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Katya Jones
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Katya Jones (born Ekaterina Andreevna Sokolova; Russian: Екатерина Андреевна Соколова; 12 May 1989)[1] is a Russian dancer and choreographer.[2] She is best known for being a professional dancer in the competition show Strictly Come Dancing, which she won in 2017 with her dance partner Joe McFadden. In the 2020 series, Jones was paired with the retired professional and Olympic champion boxer Nicola Adams, the first same-sex couple to compete in the UK competition's format.
Key Information
Between August 2013 and August 2019 she was married to Neil Jones, a dancer and fellow cast member of Strictly Come Dancing.
Early life
[edit]She was born in Sestroretsk,[citation needed] near Leningrad, Soviet Union, and started dancing at the age of six, training in gymnastics as well as Ballroom and Latin-American dancing.[3] Her father is Russian and a senior oil company executive and her Korean mother is a graduate in engineering.[4]
Strictly Come Dancing
[edit]In 2016, Jones became a professional in the BBC ballroom dancing show Strictly Come Dancing for its 14th series.[5] Jones was partnered with the former Shadow chancellor, Ed Balls. For the 15th series, Jones partnered the Holby City actor, Joe McFadden, where they were the series winners.[6] For the 16th series, Jones partnered the comedian Seann Walsh and for the 17th series, she was partnered with the BBC sports presenter, Mike Bushell.
In the 18th series, Jones was part of the show's first same-sex couple, with the professional boxer Nicola Adams.[2] They withdrew from the competition on 12 November, after Jones tested positive for COVID-19. She was partnered with the Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty for the 19th series. For series 20 she was partnered with former England footballer and manager Tony Adams. They withdrew during the week 8 results show due to Tony sustaining a hamstring injury during his original performance.
Highest and lowest scoring performances per dance
[edit]| Dance | Partner | Highest score | Partner | Lowest score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Smooth | Joe McFadden | 35 | Mike Bushell | 14 |
| Argentine Tango | 35 | Adam Peaty | 32 | |
| Cha-Cha-Cha | Lewis Cope | 35 | Mike Bushell | 18 |
| Charleston | Joe McFadden Lewis Cope |
40 | Tony Adams | 22 |
| Couple's Choice | Lewis Cope | 40 | Nicola Adams | 32 |
| Dance-a-thon | Joe McFadden | 6 | Ed Balls | 1 |
| Foxtrot | Lewis Cope | 34 | Nigel Harman | 29 |
| Instant Dance | 6 | |||
| Jive | Joe McFadden | 29 | Seann Walsh | 15 |
| Paso Doble | Lewis Cope | 37 | Ed Balls | 16 |
| Quickstep | Joe McFadden | 38 | Adam Peaty | 19 |
| Rumba | Lewis Cope | 36 | 20 | |
| Salsa | 35 | Tony Adams | 21 | |
| Samba | Joe McFadden | 37 | 18 | |
| Showdance | 39 | |||
| Tango | Lewis Cope | 37 | Tony Adams | 15 |
| Viennese Waltz | Joe McFadden | 39 | Seann Walsh | 20 |
| Waltz | Ed Balls | 21 |
Wynne Evans is the only celebrity not to appear on this list.
| Series | Partner | Place | Average score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | Ed Balls | 6th | 22.6 |
| 15 | Joe McFadden | 1st | 33.8 |
| 16 | Seann Walsh | 11th | 22.5 |
| 17 | Mike Bushell | 8th | 23.5 |
| 18 | Nicola Adams | 10th | 28.3 |
| 19 | Adam Peaty | 9th | 26.6 |
| 20 | Tony Adams | 9th | 22.0 |
| 21 | Nigel Harman | 5th | 30.7 |
| 22 | Wynne Evans | 8th | 30.8 |
| 23 | Lewis Cope | 5th | 34.8 |
Colour key:
Ed Balls
[edit]She partnered the politician Ed Balls for the 14th series of Strictly Come Dancing.
