Oksana Platero
Born
Oksana Dmytrenko

(1988-10-29) 29 October 1988 (age 35)
Ukraine
OccupationBallroom dancer
SpouseJonathan Platero

Oksana (Dmytrenko) Platero (Ukrainian: Оксана Дмитренко) is a Ukrainian ballroom and Latin dancer. She spent five seasons as a member of the troupe on Dancing with the Stars in the United States. She joined the United Kingdom's Strictly Come Dancing as a professional dancer in series 14.

Early life

Oksana Dmytrenko was born on 29 October 1988 in Ukraine.[1] Dmytrenko's father left the family when she was five years old, leaving her mother, Inna, to raise Oksana as a single parent. The family lived in the city of Kharkiv where Inna sold clothing. At age six, Inna enrolled Dmytrenko in dance lessons. Dmytrenko has one younger brother, who was born in Ukraine after Oksana moved to the United States.[2] In 2017, she joined Mira Quien Baila as a professional dancer in season 5.

Career

Oksana began competing as a Latin and ballroom dancer with partner Artem Plakhotnyi and later Igor Kantsedal.[3][4] In 2004 she began partnering with Aleksandr Altukhov.[5] The pair first competed for Ukraine and then moved to the United States when she was 18 years old.[6]

In 2011, Oksana became a member of the first "Troupe" on Dancing with the Stars season 12.[7] She would remain part of the troupe for five seasons, through season 16.[6][8] After leaving Dancing with the Stars she performed with Ballroom with a Twist.[9] She also choreographed for So You Think You Can Dance.[10]

Strictly Come Dancing

In 2016, the BBC announced Platero would join Strictly Come Dancing as a professional dancer in series 14.[11] She was paired with television personality Robert "Judge" Rinder.[12] The pair were eliminated in the Quarterfinals and finished in 5th place.[13] The BBC on June 21, 2017 announced that Platero was leaving Strictly Come Dancing after one series.[14]

Series 14 performances

Personal life

Dmytrenko married fellow dancer and So You Think You Can Dance alum Jonathan Platero in 2014. The wedding was featured on David Tutera: CELEBrations.[15]

References

  1. ^ "Oksana Platero's Biography". biog.com. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  2. ^ McPhee, Rod (30 October 2016). "Strictly's Oksana dad left when she was five - so family declared him dead". mirror. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  3. ^ "Artem Plakhotnyi (Ukraine) & Oksana Dmytrenko (Ukraine)". DanceSport Info. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  4. ^ "Igor Kantsedal (Ukraine) & Oksana Dmytrenko (Ukraine)". DanceSport Info. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  5. ^ "Aleksandr Altukhov (Ukraine) & Oksana Dmytrenko (Ukraine)". DanceSport Info. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  6. ^ a b "Oksana Dmytrenko". The Connection. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  7. ^ Barrett, Annie (31 March 2011). "Dancing with the Stars recap: Psycho Killer". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  8. ^ Reynolds, Lisa (2 April 2013). "'Dancing With The Stars' Recap: Wynonna Judd Voted Off". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  9. ^ "Ballroom with a Twist: Who's Who". Ogunquit Playhouse. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  10. ^ Connolly, Kelly (31 July 2015). "'Top 20 Perform and Elimination'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  11. ^ "Strictly Come Dancing: New professionals join line-up". BBC News. 28 June 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  12. ^ Hogan, Michael (2016-09-03). "Strictly Come Dancing launch: don't rule out Ed 'Disco' Balls's stompy dancing yet - plus 8 more things that happened". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2016-09-03.
  13. ^ Hogan, Michael (4 December 2016). "Strictly Come Dancing quarter-final results: Judge Rinder is eliminated after dance-off defeat to Ore Oduba". The Telegraph. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  14. ^ "Strictly Come Dancing: Joanne Clifton quits and new dancers revealed". BBC News. 21 June 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  15. ^ Messer, Lesley (26 September 2014). "Inside 'Dancing With the Stars' Pro Oksana Dmytrenko's Wedding to Jonathan Platero". ABC News. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
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