Robin Windsor

{{Infobox person

| name = Robin Windsor

| birth_name = Robin Jamie Windsor

| birth_date = {{birth date|1979|9|15|df=y}}

| birth_place = Ipswich, Suffolk, England

| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|2|19|1979|9|15|df=y}}

| death_place = London, England

| occupation = {{hlist|Professional dancer|choreographer}}

| television = Strictly Come Dancing (2010–2013)

| partner = Marcus Collins (2013–2015)

}}

Robin Jamie Windsor (15 September 1979 – 19 February 2024) was an English professional Latin and ballroom dancer, best known for appearing as a professional dancer on the BBC television series Strictly Come Dancing.

Early life

Robin Jamie Windsor was born on 15 September 1979{{Cite web|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/robin-windsors-tragic-six-word-28665778|title=Robin Windsor's tragic six-word reason for quitting Strictly before death|first=James|last=Rodger|date=20 February 2024|website=Birmingham Live}} in Ipswich, Suffolk, and grew up in the Spring Road area.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/24132554.robin-windsor-ipswich-pays-tribute-late-strictly-dancer/ |title='He always remembered where he started': Tribute to 'magic performer' Robin Windsor |date=21 February 2024 |website=Ipswich Star}} He attended Clifford Road Primary and Copleston High School.{{Cite web |url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/21733371.ipswich-strictly-come-dancing-star-robin-windsor-determined-tame-dragons-den-tycoon-deborah-meaden-dance-floor-pairing/ |title=Ipswich: Strictly Come Dancing star Robin Windsor determined to tame Dragons' Den tycoon Deborah Meaden after dance floor pairing |date=10 September 2013|website=East Anglian Daily Times}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-68348642|title=Ipswich-born Robin Windsor inspired local performer to pursue career|date=20 February 2024|via=www.bbc.co.uk}} He began dancing at the age of three, when his parents took him to the Ipswich School of Dancing.{{Cite web|url=http://www.getfitgetdancing.org.uk/index.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101220021010/http://www.getfitgetdancing.org.uk/index.html|url-status=dead|title=Ipswich School of Dancing|archivedate=20 December 2010}} At the age of 19 Windsor moved to London to pursue his career as a dancer.[http://www.eveningstar.co.uk/news/features/suffolk_dancer_swings_into_the_strictly_spotlight_1_560106 Suffolk dancer swings into the Strictly spotlight] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100818025928/http://www.eveningstar.co.uk/news/features/suffolk_dancer_swings_into_the_strictly_spotlight_1_560106|date=18 August 2010}}

Career

=Competitive career=

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 both Latin and Ballroom 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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.robinwindsor.com/about|title=Bio on robinwindsor.com|website=www.robinwindsor.com|access-date=15 January 2020|archive-date=27 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227192150/http://www.robinwindsor.com/about|url-status=dead}}

=Professional partnership=

In 2010, in Windsor's first season with Strictly Come Dancing, Kristina Rihanoff became his professional partner.{{Cite web|url=http://www.officialkristinarihanoff.com/images/k-r-journey/k-r-journey-60.jpg|title=k-r-journey|website=www.officialkristinarihanoff.com|access-date=15 January 2020|archive-date=23 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123194528/http://www.officialkristinarihanoff.com/images/k-r-journey/k-r-journey-60.jpg|url-status=dead}} They performed solo routines on the show and also took their partnership off the Strictly dance floor, both headlining Burn the Floor in London's West End in 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/robin-winsdor-death-strictly-kristina-rihanoff-b2499738.html|title=Robin Windsor's Strictly partner says he was 'destroyed' after crushing career blow|date=21 February 2024|website=The Independent}} The partnership took them all over the world, including charity events and Strictly cruise ship performances.{{Cite web|url=https://gocruisewithjane.co.uk/po-cruises-announces-strictly-stars-for-summer-2013-cruises/|title=P&O Cruises announces Strictly Stars for Summer 2013 Cruises}} They performed in the South African version of Strictly Come Dancing and taught large groups at this special event.{{cite news |url=https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/strictly-kristina-rihanoff-robin-windsor-excruciating-pain-death/ |title='May you dance with the angels': Robin Windsor's Strictly partner says dancer was in 'excruciating pain' before death |publisher=LBC Radio}}

