Karen Hardy (born 14 July 1970) is a British professional ballroom dancer, coach, teacher and adjudicator.
[3] Hardy turned professional in August 1994, after being asked to partner South African dancer Bryan Watson.
In January 1995 they entered the Professional Final of the Pioneer United Kingdom Open Championship finishing fourth.
Hardy also co-hosts as the Master of Ceremonies in the International Open to the World Championships held annually at the Royal Albert Hall, London.
Along with Paul Harris they mentored a young female kick boxer to become a Latin American Dancer.
She appeared with journalist and presenter Bill Turnbull, in the 2005 Christmas show with former World Heavyweight Champion Evander Holyfield, and won the 2006 series with cricketer Mark Ramprakash.
She has since said that she left as due to Gary Rhodes work commitments he was unable to train much and so each week they would be struggling to do the routines.
[citation needed] She does however continue to make regular appearances on sister-show Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two giving her professional opinion on the couple's training and performances.
In 2011 she appeared on the BBC red button service, giving live commentary on the dancing, a role she continued in 2012.