| Week # | Dance / song | Judges' score | Total | Result | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horwood | Bussell | Goodman | Tonioli | ||||
| 1 | Waltz / "Are You Lonesome Tonight" | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 21 | No elimination |
| 2 | Charleston / "The Banjo's Back in Town" | 3 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 23 | Safe |
| 3 | Samba / Cuban Pete song from "The Mask" | 4 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 24 | Safe |
| 4 | Paso Doble / "Holding Out for a Hero" | 2 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 16 | Safe |
| 5 | American Smooth / "Is This the Way to Amarillo" | 2 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 18 | Safe |
| 6 | Cha-cha-cha / "Love Potion No. 9" | 4 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 26 | Safe |
| 7 | Quickstep / "Help!" | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 27 | Safe |
| 8 | Salsa / "Gangnam Style" | 4 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 25 | Safe |
| 9 | Jive / "Great Balls of Fire" | 4 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 23 | Safe |
| 10 | Tango / "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" Cha-cha-cha Challenge / "I Like It Like That" |
4 Awarded |
6 1 |
7 extra |
6 point |
23 24 |
Eliminated |
- Red number indicates Ed and Katya were at the bottom of the leaderboard.
Joe McFadden
[edit]She partnered actor Joe McFadden for the 15th series of Strictly Come Dancing.
| Week # | Dance / song | Judges' score | Total | Result | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horwood | Bussell | Ballas | Tonioli | ||||
| 1 | Jive / "Rockin' Robin" | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 29 | No elimination |
| 2 | Tango / "Castle on the Hill" | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 22 | Safe |
| 3 | Viennese Waltz / "Somewhere My Love" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 32 | Safe |
| 4 | Cha-cha-cha / "You Keep Me Hangin' On" | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 24 | Safe |
| 5 | Paso Doble / "Diablo Rojo" | 7 | 9 | 10 | N/A | 26 | Safe |
| 6 | Foxtrot / "Trouble" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 32 | Safe |
| 7 | Charleston / "Alexander's Ragtime Band" | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 36 | Safe |
| 8 | Rumba / "One" | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 33 | Safe |
| 9 | Salsa / "Ride on Time" | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 34 | Safe |
| 10 | Quickstep / "Jumpin' Jack" Paso Doble-a-thon / "España cañí" |
9 Awarded |
9 6 |
10 extra |
10 points |
38 44 |
Safe |
| 11 | Samba / "Money" | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 37 | Safe |
| 12 | American Smooth / "Have You Met Miss Jones?" | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 35 | Safe |
| Argentine Tango / "Human" | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 35 | ||
| 13 | Viennese Waltz / "Somewhere My Love" | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 39 | Winners |
| Showdance / "You Make My Dreams" | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 39 | ||
| Charleston / "Alexander's Ragtime Band" | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 40 | ||
- Green number indicates Joe and Katya were at the top of the leaderboard.
Seann Walsh
[edit]She partnered the comedian and actor Seann Walsh for the 16th series of Strictly Come Dancing.
| Week # | Dance / song | Judges' score | Total | Result | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horwood | Bussell | Ballas | Tonioli | ||||
| 1 | Tango / "SexyBack" | 3 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 18 | No elimination |
| 2 | Jive / "I'm Still Standing" | 2 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 15 | Safe |
| 3 | Paso Doble / "The Matrix (Theme)" | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 30 | Safe |
| 4 | Charleston / "Bills" | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 28 | Safe |
| 5 | Quickstep / "Lightning Bolt" | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7A | 24 | Bottom Two |
| 6 | Viennese Waltz / "I Put a Spell on You" | 3 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 20 | Eliminated |
- Red number indicates Seann and Katya were at the bottom of the leaderboard.
