Robin Windsor | |
|---|---|
| Born | Robin Jamie Windsor (1979-09-15)15 September 1979 |
| Died | 19 February 2024(2024-02-19) (aged 44) London, England |
| Occupations |
|
| Television | Strictly Come Dancing (2010–2013) |
| Partner | Marcus Collins (2013–2015) |
Robin Jamie Windsor (15 September 1979 – 19 February 2024) was an English professionalLatin andballroom dancer, best known for appearing as a professional dancer on the BBC television seriesStrictly Come Dancing.
Robin Jamie Windsor was born on 15 September 1979[1][2] inIpswich,Suffolk, and grew up in the Spring Road area.[3] He attended Clifford Road Primary andCopleston High School.[4][5] He began dancing at the age of three, when his parents took him to the Ipswich School of Dancing.[6] At the age of 19 Windsor moved to London to pursue his career as a dancer.[7]
Windsor's interest in dance was initiated by his parents when they enrolled him at the age of three in a local dance school in Ipswich. From the beginning, he studied bothLatin andBallroom dance, eventually competing in those disciplines at the highest levels. His skills eventually led him to represent England, amassing numerous World Championships, both on the domestic and international level. Windsor competed successfully in the juvenile and junior ballroom dancer categories. He represented England in the World Championships.[8]
In 2010, in Windsor's first season withStrictly Come Dancing,Kristina Rihanoff became his professional partner.[9] They performed solo routines on the show and also took their partnership off theStrictly dance floor, both headliningBurn the Floor in London'sWest End in 2013.[10] The partnership took them all over the world, including charity events andStrictlycruise ship performances.[11] They performed in the South African version ofStrictly Come Dancing and taught large groups at this special event.[12]
Summer 2015 saw Windsor and Rihanoff in a touring production ofPuttin' On the Ritz, featuring the most famous song and dance moments of the last 50 years of the golden age ofHollywood, recreated live on stage.[13]Puttin on the Ritz involved song and dance and featured music fromGeorge Gershwin,Irving Berlin,Cole Porter and others, with a cast of award-winning singers and dancers.[14]
Windsor and Rihanoff also took part in dance weekends around the county.[15]
Windsor started his own branded dance lessons with "Beginners Ballroom" in March 2015 with amusic hall feel atCecil Sharp House in London[16] and same sex ballroom lessons in a music hall setting, starting atWilton's Music Hall inShadwell, London, in April 2015.[17]
From 2003 to summer 2010, Windsor was part of the cast ofBurn the Floor, one of the leading ballroom-based shows in the world.[18] Two tours withBurn the Floor (2003, 2004) and three withFloorPlay (2006 to 2008) took him several times around the world, leading up to the highlights being a stint onBroadway (2009) and in the LondonWest End (2010).[19] In Windsor's last season withBurn the Floor in London, he was engaged in the role of Swing having to learn all male dancers' parts, to step in for anyone who was unable to perform.[20] From Broadway, Windsor's abilities took him toDancing with the Stars Australia andSo You Think You Can Dance in Holland. He was also asked to assist in the choreography for the Australian version ofSo You Think You Can Dance.[21]
In 2012, Windsor starred inDance To The Music Tour along with his professional partner Kristina Rihanoff, fellow pro-dancers fromStrictly Come Dancing,Artem Chigvintsev andKara Tointon, who won the competition in 2010.[22] With music from theStrictly Come Dancing Band, the show toured the UK.[23]
From 6 March to 30 June 2013, Windsor – along with his professional partner Rihanoff – returned to headlineBurn the Floor, at theShaftesbury Theatre in London's West End.[24] In 2022, Windsor returned toBurn the Floor for their UK reunion tour.[25][26]
Together with fellow SCD dancerArtem Chigvintsev, Windsor posed for theCosmopolitan December 2010 centrefold, raising awareness for male cancer.[27] In January 2011 he took part in theGreater Manchester Police's campaign against domestic violence, together with the cast of the SCD Tour 2011.[28]
Windsor supported theStonewall campaigning for gay, lesbian and bisexual equality[29] and supported the Mad Trust with itsWest End Bares charity event seeing the theatre community coming together to raise money for HIV charities.[30] Windsor hosted the auction in 2013 ending up completely naked on stage.[31]
Windsor appeared on the BBC One showStrictly Come Dancing from 2010 until 2013, partnering withPatsy Kensit,Anita Dobson,Lisa Riley andDeborah Meaden.[32]
