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Nancy Xu

{{short description|Chinese dancer and choreographer}}

{{Refimprove|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Nancy Xu YouJie

| native_name = 许茜

| native_name_lang = zh

| nickname = Nancy Shoes

| image =

| birth_name = Xu Qian

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1991|7|30}}

| birth_place = Huaihua, China

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=6}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1505129/Strictly-Come-Dancing-professional-dancer-heights|title=Strictly professional dancer heights: How tall are the pros?|first=Charlie|last=Milward|date=October 13, 2021|website=Express.co.uk}}

| known_for = Strictly Come Dancing

| occupation = Dancer
Choreographer

| module = {{Infobox Chinese|child=yes|t={{Linktext|許|茜}}|s=许茜|p=Xǔ Qiàn|mi={{IPAc-cmn|x|u|3|-|q|ian|4}}}}

}}

Nancy Xu YouJie ({{zh|s=许茜}} {{respell|SHOO}};{{Cite web|url=https://siss.ucdavis.edu/news/how-pronounce-chinese-names|title=How to Pronounce Chinese Names | Services for International Students and Scholars|first=Jana M. Sanders|last=Perry|date=September 20, 2022|website=siss.ucdavis.edu}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sydneytoday.com/content-1021428932648001|title=中国美女参加英国大赛倒数第二：不重要，我是来撒狗粮的（组图） | 今日悉尼|website=www.sydneytoday.com}} born 30 July 1991) is a Chinese dancer and choreographer. She is best known for being a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing since 2019.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-49165516|title=Strictly Come Dancing: Nancy Xu named new professional dancer|work=BBC News|date=30 July 2019}}

Early and personal life

Xu was born on 30 July 1991 in Huaihua, China.{{Cite web |title=Instagram post by nancy_xuxi |url=https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4GnOJtyrvQ/?igsh=c3g1amR4YW4yMW0x}} She began dancing at the age of 8 and attended the Guangzhou Dancing School.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nevsmodels.co.uk/models/nancy-xu2/category/special-bookings|title=Nancy Xu|accessdate=30 July 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/2019073075898/strictly-come-dancing-new-dancer-nancy-xu/|title=Strictly Come Dancing unveil new professional dancer meet the new star here!|date=30 July 2019|website=Hello|accessdate=30 July 2021}}

Xu is dating bodyguard Mikee Michele, who is also a martial arts expert and choreographer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.smoothradio.com/news/entertainment/strictly-come-dancing/nancy-xu-asian-strictly-dancer-age-boyfriend/|title=Strictly Come Dancing Nancy Xu: Professional dancer's age, background and boyfriend revealed|website=Smooth Radio|accessdate=30 July 2021}}

Career

Xu specialises in Latin dance and was a finalist in the U21 World Championships in 2010, she finished in third place in the 2010-2012 CBDF National Amateur Latin Championships and was runner-up at the 2013 International Singapore Championship.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/2BwLYh5tQK1Z19DyRjRxdPG/nancy-xu|title=Nancy Xu - BBC Strictly|accessdate=30 July 2021}}

Xu appeared on the Chinese version of So You Think You Can Dance in 2014, where she reached the finals. In 2015, she joined the dance company Burn the Floor and performed around the world.{{Cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2019/07/30/strictly-come-dancing-2019-dancer-nancy-xu-announced-as-new-pro-10486869/|title=Strictly Come Dancing 2019: Dancer Nancy Xu announced as new pro and she's already part of the family|website=Metro|date=30 July 2019|accessdate=30 July 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.burnthefloor.com/current-cast.html|title=Burn the Floor - Current Cast|accessdate=30 July 2021}}