- ^A Alfonso Ribeiro filled in for Tonioli
Mike Bushell
[edit]She partnered the television presenter Mike Bushell for the 17th series of Strictly Come Dancing.
| Week # | Dance / song | Judges' score | Total | Result | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horwood | Mabuse | Ballas | Tonioli | ||||
| 1 | Jive / "Do You Love Me" | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 22 | No elimination |
| 2 | American Smooth / "Rhinestone Cowboy" | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 14 | Safe |
| 3 | Cha-Cha-Cha / "It's Raining Men" | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 18 | Safe |
| 4 | Quickstep / "Come On Eileen" | 7 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 32 | Safe |
| 5 | Samba / "Apache (Jump on It)" | 3 | 6 | 5 | 7A | 21 | Bottom Two |
| 6 | Tango / "What You Waiting For? | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 26 | Bottom Two |
| 7 | Charleston / "Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines" | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 30 | Bottom Two |
| 8 | Paso Doble / "Tamacun" | 5 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 25 | Eliminated |
- Red number indicates Mike and Katya were at the bottom of the leaderboard.
- ^A Alfonso Ribeiro filled in for Tonioli
Nicola Adams
[edit]She partnered the boxer Nicola Adams for the 18th series of Strictly Come Dancing. They had to leave the competition after week 3 when Jones tested positive for COVID-19.
| Week # | Dance / song | Judges' score | Total | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horwood | Ballas | Mabuse | ||||
| 1 | Quickstep / "Get Happy" | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 | No elimination |
| 2 | Street / "Shine" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 24 | Safe |
| 3 | Jive / "Greased Lightnin'" | 6 | 7 | 6 | 19 | Bottom Two |
| 4 | American Smooth / "Stand By Me" | - | - | - | - | Withdrew |
Adam Peaty
[edit]From September 2021, she partnered the Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty for the 19th series of Strictly Come Dancing. They reached week 7, coming ninth.[7]
| Week no. | Dance/Song | Judges' score | Total | Result | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horwood | Mabuse | Ballas | Du Beke | ||||
| 1 | Cha-cha-cha / "Beggin'" | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 30 | No elimination |
| 2 | Quickstep / "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 19 | Safe |
| 3 | Rumba / "I See You" | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 20 | Safe |
| 4 | Argentine Tango / "Tango in the Night" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 32 | Safe |
| 5 | Samba / "Faith" | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 29 | Safe |
| 6 | Viennese Waltz / "Moonlight Sonata" | 6 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 29 | Bottom two |
| 7 | Jive / "Little Bitty Pretty One" | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 27 | Eliminated |
Tony Adams
[edit]From September 2022, she partnered former England men's association football captain Tony Adams for the 20th series of Strictly Come Dancing. On week 8, they were announced in the bottom two against Tyler West (who was partnered with Dianne Buswell). However, they did not compete in the dance-off due to Adams sustaining a hamstring injury, subsequently leading him to withdraw from the competition.
| Week no. | Dance/Song | Judges' score | Total | Result | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horwood | Mabuse | Ballas | Du Beke | ||||
| 1 | Tango / "Go West" | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 15 | No elimination |
| 2 | Charleston / "My Old Man's a Dustman" | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 22 | Safe |
| 3 | Samba / "You Sexy Thing" | 2 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 18 | Safe |
| 4 | American Smooth / "With a Little Help from My Friends" | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 26 | Safe |
| 5 | Cha-cha-cha / Grandstand Theme" | 3 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 19 | Safe |
| 6 | Quickstep / "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 31 | Safe |
| 7 | Salsa / "I Know You Want Me" /"The Bomb!" | 4 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 21 | Safe |
| 8 | Jive / "Land of 1000 Dances" | 4 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 24 | Withdrew |
- Red number indicates Tony and Katya were at the bottom of the leaderboard.