| Dance | Partner | Highest | Partner | Lowest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Smooth | Anita Dobson Lisa Riley | 32 | – | – |
| Argentine Tango | Anita Dobson | 33 | Patsy Kensit | 30 |
| Cha Cha Cha | Anita Dobson Lisa Riley | 30 | Deborah Meaden | 24 |
| Charleston | Anita Dobson | 31 | Lisa Riley | 26 |
| Foxtrot | Lisa Riley | 32 | – | – |
| Jive | Patsy Kensit | 31 | Deborah Meaden | 23 |
| Quickstep | Lisa Riley | 31 | Patsy Kensit | 24 |
| Rumba | Lisa Riley | 27 | – | – |
| Salsa | Lisa Riley | 31 | Anita Dobson Patsy Kensit | 28 |
| Samba | Lisa Riley | 32 | Anita Dobson | 27 |
| Something-athon | Anita Dobson | 2 | – | – |
| Tango | Anita Dobson | 31 | Deborah Meaden | 24 |
| Viennese Waltz | Patsy Kensit | 32 | Lisa Riley | 25 |
| Waltz | Anita Dobson | 28 | Patsy Kensit | 22 |
| Series | Partner | Place | Average Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Patsy Kensit | 7th | 28.0 |
| 9 | Anita Dobson | 7th | 29.7 |
| 10 | Lisa Riley | 5th | 29.3 |
| 11 | Deborah Meaden | 12th | 25.2 |
In September 2010, Windsor joined the BBC'sStrictly Come Dancing as one of the three new male professional dancers.[33] For his first year Robin was partnered with actressPatsy Kensit. Robin's professional partner was Kristina Rihanoff. Both performed for many celebrities includingNeil Diamond,Alice Cooper,Rod Stewart andKatherine Jenkins.His first series (Series 8), with his Celebrity partnerPatsy Kensit, he reached seventh place.[34]
| Week # | Dance/song | Judges' scores | Result | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horwood | Goodman | Dixon | Tonioli | Total | |||
| 1 | Waltz / "When I Need You" | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 22 | N/A |
| 2 | Salsa / "Canned Heat" | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 | Safe |
| 3 | Quickstep / "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 24 | Safe |
| 4 | Charleston / "Hot Honey Rag" | 6 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 28 | Safe |
| 5 | Jive / "Monster Mash" | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 31 | Safe |
| 6 | Cha-Cha-Cha / "All the Lovers" | 6 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 29 | Safe |
| 7 | Viennese Waltz / "Anyone Who Had a Heart" | 7 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 32 | Safe |
| 8 | Samba / "Copacabana" | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 28 | Bottom Two |
| 9 | Argentine Tango / "They" | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 30 | Eliminated |
On 17 December 2010, Windsor won the Grand Piano Pro Challenge onStrictly Come Dancing's sister programmeIt Takes Two with 3548 points in front of Brendan Cole (1907) and Natalie Lowe (1091).[35]
Windsor and Kensit also took part in theStrictly Come Dancing pro/celeb tour in January and February 2011, dancing theSalsa and theViennese Waltz, reaching respectable scores of between 60 and 53 out of 60 (including a few 10s for their Viennese Waltz towards the end of the tour).[36]
On 15 June 2011, the BBC announced that Windsor would again be competing in the 2011 series ofStrictly Come Dancing.[37] In the launch show on 10 September 2011, Windsor was paired with actressAnita Dobson,[38] with the couple being named "Team Dobbin" by Robin Windsor onTwitter.[39] They were eliminated on 27 November 2011 after Windsor had been unable to dance for a week due to an injury. Dobson therefore rehearsed and danced the Cha Cha Cha and the Swingathon withBrendan Cole.[40] Windsor also won this year's Children in need special and was partnered with BBC Breakfast'sSusanna Reid.[41]
| Week # | Dance/song | Judges' scores | Result | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horwood | Goodman | Dixon | Tonioli | Total | |||
| 1 | Waltz / "Three Times a Lady" | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 | N/A |
| 2 | Salsa / "Jump in the Line (Shake, Senora)" | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 | Safe |
| 3 | Jive / "You Can't Stop the Beat" | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 27 | Safe |
| 4 | American Smooth / "I've Got You Under My Skin" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 32 | Safe |
| 5 | Tango / "Devil Woman" | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 31 | Safe |
| 6 | Charleston / "I Got Rhythm" | 7 | 8* | 8 | 8 | 31 | Safe |
| 7 | Argentine Tango / "Tango" | 7 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 33 | Bottom Two |
| 8 | Samba / "Come on Eileen" | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 27 | Safe |
| 9* | Cha Cha Cha / "Uptown Girl" | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 30 | Eliminated |