=''Strictly Come Dancing''=

On 30 July 2019, her 28th birthday, Xu was announced as a new professional dancer joining the seventeenth series of Strictly Come Dancing. Xu did not partner a celebrity and instead appeared in the professional group dances throughout the series.{{Cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1175175/Strictly-Come-Dancing-2019-Nancy-Xu-partners-pairings-BBC-video|title=Strictly Come Dancing new dancer Nancy Xu snubbed and left without partner|website=Daily Express|date=7 September 2019|accessdate=30 July 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/talent-shows/who-is-nancy-xu-strictly-come-dancing-2019-professional-dancer-guide/|title=Who is Nancy Xu? Strictly Come Dancing 2019 professional dancer guide|website=Radio Times|accessdate=30 July 2021}} Xu was however partnered with EastEnders actor Rudolph Walker for the 2019 Children in Need special where they danced a group Cha-Cha-Cha.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2019/1030/1087567-eastenders-star-wont-do-splits-on-charity-strictly|title=EastEnders star 'won't do splits' on charity Strictly|website=RTE|date=30 October 2019}} Xu returned as a professional for the eighteenth series however was not paired up with a celebrity for the second time and remained part of the dance troupe.{{Cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/strictly-come-dancing-professional-reshuffle-nancy-comment/|title=Strictly pro line-up reshuffle means it's high time to give Nancy a partner|date=24 June 2021|website=Radio Times}}

Xu was given a partner for the first time in the nineteenth series when she was paired up with CBBC presenter Rhys Stephenson.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/strictlycomedancing/entries/de13f312-633d-4416-84dc-a6798a7511cf|title=Strictly coupling complete!|website=BBC|date=18 September 2021|access-date=18 September 2021}} The couple were eliminated in the semi-final, coming 4th in the competition. The couple had topped the leader-board twice, once with the Charleston and once with the Argentine tango, but were also in the dance-off four times.{{Cite web |url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/20211211128834/strictly-rhys-stephenson-breaks-down-semi-final-routine/ |title=Strictly's Rhys Stephenson breaks down after semi-final routine for heartwarming reason |date=11 December 2021| website=HELLO! n|access-date=11 December 2021}}

For the twentieth series she was partnered with actor Will Mellor. The couple made it to the semi-final, topping the leaderboard three times in the process, but were eliminated and finished in 5th place.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

For the twenty-first series she was partnered with comedian and actor Les Dennis. They were the first couple to be eliminated, after losing the first dance-off of the series to Nikita Kanda and Gorka Márquez.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

For the twenty-second series she was partnered with singer and actor Shayne Ward. They were the seventh couple to be eliminated, after losing the dance-off to Wynne Evans and Katya Jones.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

class="wikitable sortable" style="margin:auto; text-align:center;"

!Series

!Partner

!Place

!Average Score

19

|Rhys Stephenson

|4th

|34.2

20

|Will Mellor

|5th

|33.3

bgcolor="orange"

|21

|Les Dennis

|15th

|15.5

22

|Shayne Ward

|9th

|30.3

Highest and Lowest Scoring Per Dance

class="wikitable sortable collapsed"
style="text-align:Center; background:cc;"

!Dance

!Partner

!Highest

!Partner

!Lowest

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6"

|American Smooth

| Will Mellor

| 33

| Shayne Ward

| 31

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6"

|Argentine Tango

| Rhys Stephenson

| 39

|

|

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6"

|Cha-cha-cha

| Will Mellor

| 32

| Rhys Stephenson
Shayne Ward

| 30

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6"

|Charleston

| Rhys Stephenson

| 40

| Will Mellor

| 38

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6"

|Couple's Choice

| rowspan="3" | Will Mellor

| 38

| Rhys Stephenson

| 37

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6"

|Foxtrot

| 39

|

|

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6"

|Jive

| 34

| Rhys Stephenson

| 32

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6"

|Paso Doble

| Rhys Stephenson

| 33

| Shayne Ward

| 31

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6"

|Quickstep

| rowspan="2" | Shayne Ward

| 35

| rowspan="3" | Will Mellor

| 33

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6"

|Rumba

| 30

| 23

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6"

|Salsa

| rowspan="2" | Rhys Stephenson

| 31

| 26

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6"