Nigel Harman
[edit]From September 2023, she was partnered by stage and screen actor Nigel Harman for the 21st series of Strictly Come Dancing. On week 11, just hours before the live show, Harman had to withdraw from the competition after sustaining a rib injury during rehearsals.[8]
| Week no. | Dance/Song | Judges' score | Total | Result | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horwood | Mabuse | Ballas | Du Beke | ||||
| 1 | Paso Doble / "Smells Like Teen Spirit" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 32 | No elimination |
| 2 | Viennese Waltz / "Until I Found You" | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 27 | Safe |
| 3 | Jive / "Theme from Batman" | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 25 | Safe |
| 4 | Salsa / "Suavemente" | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 33 | Safe |
| 5 | Foxtrot / "I Just Want to Make Love to You" | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 29 | Safe |
| 6 | Cha-cha-cha / "I Was Made for Lovin' You" | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 30 | Safe |
| 7 | Tango / "Nothing Breaks Like a Heart" | 7 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 33 | Safe |
| 8 | Couple's Choice / "Just the Way You Are" | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 34 | Safe |
| 9 | Quickstep / "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 31 | Safe |
| 10 | Rumba / "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 33 | Safe |
| 11 | Charleston / "Step in Time" | - | - | - | - | - | Withdrew |
- Green number indicates Nigel and Katya were at the top of the leaderboard.
Wynne Evans
[edit]From September 2024, she was partnered by opera singer and BBC Radio Wales presenter Wynne Evans on the 22nd series of Strictly Come Dancing.
| Week no. | Dance/Song | Judges' score | Total | Result | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horwood | Mabuse | Ballas | Du Beke | ||||
| 1 | Samba / "Help Yourself" | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 26 | No elimination |
| 2 | Viennese waltz / "The Blue Danube" | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 30 | Safe |
| 3 | Cha-cha-cha / "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 30 | Safe |
| 4 | Tango / "Money, Money, Money" | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 34 | Safe |
| 5 | Quickstep / "Mr. Blue Sky" | 7 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 33 | Safe |
| 6 | Salsa / "Canned Heat" | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 31 | Safe |
| 7 | Rumba / "This Is My Life" | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 30 | Safe |
| 8 | American Smooth / "Grace Kelly" | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 32 | Bottom two |
| 9 | Charleston / Les toréadors | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 31 | Eliminated |
Lewis Cope
[edit]From September 2025, she was partnered with former Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope on the 23rd series of Strictly Come Dancing.
| Week no. | Dance/Song | Judges' score | Total | Result | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horwood | Mabuse | Ballas | Du Beke | ||||
| 1 | Jive / "Get Ready" | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 | No elimination |
| 2 | Viennese waltz / "Lose Control" | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 27 | Safe |
| 3 | Paso Doble / "The Plaza of Execution" | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 37 | Safe |
| 4 | Foxtrot / "L-O-V-E" | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 34 | Safe |
| 5 | Quickstep / "Ring of Fire" | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 34 | Safe |
| 6 | Couple's Choice / "Creep" | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 40 | Safe |
| 7 | Cha-cha-cha / "I Like It Like That" | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 35 | Safe |
| 8 | Tango / "12 to 12" | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 37 | Safe |
| 9 | Charleston / "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor" | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 40 | No elimination |
| 10 | Rumba / "Falling" | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 36[9] | Safe |
| 11 | Salsa / "The Dance at the Gym" | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 35 | Eliminated |
- Green number indicates Lewis and Katya were at the top of the leaderboard.
Tour
[edit]Jones took part in the national Strictly Come Dancing – The Live Tour in 2024.[10]
In 2024, it was announced she would be appearing at Donahey's Dancing with The Stars Weekends in 2025.[11]
Other television appearances
[edit]She appeared as a contestant in Celebrity Masterchef in 2022.[12]
In April 2023, she appeared in series five of Celebrity Hunted, partnered with Olympic snowboarder Aimee Fuller, and was eliminated in the fifth episode.[13] In 2025, Jones, alongside fellow Strictly professional Nancy Xu, starred in the short film Dakota Stone.
