DANCING on Ice is returning to our screens once more.
The show wouldn’t be the same without its band of professional skaters who make the famous faces shine on the ice.
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Who are the Dancing on Ice 2021 professional dancers?
Matt Evers
Matt Evers is a Dancing on Ice regular and has been on the show since it launched in 2006.
The American was born in St Paul, Minnesota, but grew up in North Dakota.
The sportsman specialises in ice skating and became famous by winning the Junior pairs title at the 1998 US Championships.
He then went on to compete in three senior international events, including competitions in Canada and Russia.
After moving to NYC to pursue his showbiz dreams, he worked on Broadway, modelled and picked up the odd acting job here and there.
Alexandra Schauman
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Alex Schauman, 42, is a professional skater from Finland.
She first appeared on Dancing On Ice in 2010 and was paired with Dr Hilary Jones.
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Other celebrities she’s skated with are Dominic Cork, Sam Nixon and Todd Carty in the All Stars series.
She’s married to fellow Dancing On Ice pro Lukasz Royzcki.
Lukasz Rozycki
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Lukasz Rozycki first appeared on Dancing On Ice in series six in 2011, partnered with Frank Lampard‘s former fiancee Elen Rivas.
In 2012 he appeared with EastEnders actor Laila Morse, but she sustained a rib injury and therefore the couple finished 15th.
In 2019 he partnered actress Didi Conn and the pair were the third couple eliminated from the competition.
Lukasz partnered TV personality Trisha Goddard in the 2020 show but the couple were voted off in week 2.
In 2021 he skated with singer Myleene Klass.
Mark Hanretty
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Mark Hanretty is a 36-year-old professional skater and ice dancer from Glasgow.
The Scottish athlete previously represented the United Kingdom internationally.
Together with his partner Christina Chitwood, they won two bronze medals; one in 2008 and the other in 2010.
They also competed at the 2009 European Championships and placed 18th.
Mark is married to skating coach Kathy, with whom he has two children named Lukasz and Liola.
Brendyn Hatfield
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Brendyn Hatfield is a 36-year-old professional ice skater.
This is his third time performing on Dancing On Ice.
Brendyn made his name in Disney on Ice shows, playing the parts of Aladdin and Woody.
As well as a skater, Brendyn has also had jobs as an editor and cinematographer – working on projects including the short film My Name is Tommy.
Vanessa Bauer
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Vanessa Bauer is a 25-year-old German dancer, acrobat and ice skater.
She has performed on an ice rink on board one of the biggest luxury cruise ships in the world, HMS Harmony Of The Seas.
As a result, she declares “life is a holiday” – and for her, it literally is.
But maintaining a body that’s strong and agile enough to dance on the ice is no cake walk.
In 2018 Vanessa won the show with partner Jake Quickenden.
Andy Buchanan
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Andy Buchanan is a Canadian ice dancer from Wabumun, Alberta.
He began figure skating at just seven and went on to become a seven times Western Canadian Champion, including both junior and senior titles, and singles and pairs skating.
He turned professional in 1999 and has played various leading roles for Disney on Ice, including Scar, Simba, Tarzan and Aladdin, with his partner Robin Johnstone as Jasmine.
Robin Johnstone
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Robin Johnstone is a professional ice dancer bailing from Canada.
Born in Steinbach, Manitoba, Robin has been skating since she was just two years old, and decided to go pro when she turned twenty.
She first worked with Toronto Ice Theater, Paramount Canada’s Wonderland and Paramount Kings Island.
Robin then joined Disney on Ice and has played Mulan, Jane from Tarzan and Princess Jasmine during her shows with the company.
She has also performed as part of Cirque du Soleil and Holiday on Ice casts.
First appearing on Dancing on Ice back in 2013 and 2014, she returned in 2021.
Robin is married to fellow skater Andy Buchanan – and has been for 14 years.
Karina Manta
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Karina Manta is a 25-year-old professional ice skater hailing from Olympia, Washington.
The young skater has danced in tournaments with Joe Johnson from 2013 onwards.
The pair have competed in Skate America, the US International Classic, US National Championships and the Midwestern Sectional Championships.
In 2018, Karina told her social media followers that she was bisexual.
Her partner Joe is gay, and the pair became the first openly gay team at the 2019 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
Karina said at the time: “I think this sport is making space for new approaches, new forms of art, new types of people,
“I like to think Joe and I are both trying to keep widening the space in our own ways, alongside so many teams who are pushing our art form in a hundred beautiful ways.”
Joe Johnstone
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Joe Johnson joined Dancing On Ice in 2021.
He has performed with Cirque du Soleil with skating partner Karina Manta in 2019
In October 2018, his partner Karina also came out publicly, and the pair became the first openly gay team at the 2019 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
Angela Egan
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Angela Egan is a 35-year-old professional ice skater from Scotland and a Disney on Ice star.
She is the current Dancing On Ice reigning champ after winning the 2021 show with Sonny Jay.
The pair famously suffered a fall in rehearsals.
When attempting a lift similar to the show’s famous headbanger, but they both ended up hitting the ice.
When does Dancing On Ice start?
Dancing on Ice will start on Sunday, January 16, 2022.
You can catch the action from 6.30pm on ITV.
The series will air weekly at the same time, for 10 weeks and viewers can also catch up on the ITV Hub.
