Ksenia Zsikhotska (Ukrainian: Ксенія Ціхоцька, sometimes romanised Zhikhotska; born 11 August 1989) is a Ukrainian dancer and choreographer. She is best known for her role as a professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars. She, alongside professional partner, Ryan McShane, were the 2016 United Kingdom & British Latin Professional Champions & British Show Dance Champions.[1]
Ksenia Zsikhotska | |
|---|---|
| Born | 11 August 1989 |
| Occupation(s) | Dancer, Choreographer |
| Known for | Dancing with the Stars (Irish series) |
Early life
Zsikhotska was born in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine. She started folk dancing at the age of four and took up ballroom when she moved to United Kingdom with her mother.[2]
Career
In 2015, Zsikhotska toured with Strictly Come Dancing professional Brendan Cole's A Night to Remember tour across the UK and Ireland.[3]
In 2016, Zsikhotska and partner, Ryan McShane, were crowned United Kingdom & British Latin Professional Champions & British Show Dance Champions.[4]
Television career
Got to Dance
In 2013, Zsihotska took part in the Sky One dance competition show, Got to Dance alongside partner, Ryan McShane. They received three gold stars from the judges and advanced to the next round before being eliminated.[5]
Britain's Got Talent (series 8)
In 2014, Zsikhotska helped establish the ballroom dance group, Kings & Queens, alongside future Strictly Come Dancing professionals, Katya Jones and Neil Jones as well as her future Dancing with the Stars fellow professionals, Ryan McShane and Kai Widdrington on Britain's Got Talent.[6] Kings & Queens reached the semi-finals of the series before being eliminated.[7]
Dancing with the Stars Ireland
In 2017, Zsikhotska was announced as one of the professional dancers for the first series of Dancing with the Stars.[8] She was partnered with singer, Dayl Cronin. Cronin and Zsikhotska made it all the way to the semifinals of the competition before being eliminated and finishing in 4th place.[9]
In 2018, Zsikhotska was partnered with RTÉ broadcaster, Marty Morrissey.[10] Despite receiving low scores throughout their time on the show, the couple made it all the way to week 8 of the competition, finishing in seventh place.[11]
In 2019, Zsikhotska was partnered with Ireland and Munster Rugby player, Peter Stringer.[12] The couple made it to week 8 of the competition; marking the second year in a row that Zsikhotska finished in seventh place.[13][14]
| Series | Partner | Place |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dayl Cronin | 4th |
| 2 | Marty Morrissey | 7th |
| 3 | Peter Stringer | 7th |
Highest and Lowest Scoring Per Dance
| Dance | Partner | Highest | Partner | Lowest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Smooth | Peter Stringer | 20 | Marty Morrissey | 15 |
| Cha-cha-cha | Dayl Cronin | 25 | Marty Morrissey | 8 |
| Charleston | Peter Stringer | 25 | Marty Morrissey | 12 |
| Contemporary Ballroom | Dayl Cronin | 28 | ||
| Foxtrot | Dayl Cronin | 22 | Marty Morrissey | 16 |
| Jive | Dayl Cronin | 27 | ||
| Paso Doble | Dayl Cronin | 27 | Peter Stringer | 20 |
| Quickstep | Dayl Cronin | 26 | Marty Morrissey | 12 |
| Rumba | Dayl Cronin | 28 | Marty Morrissey | 16 |
| Salsa | Peter Stringer | 16 | ||
| Samba | Des Cahill1 | 17 | ||
| Showdance | ||||
| Tango | Dayl Cronin | 21 | ||
| Viennese Waltz | Dayl Cronin | 26 | Peter Stringer | 19 |
| Waltz |
1 This score was awarded during Switch-Up Week.
Series 1
- Celebrity partner
- Dayl Cronin; Average: 25.5; Place: 4th
| Week No. | Dance/Song | Judges' score | Total | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redmond | Barry | Benson | ||||
| 1 | Charleston / "My Way" | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 | No elimination |
| 2 | No dance performed | - | - | - | - | |
| 3 | Tango / "Drag Me Down" | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 | Safe |
| 4 | Jive / "Footloose" | 9 | 9 | 9 | 27 | Safe |
| 5 | Viennese Waltz / "Iris" | 8 | 9 | 9 | 26 | Safe |
| 6 | Foxtrot / "Marvin Gaye" | 7 | 8 | 7 | 22 | Safe |
| 7 | Samba / "Quando quando quando" | 5 | 6 | 6 | 17 | No elimination Switch-Up Week with Des Cahill |
| 8 | Contemporary Ballroom / "Hall of Fame" | 9 | 9 | 10 | 28 | Safe |
| 9 | Cha-cha-cha / "What Do You Mean?" | 8 | 8 | 9 | 25 | Bottom two |
| 10 | Paso Doble / "Bamboléo" Ballroom Blitz / "The Ballroom Blitz" | 9 Extra | 9 5 | 9 Points | 27 32 | Safe |
| 11 | Rumba / "What About Now" Quickstep / "Peroxide Swing" | 9 8 | 10 9 | 9 9 | 28 26 | Eliminated |
Series 2
- Celebrity partner
- Marty Morrissey; Average: 13.3; Place: 7th
| Week No. | Dance/Song | Judges' score | Total | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redmond | Barry | Benson | ||||
| 1 | Quickstep / "You're Such a Good Looking Woman" | 3 | 4 | 5 | 12 | No elimination |
| 2 | No dance performed | - | - | - | - | |
| 3 | Cha-cha-cha / "I Got You (I Feel Good)" | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | Safe |
| 4 | American Smooth / "Pretty Irish Girl" | 4 | 5 | 6 | 15 | Safe |
| 5 | Charleston / "We No Speak Americano" | 3 | 4 | 5 | 12 | Safe |
| 6 | Quickstep / "L-O-V-E" | 5 | 5 | 6 | 16 | No elimination Switch-Up Week with Rob Heffernan |
| 7 | Foxtrot / "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" | 5 | 5 | 6 | 16 | Safe |
| 8 | Rumba / "The Lady in Red" | 5 | 5 | 6 | 16 | Eliminated |
Series 3
- Celebrity partner
- Peter Stringer; Average: 18.6; Place: 7th
| Week No. | Dance/Song | Judges' score | Total | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redmond | Barry | Benson | ||||
| 1 | Salsa / "Come with Me" | 5 | 5 | 6 | 16 | No elimination |
| 2 | No dance performed | - | - | - | - | |
| 3 | Quickstep / "Wake Me Up" | 5 | 4 | 5 | 14 | Safe |
| 4 | Paso Doble / "Un Poco Loco" | 6 | 7 | 7 | 20 | Safe |
| 5 | Viennese Waltz / "A Thousand Years" | 6 | 6 | 7 | 19 | Safe |
| 6 | Quickstep / "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" | 6 | 6 | 7 | 19 | No elimination Switch-Up Week with Johnny Ward |
| 7 | Charleston / "Pencil Full of Lead" | 8 | 9 | 8 | 25 | Safe |
| 8 | American Smooth / "New York, New York" | 6 | 7 | 7 | 20 | Eliminated |
Personal life
Zsikhotska and professional partner, Ryan McShane were in a relationship previously.[15]