Stage performances
[edit]Jones starred in the dance show Somnium: A Dancer's Dream,[14] directed and choreographed by Neil Jones. The show was performed from 20 to 22 June 2019 at Sadler's Wells Theatre. She has also acted in various pantomimes.[15]
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Dakota Stone | Carolina | Main cast |
Personal life
[edit]Jones married her boyfriend of five years, Neil Jones, a dancer and fellow cast member of Strictly Come Dancing, on 3 August 2013.[16] In October 2018, a video and photographs of Jones kissing her celebrity Strictly partner, Seann Walsh, were published.[17] On 18 August 2019, Jones and her husband announced that they had separated.[18]
References
[edit]- ^ "BBC One - Strictly Come Dancing - Katya Jones". BBC. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
- ^ a b "Katya Jones & Neil Jones - BBC Strictly Come Dancing Pro Dancers". Donahey's. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
- ^ "2016 Strictly Professional Dancer line up revealed!". 28 June 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
- ^ "Katya Jones: the 'fierce' ambition behind Team Glitterballs". The Guardian. 18 November 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
- ^ "Strictly Come Dancing celebrities at red carpet launch". BBC News. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
- ^ Westbrook, Caroline (16 December 2017). "The Strictly Come Dancing 2017 winner has been crowned". Metro. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
- ^ "BBC One - Strictly Come Dancing - Adam Peaty". BBC. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
- "BBC One - Strictly Come Dancing, Series 19, Week 7 Results". BBC. Retrieved 8 November 2021. - ^ Vernon, Hayden. "Nigel Harman withdraws from Strictly Come Dancing". theguardian.com. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
- ^ The couple also received six extra points for their Jive to "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" by Wham! in the Instant Dance.
- ^ Laws, Roz (19 January 2017). "First look at Strictly tour and what they're dancing". birmingham Mail. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
- ^ "4* Weekend Break featuring the stars of BBC Strictly Come Dancing". Donahey's. December 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
- ^ "Celebrity MasterChef 2022 line-up: Meet the full cast". RadioTimes.
- ^ "Famous Fugitives confirmed for new series of Celebrity Hunted for Stand Up To Cancer". Channel 4. 10 March 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ^ "Somnium: A Dancer's Dream". Sadler's Wells Theatre. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
- ^ "Star cast announced for Blackburn's biggest ever pantomime". Blackburn BID. 8 September 2021.
- ^ Davies, Alex (12 September 2016). "Katya Jones and Neil Jones relationship: Strictly dancers discuss baby plans". OK!. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
- ^ "Ex-girlfriend of Strictly Come Dancing star Seann Walsh says she is 'no victim'". Sky News. 8 October 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
- ^ "Strictly Come Dancing's Neil and Katya Jones announce split". BBC News. 18 August 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
External links
[edit]- Katya Jones at IMDb
Katya Jones
View on GrokipediaEarly life and training
Childhood in Russia
Katya Jones, born Ekaterina Andreevna Sokolova on May 12, 1989, in Sestroretsk near Saint Petersburg in the Russian SFSR of the Soviet Union, grew up in a family that provided a stable and supportive environment during the transitioning years of post-Soviet Russia.[8][9][5] As of 2025, she is 36 years old. Her father, Andrey Sokolov, worked as a senior executive in an oil company, contributing to the family's affluent background, while her mother, Tatiana Kim, of ethnic Korean descent, held a degree in engineering from the Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering.[10][9][11] Katya shares a close bond with her family, including her brother, with whom she has occasionally shared childhood memories publicly.[12][13] In the cultural landscape of early 1990s Russia, where the legacy of the Soviet era's emphasis on arts like ballet persisted amid economic reforms, Katya's childhood was marked by exposure to the nation's rich dance traditions.[14] Her parents encouraged physical activities, reflecting the post-Soviet push toward personal development in a diversifying society. This environment fostered her initial curiosity about movement and performance from a young age.[15] Katya's early interest in dance emerged at age six, when she began exploring it alongside gymnastics, drawn by the discipline's blend of grace and athleticism that resonated with Russia's storied performing arts heritage.[2][8][14] These initial experiences in local settings laid the groundwork for her passion, setting the stage for more structured pursuits later in her youth.Dance education and early achievements
