Simone Arena

Last updated

Simone Arena
Born (1991-08-07) 7 August 1991 (age 33)
Catania, Italy
Occupation(s) Dancer
Choreographer
Known for Dancing with the Stars Belgium
Ballando con le Stelle
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)

Simone Arena (born 7 August 1991) is an Italian dancer and choreographer. Best known as former Italian Ballroom and Latin Champion, Arena joined the third series of the Belgian version of Dancing with the Stars .

Contents

Early life

Arena was born in Catania, Italy. He has been dancing since the age of seven. [1]

Amateur dancing career

By the age of sixteen Arena became the Vice Italian Latin Champion. [1]

He briefly partnered Maria Laureante for a short time in 2007. [2] After that partnership dissolved her teamed up with Federica Zapulla. [3] They enjoyed some success, finishing inside the top ten in the IDSF Open which took place in Maribor, Slovenia on 16 December 2007. [4]

Between 2009 and 2010, Arena partnered Malene Meihlen. [5] Their most successful outing came in an IDSF International Open which took place in Aarhus, Denmark on 28 November 2009. [6] He also teamed up with Slovakian dancer, Linda Manduchova for a time. [7]

He later partnered with fellow Italian dancer, Alessia Vernuccio. Their best result was a top three finish in the WDSF Open which took place in Ancona on 7 October 2012. [8]

Professional dancing career

Arena joined in 2014 the Broadway production of Burn the Floor touring in London's West End and around the world including China, Australia and Japan. [9] 2023 marked Arena's tenth consecutive year as part of the group.

In 2019, Arena was announced as part of the cast of Somnium: A Dancer's Dream with Strictly Come Dancing stars, Katya Jones and Neil Jones. [10]

In 2020, Arena was announced to join the cast of Giovanni Pernice's 'This is Me' tour, however the tour was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [11]

Dancing with the Stars

Belgium

In December 2021, Arena joined the cast of the third series of the second incarnation (eighth overall) of the Belgian version of Dancing with the Stars . He was partnered with artistic gymnast, Nina Derwael. [12] On 12 February 2022, Derwael and Arena won the series. [13]

SeriesPartnerPlace
8Nina Derwael1st

Performances with Nina Derwael

Week No.Dance/SongJudges' scoreBonus pointsTotalResult
VanlessenLeunisAnaneKooijman
1 Argentine Tango / "No Time to Die"8888–32No elimination
2 Jive / "My Sharona"8787–30Safe
3 Freestyle / "The Greatest"8889–33Safe
4 Cha-cha-cha / "Move Your Feet
Jive Marathon / "Good 4 U"		9
Awarded		9
12		9
extra		9
points		–

–

36
48		Safe
5 Rumba / "Easy on Me"9899–35Safe
6 Rumba / "Wicked Game"
Disco Marathon / "Rasputin"		9
Awarded		9
8		9
extra		8
points		5
–		38
46		No elimination
Switch-Up Week with Nora Gharib
7 Viennese Waltz / "It's a Man's Man's Man's World"
Modern / "Hurts" (with Jan Vanlessen)		10
–		10
10		10
10		10
9		–
–		40
29		Safe
8 Paso Doble / "Let's Get It Started"
Samba / "Magalenha"
Freestyle / "Fly Me to the Moon"		9
10
No		9
10
scores		9
10
were		9
10
awarded		–
–
–		36
40
–		Winners

Italy

Arena joined the Italian version of the show, Ballando con le Stelle for its seventeenth season as a professional dancer. [14] He partnered TV presenter, Marta Flavi. The couple were the first to be eliminated from the competition. [15] After the season ended, Arena spoke about his dissatisfaction with the overall production of the Italian version, stating he would not return for future editions. [16]

SeriesPartnerPlace
17Marta Flavi13th

Performances with Marta Flavi

Week No.Dance/SongJudges' scoreBonus
points		TotalResult
ZazzaroniCaninoSmithLucarelliMariotto
1 Tango / "Ancora ancora ancora"67655–29No elimination
2Boogie woogie / "Ohi Marie"
Playoff dance - Salsa / "Cercami"		5
Losers		5
of		2
the		4
public		0
vote		–

–

16
40.6%		Eliminated

Ireland

On 28 November 2023, Arena was announced as one of the new professional dancers of the seventh series of the Irish version of Dancing with the Stars . [17] [18] He was partnered with RuPaul's Drag Race winner, Blu Hydrangea. They reached the final, finishing as joint runners-up to Jason Smyth & Karen Byrne. They broke the record of receiving the most perfect scores in a series, with 5. The previous record of 4 was held by Denise McCormack and Nina Carberry. They also received the most 10s (along with Carberry), with 18.

Arena returned for the eighth series in 2025, where he was partnered with Kin actress, Yasmin Seky.

SeriesPartnerPlace
7 Blu Hydrangea 2nd
8 Yasmin Seky TBA

Performances with Blu Hydrangea

Week No.Dance/SongJudges' scoreTotalResult
RedmondBarryGourounlian
1 Cha-cha-cha / "You're Free"88824No elimination
2 American Smooth / "True Blue"67720
3 Tango / "Applause"88925Safe
4 Salsa / "Dance the Night"88925Safe
5 Contemporary Ballroom / "Tattoo"88925Safe
6 Paso Doble / "Sissy That Walk"78924No elimination
7 Viennese Waltz / "Lose Control"9101029Safe
8 Samba / "I Go to Rio"10101030Safe
9 Quickstep / "Texas Hold 'Em"
Team Dance / "Electric Energy"		10
10		10
9		10
9		30
28		Bottom two
10 Charleston / "Witch Doctor"
Scare-a-thon / "Dead Ringer for Love"		10
Awarded		10
5		10
points		30
35		Safe
11 Contemporary Ballroom / "Tattoo"
Showdance / "I Am What I Am"		10
10		10
10		10
10		30
30		Runners-up

Personal life

Arena is in a relationship with Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer, Michelle Tsiakkas. [19]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World DanceSport Federation</span> International sport governing body

The World DanceSport Federation (WDSF), formerly the International DanceSport Federation (IDSF), is the international governing body of dancesport and Para dancesport, as recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bianca Gascoigne</span> British model and television personality (born 1986)

Bianca Jade Gascoigne is a British glamour model and television personality.

