that she was single at a party simultaneously having broken COVID-19 Government Regulations.

References
  1. "Katya Jones & Neil Jones - BBC Strictly Come Dancing Pro Dancers - Donaheys 5* Weekend Breaks". www.donaheys.co.uk.
  2. "Katya Jones & Neil Jones - BBC Strictly Come Dancing Pro Dancers". donaheys.co.uk. 2016-08-08. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  3. "Strictly Come Dancing - Neil Jones - BBC One". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  4. Fane Saunders, Tristram (2016-09-23). "Strictly Come Dancing 2016: who are the new professional dancers?". The Telegraph. telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  5. "Strictly Come Dancing Children in Need special will star team GB Olympic athletes". The Daily Telegraph. 25 October 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  6. "Amazing 5* Weekend Breaks with the stars of BBC Strictly Come Dancing". www.donaheys.co.uk. 2009-02-22.
  7. "Strictly Come Dancing 2019: The full list of couples". BT. 7 September 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  8. Avenue, Sadler's Wells Rosebery; London; EC1R. "Somnium: A Dancer's Dream - Sadler's Wells Theatre". www.sadlerswells.com. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
  9. "4* Weekend Break featuring the stars of BBC Strictly Come Dancing". www.donaheys.co.uk. December 2015. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  10. Davies, Alex (12 September 2016). "Katya Jones and Neil Jones relationship: Strictly dancers discuss baby plans". OK!. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  11. "Strictly Come Dancing's Neil and Katya Jones announce split". BBC. 18 August 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  12. Louise Griffin (20 August 2019). "Strictly's Neil and Katya Jones found it 'impossible to get back on track' after Seann Walsh kiss". Metro. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  13. Alex, Susannah; er (2020-08-15). "Strictly Come Dancing's Neil Jones confirms new relationship on Instagram". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2020-08-16.
  14. Brinsford, James (21 August 2020). "Strictly's Neil Jones's girlfriend was dating DJ Hannah Wants three weeks ago". Mirror. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
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