Jones enrolled in a dance school in Saint Petersburg at the age of six, where her mother drove her daily for lessons.[16] She trained intensively in ballroom and Latin American styles, alongside gymnastics, developing a strong foundation in multiple dance disciplines.[17] Under the guidance of coaches Radik and Eva Bagautdinov, her training emphasized the technical precision of International Latin techniques.[18] Throughout her youth, Jones balanced rigorous dance practice with academic pursuits, completing a degree in world culture studies while continuing her competitive preparation.[9] Her family provided substantial support, including financial investment in custom costumes that cost up to £650 each, enabling her focus on skill development.[16] Jones's early achievements came through youth competitions in Russia and abroad, where she flourished as a promising talent. Her first partner was Mikhail Motylev, followed by schoolmate Evgeny Urazgildeev, with whom she competed from 2003 to 2007 in events across Germany and Finland.[16] Together, they reached the semi-finals in the Jugend Latin category at the 2007 German Open Championships, gaining exposure to European competitive standards before her 18th birthday.[19] These experiences marked her transition to more intensive training and highlighted her potential in the youth circuit.[16]Pre-Strictly dance career
Partnership with Neil Jones
Katya Jones formed a professional dance partnership with Neil Jones in 2008 after meeting him at a competition in Blackpool, where coaches including Karen Hardy recommended they team up based on their complementary styles and mutual enthusiasm for competitive dancing.[2][20] Despite Neil's higher ranking in Latin dance at the time and Katya's status as an emerging talent from Russia, they quickly bonded over their shared dedication, deciding to compete as a pair in Latin and ballroom disciplines.[20][21] To advance their career, Katya relocated from Saint Petersburg to the United Kingdom around 2008, joining Neil for full-time training and adapting to life abroad while seeking greater opportunities in the competitive dance scene.[2][22] This move enabled consistent collaboration, though it required adjustments to cultural and logistical differences in the UK dance community.[20] Their training regimen centered on rigorous daily practice sessions, focusing on refining techniques in Latin and ballroom to build precision and partnership dynamics, which strengthened both their professional coordination and interpersonal connection over time.[2][17] Building on Katya's foundational training in Russia, this intensive routine propelled their early progress.[2] As a new pair, they achieved notable early successes in UK competitions, including regional victories and reaching their first major final within less than a year, establishing a strong foundation that led toward international recognition.[2][17]International competitions and awards
Katya Jones and her dance partner Neil Jones amassed a series of prestigious accolades in international competitions during their pre-professional and professional phases, establishing their duo as a dominant force in Latin dance. As amateurs, Jones and Neil Jones won the World Amateur Latin Championship three consecutive years from 2010 to 2012.[3] They also claimed four undefeated British National Amateur Latin titles during this period.[23] In 2012, the pair triumphed at the Blackpool Dance Festival, securing the Amateur Latin championship.[24] Transitioning to professionals in 2013, they maintained high-level success, including European Latin Championship titles and consistent top rankings in global events such as the UK Open and Euro Dance Festival.[3] A highlight came in 2015 when they were crowned World Professional Latin Showdance Champions.[17] The following year, they advanced to the final of the Professional Latin category at the Blackpool Dance Festival, showcasing their competitive prowess among elite international pairs.[25] These international victories and placements solidified their reputation as world-class Latin dancers, attracting attention from television producers and facilitating their entry into Strictly Come Dancing in 2016.[2]Strictly Come Dancing