| Swing Marathon / "Chattanooga Choo Choo" | Awarded 2 extra points | ||||||
In June 2012, it was announced that Windsor would return to be a professional dancer for the third time. This time, he was paired with actress and presenterLisa Riley. Windsor enjoyed his most successful series ofStrictly Come Dancing to date when he reached the semi-final dancing with Riley. The pair were the people's favourite and wowed audiences in the UK as part of the Strictly Come Dancing live tour in 2013.[43]
| Week # | Dance/song | Judges' scores | Result | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horwood | Bussell | Goodman | Tonioli | Total | |||
| 1 | Cha-Cha-Cha / "Think" | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 30 | N/A |
| 2 | Viennese Waltz / "Never Tear Us Apart" | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 25 | Safe |
| 3 | Jive / "Hanky Panky" | 8 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 29 | Safe |
| 4 | Charleston / "Witch Doctor" | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 26 | Safe |
| 5 | Tango / "Let's Stick Together" | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 27 | Safe |
| 6 | Foxtrot / "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 32 | Safe |
| 7 | Samba / "Car Wash" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 32 | Safe |
| 8 | Rumba / "As If We Never Said Goodbye" | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 27 | Safe |
| 9 | Quickstep / "Bring Me Sunshine" | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 31 | Safe |
| 10 | Cha Cha Cha &Tango Fusion / "Voulez-Vous" | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 30 | Safe |
| 11 | American Smooth / "All That Jazz" Salsa / "Best Years of Our Lives" | 8 7 | 8 8 | 8 8 | 8 8 | 32 31 | Eliminated |
In June 2013, Windsor confirmed his return as one of the male professional dancers for the eleventh series of the show. His celebrity partner wasDragon's Den panellist, businesswoman and entrepreneurDeborah Meaden. The couple were eliminated in week 5. The pair went on to compete in the Strictly Come Dancing live tour.[44]
| Week # | Dance/song | Judges' scores | Result | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horwood | Bussell | Goodman | Tonioli | Total | |||
| 1 | Tango / "Money, Money, Money" | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 24 | N/A |
| 2 | Cha-Cha-Cha / "Respect" | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 24 | Safe |
| 3 | Quickstep / "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 | Safe |
| 4 | Jive / "Making Your Mind Up" | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 23 | Safe |
| 5 | Viennese Waltz / "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 27 | Eliminated |
Windsor was unable to perform inSeries 12 due to a back injury, and was replaced byTrent Whiddon.[45] He returned to the show in week nine, on 23 November 2014, in the opening professional sequence, as a policeman, dancing to "Rock This Town" by theStray Cats.[citation needed]
(Scores in brackets are judges' individual scores in this order:Revel Horwood,Bussell,Goodman,Tonioli)
Windsor competed in threeStrictly Christmas Specials:
Windsor lived in London with his partner Davide Cini, to whom he announced his engagement on 21 August 2013.[46] The relationship ended shortly after, and in February 2014, it was confirmed that he was in a relationship withThe X Factor runner-upMarcus Collins.[47] The couple split up in February 2015, after 18 months together.[48]
Windsor was found dead in a hotel room in London on 19 February 2024,[1][49][50][51] aged 44.[52][53] A cause of death was not revealed; however, his former dance partner Kristina Rihanoff said in a tribute to him that it was "an absolute tragedy he felt there was no way out".[54][55][56]
His former employersBurn the Floor andStrictly Come Dancing paid tribute to Windsor, the latter describing him as "an exceptionally talented dancer and choreographer [...] as well as a considerate and kind person both on and off the dancefloor".[32]Lisa Riley andDeborah Meaden, who had been partnered with Windsor on the show, also paid tribute, with the latter describing him as "kind and incredibly generous", adding "he lit up a room with his fun and energy and certainly his sparkle ... he was never happier than when he was covered in crystals!".[57]
Windsor's funeral was held on 26 March 2024 in his hometown of Ipswich.[58][59][60] On 14 September 2024, the first episode of the22nd series of Strictly Come Dancing was dedicated to the memory of both Windsor and former contestantDave Myers, who died a week later.[61]