=Dance shows=

Summer 2015 saw Windsor and Rihanoff in a touring production of Puttin' On the Ritz, featuring the most famous song and dance moments of the last 50 years of the golden age of Hollywood, recreated live on stage.{{Cite web|url=https://www.londontheatre1.com/theatre-news/kristina-rihanoff-and-robin-windsor-star-in-puttin-on-the-ritz/|title=Kristina Rihanoff and Robin Windsor star in Puttin' on the Ritz|first=Neil|last=Cheesman|date=15 May 2015}} Puttin on the Ritz involved song and dance and featured music from George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and others, with a cast of award-winning singers and dancers.{{cite web |url=http://www.theatreroyal.co.uk/whats-on/puttin-on-the-ritz |title=Puttin' on the Ritz |access-date=30 January 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220213850/http://www.theatreroyal.co.uk/whats-on/puttin-on-the-ritz |archive-date=20 February 2015 }}

Windsor and Rihanoff also took part in dance weekends around the county.{{Cite web|url=https://www.donaheys.co.uk/events/dancing-with-the-stars-weekend-beaumont-estate-2014/|title=Anton Du Beke, Aljaz Skorjanec, Janette Manrara , Giovanni Pernice, Oti Mabuse – Donaheys Dance Events|website=www.donaheys.co.uk|access-date=15 January 2020|archive-date=15 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115123722/https://www.donaheys.co.uk/events/dancing-with-the-stars-weekend-beaumont-estate-2014/|url-status=live}}

=Dance lessons=

Windsor started his own branded dance lessons with "Beginners Ballroom" in March 2015 with a music hall feel at Cecil Sharp House in London{{Cite web|url=https://www.ticketweb.uk/|title=TicketWeb – independent music concert tickets and more|website=www.ticketweb.uk|language=en-US|access-date=15 January 2020|archive-date=2 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100302173242/http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_london&query=detail&event=357791|url-status=live}} and same sex ballroom lessons in a music hall setting, starting at Wilton's Music Hall in Shadwell, London, in April 2015.{{Cite web|url=https://todolist.london/robin-windsors-same-sex-ballroom-for-beginners/|title=Robin Windsor's Same Sex Ballroom for Beginners – To Do List|date=12 April 2015}}

=Theatre=

From 2003 to summer 2010, Windsor was part of the cast of Burn the Floor, one of the leading ballroom-based shows in the world.{{Cite web |url=http://www.burnthefloor.com/robin.php|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708104750/http://www.burnthefloor.com/robin.php |url-status=dead |title=Robin Windsor |archivedate=8 July 2011}} Two tours with Burn the Floor (2003, 2004) and three with FloorPlay (2006 to 2008) took him several times around the world, leading up to the highlights being a stint on Broadway (2009) and in the London West End (2010).{{cite web |url=https://uk.linkedin.com/in/robinwindsor |title=Robin Windsor |publisher=linkedin.com |access-date=23 February 2023}} In Windsor's last season with Burn 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.{{Cite web|url=https://georginabutler.co.uk/2016/09/03/interview-with-robin-windsor-keep-dancing-september-2016/|title=INTERVIEW with Robin Windsor, Keep Dancing, September 2016|date=3 September 2016}} From Broadway, Windsor's abilities took him to Dancing with the Stars Australia and So You Think You Can Dance in Holland. He was also asked to assist in the choreography for the Australian version of So You Think You Can Dance.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-68346057|title=Robin Windsor: Strictly Come Dancing professional dies aged 44|date=20 February 2024|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}

In 2012, Windsor starred in Dance To The Music Tour along with his professional partner Kristina Rihanoff, fellow pro-dancers from Strictly Come Dancing, Artem Chigvintsev and Kara Tointon, who won the competition in 2010.{{Cite web|url=https://www.totalswindon.com/entertainment/dance-to-the-music-oasis-29-june/?generate=cache|title=Dance To The Music|website=www.totalswindon.com}} With music from the Strictly Come Dancing Band, the show toured the UK.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gigsandtours.com/news/strictly-presents-dance-to-the-music-uk-theatre-tour/342|title=Gigs And Tours News|date=19 February 2024|website=Gigs and Tours}}

