Strictly Dancing Breaks
- Gymnast seeks focus to succeed in 2012Shawn Johnson knows she must shrug off celebrity culture if she is to make her mark on the London Olympic Games.
- Shawn Johnson, USATeenage gymnast Shawn Johnson won Olympic gold on the balance beam and three silver medals for the USA at Beijing in 2008.
- Robert Jones doubts Henson returnEx-Wales captain Robert Jones hopes Wales centre Gavin Henson returns to the sport, but fears it will not happen.
- Close-Up: Austria's teenage ballroom dancersBallroom dancing has become more popular in recent years because of the TV series Strictly Come Dancing - but in Austria, waltzing has never gone out out of fashion.
- England v Bangladesh 1st Test day five as it happenedEngland emphatically beat Bangladesh by eight wickets in the first Test at Lord's.
Andrew Cuerden
Professional Ballroom and Latin American Dancer, Teacher, Adjudicator
From the inspiration of Dirty Dancing in 1986 to performing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2005 Andrew has worked tirelessly to become a world class championship dancer. In South Africa Andrew competed from the age of 12 to 20 in both Ballroom and Latin dancing and then immigrated to England to compete internationally. In England Andrew continued to compete for a further 12 years firstly as an English amateur then as a professional for Finland. Andrew, along with his Finnish dance partner Hanna Haarala, achieved many major finals and semi finals around the globe. In 2006 they were ranked one of the top 25 professional Latin American couples in the world. This was the result of many years of the highest level of dance training from retired world champions. Andrew has now turned his passion and love of Latin American and Ballroom dancing to performing, teaching and adjudicating. Andrew and Hanna perform their cabaret show “LATIN EMOTION” to audiences all round the world.
As a Professional Dancer on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2005 Andrew partnered Jaye Jacobs from Holby City. This was a great privilege and honour to be involved in one of the world's biggest and most successful TV programs. Andrew together with Miss Haarala performed a number of shows during the program the most memorable being a Cha Cha with Michael Buble. Since the show Andrew has had the pleasure of teaching and performing with many other wonderful people for various events in and around the country.
Andrew and Hanna together with Hilton Hotel Group have organised and run 3 very successful Dancing weekends and this year 2010 working with Warm Welcome Devon Hotel Group running a further 3 Ballroom and Latin American dancing weekends in Devon.
Along with many other charity events that Andrew is involved with he is also supports the Saracens Foundation in helping raise money for their various charities.
Finally, Andrew is a Qualified Ballroom and Latin American Associate Level teacher in IDTA and ISTD Technique (Finnish Examination) and member of Equity Trade Union.