|Samba

| 38

| Les Dennis

| 15

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6"

|Showdance

|

|

|

|

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6"

|Tango

| Rhys Stephenson

| 36

| Les Dennis

| 16

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6"

|Viennese Waltz

| Shayne Ward

| 33

| rowspan="2" | Rhys Stephenson

| 27

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6"

|Waltz

| Will Mellor

| 38

| 35

==Series 19: with celebrity partner Rhys Stephenson==

class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="margin:auto; text-align:center;"
style="text-align: center; background:#ccc;"

| rowspan="2"|Week #

| rowspan="2"|Dance/Song

| colspan="4"|Judges' scores

| rowspan="2"|Total

| rowspan="2"|Result

style="text-align: center; background:#ccc;"

| style="width:10%; "|Horwood

| style="width:10%; "|Mabuse

| style="width:10%; "|Ballas

| style="width:10%; "|Du Beke

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"

|1

|Viennese Waltz / "End of the Road"

|6

|7

|7

|7

|27

|No elimination

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"

|2

|Cha-Cha-Cha / "Reach Out I'll Be There"

|7

|8

|8

|7

|30

|Safe

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"

|3

| Couple's Choice / "Spider-Man"

|9

|10

|9

|9

|37

|Safe

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"

|4

|Salsa / "Butter"

|8

|8

|7

|8

|31

|Safe

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"

|5

|American Smooth / "I've Got the world on a String"

|8

|8

|8

|8

|32

|Bottom two

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"

|6

|Paso Doble / "The Eve of the War"

|7

|9

|9

|8

|33

|Safe

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"

|7

|Quickstep / "What a Man Gotta Do"

|7

|9

|9

|9

|34

|Safe

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"

|8

|Charleston / "The Charleston"

|10

|10

|10

|10

|{{Green|40}}

|Safe

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"

|9

|Jive / "Footloose"

|8*

|8

|8

|8

|32

|Bottom two

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"

|10

|Waltz / "You Light Up My Life"

|7

|9*

|10

|9

|35

|Bottom two

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"

|11

|Argentine Tango / "In the Air Tonight"

|9

|10

|10

|10

|{{Green|39}}

|Safe

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"

|12

|Tango / "One Vision"
Samba / "It Had Better Be Tonight (Meglio stasera)"

|9
9

|9
10

|9
10

|9
9

|{{Red|36}}
{{Red|38}}

|Eliminated

  • {{Green|Green}} number indicates that Rhys and Nancy were at the top of the leaderboard.
  • {{Red|Red}} number indicates that Rhys and Nancy were at the bottom of the leaderboard.
  • *Score awarded by guest judge Cynthia Erivo.

==Series 20: with celebrity partner Will Mellor==

class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="margin:auto; text-align:center;"
style="text-align: center; background:#ccc;"

| rowspan="2"|Week #

| rowspan="2"|Dance/Song

| colspan="4"|Judges' scores

| rowspan="2"|Total

| rowspan="2"|Result

style="text-align: center; background:#ccc;"

| style="width:10%; "|Horwood

| style="width:10%; "|Mabuse

| style="width:10%; "|Ballas

| style="width:10%; "|Du Beke

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"

|1

|Jive / "Livin' la Vida Loca"

|8

|9

|8

|9

|{{Green|34}}

|No elimination

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"

|2

|Salsa / "Never Too Much"

|6

|7

|6

|7

|26

|Safe

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"

|3

| American Smooth / "Cry to Me"

|8

|9

|8

|8

|33

|Safe

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"

|4

|Rumba / "The Joker and the Queen"

|4

|7

|5

|7

|23

|Safe

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"

|5

|Viennese waltz / "Line of Duty End Title theme"

|8

|8

|8

|8

|32

|Safe

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"

|6

|Cha-cha-cha / "Mama Told Me Not to Come"

|8

|8

|8

|8

|32

|Safe

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"