From 6 March to 30 June 2013, Windsor – along with his professional partner Rihanoff – returned to headline Burn the Floor, at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London's West End.{{Cite web|url=http://www.robinwindsor.com/news/robin-returns-to-burn-the-floor-in-2013|title=Robin returns to 'Burn The Floor' in 2013|website=www.robinwindsor.com|access-date=6 March 2020|archive-date=10 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130110001232/http://www.robinwindsor.com/news/robin-returns-to-burn-the-floor-in-2013|url-status=dead}} In 2022, Windsor returned to Burn the Floor for their UK reunion tour.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uktw.co.uk/archive/Tour/Dance/Burn-the-Floor-The-Reunion/T1289759272/|title=Tour archive for Burn the Floor – The Reunion (Dance or ballet). 12 July 2022-22 July 2022 [TOUR]|first=UK Theatre|last=Web|website=UK Theatre Web}}{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/robin-windsor-death-family-strictly-come-dancing-b2500751.html|title=Robin Windsor death: Family thank fans for 'outpouring of love and celebration'|website=The Independent|date=22 February 2024}}

Charity

Together with fellow SCD dancer Artem Chigvintsev, Windsor posed for the Cosmopolitan December 2010 centrefold, raising awareness for male cancer.{{cite web |url=http://www.nowmagazine.co.uk/celebrity-news/tv-news/509679/kara-tointon-s-strictly-partner-artem-chigvintsev-goes-nude/1/ |title=HOT NAKED PICTURE! Kara Tointon's Strictly Come Dancing partner Artem Chigvintsev goes nude – now |publisher=Nowmagazine.co.uk |date=18 December 2010 |access-date=9 November 2013 |archive-date=18 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418225939/http://www.nowmagazine.co.uk/celebrity-news/tv-news/509679/kara-tointon-s-strictly-partner-artem-chigvintsev-goes-nude/1 |url-status=live }} In January 2011 he took part in the Greater Manchester Police's campaign against domestic violence, together with the cast of the SCD Tour 2011.{{cite web |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/44340545@N05/5444580047/ |title=Strictly Valentine | Flickr – Photo Sharing! |publisher=Flickr |date=21 March 2011 |access-date=9 November 2013 |archive-date=6 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106061111/http://www.flickr.com/photos/44340545@N05/5444580047/ |url-status=live }}

Windsor supported the Stonewall campaigning for gay, lesbian and bisexual equality{{Cite web|url=http://www.stonewall.org.uk/|title=Help make sport everyone's game|website=Stonewall|language=en|access-date=15 January 2020|archive-date=2 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302191519/http://stonewall.org.uk/|url-status=live}} and supported the Mad Trust with its West End Bares charity event seeing the theatre community coming together to raise money for HIV charities.{{Cite web|url=https://www.madtrust.org.uk/event/|title=Events Archive – Page 3 of 8|first=Sarah Thomson-|last=sarahthomsondesign.co.uk|website=MAD}} Windsor hosted the auction in 2013 ending up completely naked on stage.{{Cite web |url=https://www.madtrust.org.uk/news-west-end-bares-2013.php |title=West End Bares-2013 – the Make a Difference Trust |access-date=19 January 2015 |archive-date=20 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120003418/https://www.madtrust.org.uk/news-west-end-bares-2013.php |url-status=dead }}

''Strictly Come Dancing''

Windsor appeared on the BBC One show Strictly Come Dancing from 2010 until 2013, partnering with Patsy Kensit, Anita Dobson, Lisa Riley and Deborah Meaden.

=Highest and lowest scoring performances per dance=

class="wikitable sortable collapsed"

|+ Highest and lowest scoring performances per dance

style="text-align:Center; background:#cc;"

! Dance

! Partner

! Highest

! Partner

! Lowest

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

| American Smooth

| Anita Dobson
Lisa Riley

| 32

| –