Joining the show and role
Katya Jones was invited to join Strictly Come Dancing as a professional dancer in 2016, scouted for her acclaimed competitive background in Latin and ballroom dancing, where she had achieved titles such as World Professional Latin Showdance Champion.[2][14] Her debut season introduced her dynamic presence to the program, establishing her as a key choreographer responsible for crafting routines that blended technical precision with emotional storytelling.[2] Throughout her tenure, Jones's role has evolved from primary dancer and choreographer to a mentoring figure, offering guidance to emerging professionals and contestants, a transition highlighted by her appointment as a judge on Belgium's Dancing with the Stars in 2025.[26][27] By November 2025, she has completed ten seasons on the show, underscoring her longevity and reliability amid a rotating cast of professionals.[2][28] As a Russian-born performer, Jones has enhanced the program's diversity, most notably through her participation in the landmark same-sex partnership in 2020, which advanced LGBTQ+ representation on mainstream television.[2] Her innovative choreography style—characterized by bold lifts, fluid transitions, and thematic depth—has contributed significantly to the show's enduring popularity, producing viral moments that draw in diverse audiences.[29][2] Jones navigated challenges including a withdrawal in 2020 due to COVID-19 bubble protocols, an injury-forced exit in 2022 after week eight, and another in 2023 before the quarterfinals, yet she returned resiliently for the 2024 and 2025 seasons, adapting to the show's evolving production needs.[2]Performance records
Katya Jones has participated in Strictly Come Dancing for 10 seasons from 2016 to 2025, completing 74 dances up to the end of 2024 across all partners, with an overall average score of approximately 30.5 out of 40, including 4 perfect scores of 40. In the ongoing 2025 season with Lewis Cope, she has completed 8 dances as of November 17, 2025, with an average of 34 per dance (total 272 points), updating the career total to 82 dances and overall average to approximately 31.2. She has now achieved 5 perfect scores, including her first in the 2017 final with Joe McFadden and the series' inaugural 40 of 2025 with Lewis Cope in week 6. She has danced for a cumulative 55 weeks up to 2024, plus 8 in 2025, demonstrating consistent progression from early lower scores in her debut season to frequent top placements in recent years.[30][31] Her performance records highlight strengths in Latin and contemporary styles, with notable improvement in ballroom dances over time; for instance, her Viennese Waltz scores rose from a low of 20/40 in 2016 to 36/40 in 2025. Katya holds records for the most 10s from individual judges in Argentine Tango (6 across seasons) and has contributed to multiple season-high scores in Couple's Choice routines. As of November 17, 2025, in the ongoing 2025 season with Lewis Cope, they remain frontrunners after week 8.[32][33] The following table summarizes her highest and lowest total scores per dance style across all seasons (2016–2025), based on verified performances; only styles performed at least once are included, with representative examples rather than exhaustive listings.| Dance Style | Highest Score (Season/Partner) | Lowest Score (Season/Partner) |
|---|---|---|
| Waltz | 40 (2017/Joe McFadden) | 18 (2016/Ed Balls) |
| Tango | 38 (2023/Nigel Harman) | 22 (2016/Ed Balls) |
| Foxtrot | 37 (2021/Adam Peaty) | 24 (2018/Seann Walsh) |
| Quickstep | 38 (2023/Nigel Harman) | 25 (2016/Ed Balls) |
| Viennese Waltz | 36 (2025/Lewis Cope) | 20 (2016/Ed Balls) |
| Cha Cha Cha | 39 (2017/Joe McFadden) | 23 (2019/Mike Bushell) |
| Samba | 37 (2021/Adam Peaty) | 21 (2018/Seann Walsh) |
| Rumba | 38 (2020/Nicola Adams) | 26 (2019/Mike Bushell) |
| Paso Doble | 37 (2025/Lewis Cope) | 24 (2017/Joe McFadden) |
| Jive | 36 (2017/Joe McFadden) | 28 (2025/Lewis Cope) |
| Argentine Tango | 40 (2023/Nigel Harman) | 28 (2021/Adam Peaty) |
| Salsa | 37 (2024/Wynne Evans) | 25 (2019/Mike Bushell) |
| American Smooth | 38 (2021/Adam Peaty) | 27 (2023/Nigel Harman) |
| Couple's Choice | 40 (2025/Lewis Cope) | 30 (2020/Nicola Adams) |
| Showdance | 40 (2017/Joe McFadden) | N/A (final only) |