|7

|Quickstep / "Soda Pop"

|8

|8

|8

|9

|33

|Safe

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"

|8

|Waltz / "Three Times a Lady"

|9

|10

|10

|9

|38

|Safe

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"

|9

|Samba / "I Go to Rio"

|8

|9

|9

|9

|35

|Safe

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"

|10

|Charleston / "Hush"

|9

|10

|10

|9

|{{Green|38}}

|Safe

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"

|11

|Foxtrot / "Sun and Moon"

|9

|10

|10

|10

|{{Green|39}}

|Safe

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"

|12

|Paso Doble / "Uccen - DWTS Remix"
Couple's Choice / "Know How / Fools Gold / Step On"

|7
9

|9
10

|7
9

|9
10

|{{Red|32}}
38

|Eliminated

  • {{Green|Green}} number indicates that Will and Nancy were at the top of the leaderboard.
  • {{Red|Red}} number indicates that Will and Nancy were at the bottom of the leaderboard.

==Series 21: with celebrity partner Les Dennis==

class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="margin:auto; text-align:center;"
style="text-align: center; background:#ccc;"

| rowspan="2"|Week #

| rowspan="2"|Dance/Song

| colspan="4"|Judges' scores

| rowspan="2"|Total

| rowspan="2"|Result

style="text-align: center; background:#ccc;"

| style="width:10%; "|Horwood

| style="width:10%; "|Mabuse

| style="width:10%; "|Ballas

| style="width:10%; "|Du Beke

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"

|1

|Tango / "Don't You Want Me"

|2

|4

|5

|5

|{{Red|16}}

|No elimination

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"

|2

|Samba / "Rock the Boat"

|2

|4

|4

|5

|{{Red|15}}

|Eliminated

  • {{Red|Red}} number indicates that Les and Nancy were at the bottom of the leaderboard.

==Series 22: with celebrity partner Shayne Ward==

class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="margin:auto; text-align:center;"
style="text-align: center; background:#ccc;"

| rowspan="2"|Week #

| rowspan="2"|Dance/Song

| colspan="4"|Judges' scores

| rowspan="2"|Total

| rowspan="2"|Result

style="text-align: center; background:#ccc;"

| style="width:10%; "|Horwood

| style="width:10%; "|Mabuse

| style="width:10%; "|Ballas

| style="width:10%; "|Du Beke

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"

|1

|Samba / "Do I Do"

|4

|6

|5

|6

|21

|No elimination

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"

|2

|Tango / "The Door"

|7

|8

|8

|8

|31

|Safe

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"

|3

|Viennese waltz / "If I Can Dream"

|8

|9

|8

|8

|33

|Safe

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"

|4

|Cha-cha-cha / "Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)"

|7

|8

|7

|8

|30

|Bottom two

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"

|5

|American Smooth / "Get Here"

|7

|8

|8

|8

|31

|Safe

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"

|6

|Paso Doble / "In the Hall of the Mountain King"

|8

|8

|7

|8

|31

|Bottom two

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"

|7

|Quickstep / "Help!" & "Hey Jude"

|8

|9

|9

|9

|35

|Safe

style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"

|8

|Rumba / "Time After Time"

|7

|8

|7

|8

|{{Red|30}}

|Eliminated

  • {{Red|Red}} number indicates that Shayne and Nancy were at the bottom of the leaderboard.

=''Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special''=

Xu danced a Quickstep with Jamie Borthwick for the 2023 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special, achieving the maximum 40 points from the judges and winning the competition.{{Cite web |title=Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special 2023 winner revealed |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2023/strictly-come-dancing-christmas-special-winner/ |access-date=2024-01-25 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en}}

Xu danced with Harry Aikines-Aryeetey for the 2024 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

References

{{reflist}}

{{Strictly Come Dancing}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Xu, Nancy}}

Category:Living people

Category:1991 births

Category:Chinese female dancers

Category:Chinese dancers

Category:People from Huaihua