The International Latin American Dance Championships were created after the Second World War in England by Elsa Wells, and are now organised by Dance News special events. The current full title is the Elsa Wells International Dance Championships, and includes all categories in Standard and Latin American ballroom dance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paolo Belli</span> Italian singer and television presenter

Paolo Belli is an Italian singer and television presenter.

Aljaž Škorjanec is a Slovenian dancer and choreographer, who is known for appearing on the BBC series Strictly Come Dancing as a professional dancer from 2013 to 2021, and from 2024 onwards.

This is a list of Italian television related events from 2005.

Giovanni Pernice is an Italian professional dancer based in the United Kingdom, best known for his appearances on the British television show Strictly Come Dancing. He is also an Italian Open Latin Dance Champion (2012), and the Guinness World Record holder for Jive kicks and flicks, as well as Charleston swivels.

Gorka Márquez is a Spanish professional dancer, best known for appearing on the British dance show Strictly Come Dancing.

Strictly Come Dancing Live! is a nationwide arena tour in the United Kingdom which was first staged in 2008 and has continued every year since. It is directed and co-choreographed by Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood.

Ballando con le Stelle is the Italian version of the British reality TV competition Strictly Come Dancing and is part of the Dancing with the Stars franchise.

Pasquale La Rocca is an Italian dancer and choreographer. Best known as former Italian Ballroom and Latin Champion, La Rocca joined the second series of the Belgian version of Dancing with the Stars and successively participated in the Irish version of the show and most recently the Italian version, Ballando con le Stelle, which he won for two consecutive years.

Stephen Vincent is an English dancer and choreographer. He is a former UK Latin Champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nikita Kuzmin</span> Ukrainian dancer and choreographer

Nikita Kuzmin is a Ukrainian dancer and choreographer. He is best known for being a professional dancer on the RTL and BBC One dance competitions Let's Dance and Strictly Come Dancing. Kuzmin is also the holder of six Italian Championship titles. In 2024 he was the runner-up on the 23rd series of Celebrity Big Brother.

Hannah Kelly is an Irish ballroom and Latin dancer and choreographer.

Ervinas Merfeldas is an Irish ballroom and Latin dancer and choreographer.

Maurizio Benenato is an Italian ballroom and Latin dancer and choreographer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salome Chachua</span> Georgian dancer and choreographer

Salome Chachua is a Georgian ballroom and Latin dancer and choreographer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luisella Costamagna</span> Italian journalist and television presenter

Luisella Costamagna is an Italian journalist and television presenter.

Vito Coppola is an Italian dancer and choreographer. He is best known for appearing as a professional dancer on the 16th series of Italian dance competition Ballando con le Stelle in 2021 and ultimately winning the competition with Arisa. Since 2022, he has served as a professional on Strictly Come Dancing, the British version of the show, from the 20th series onwards, winning in 2023 with his celebrity dance partner Ellie Leach. In 2024, Coppola won the 19th series of Celebrity MasterChef.

Alexandra Vladimirov also known professionally as Alex Vladimirov, is a Ukrainian-born ballroom and Latin dancer and choreographer from Melbourne, Australia.

References

  1. 1 2 "Simone Arena". BURN NATION (in Russian). Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  2. ↑ "WDSF couple Simone Arena - Maria Laureante". www.worlddancesport.org. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  3. ↑ "WDSF couple Simone Arena - Federica Zappulla". www.worlddancesport.org. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  4. ↑ "Ranking of the IDSF Open Latin Youth in Maribor - Slovenia on 16 December 2007". www.worlddancesport.org. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  5. ↑ "WDSF couple Simone Arena - Malene Meihlen". www.worlddancesport.org. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  6. ↑ "Ranking of the IDSF International Open Latin Adult in Aarhus - Denmark on 28 November 2009". www.worlddancesport.org. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  7. ↑ "Details of WDSF athlete Linda Manduchova". www.worlddancesport.org. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  8. ↑ "Ranking of the WDSF Open Standard Junior II in Ancona - Italy on 07 October 2012". www.worlddancesport.org. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  9. ↑ "Simone Arena". BURN NATION. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  10. ↑ Limited, London Theatre Direct (8 May 2019). "Strictly star Charles Venn joins Neil and Katya Jones in this summer's Somnium: A Dancer's Dream at Sadler's Wells". London Theatre Direct. Retrieved 13 November 2023.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  11. ↑ Mackay, Aaron (22 January 2020). "Casting Announced for Giovanni Pernice's spectacular show!". Kings Theatre Portsmouth. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  12. ↑ "Gouden Nina Derwael wint 'Dancing With The Stars'". www.proximus.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  13. ↑ NWS, VRT (12 February 2022). "Wie is winnaar "Dancing with the stars"? "Ik weet even niet wat zeggen, het was een stressvol moment"". vrtnws.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  14. ↑ News, Blasting, Ballando con le Stelle: nel cast anche Pasquale La Rocca (in Italian), retrieved 3 September 2022{{citation}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  15. ↑ "Ballando con le stelle, la delusione di Marta Flavi. "Mariotto? Un cafone, mi meraviglio che si occupi di moda"". la Repubblica (in Italian). 18 October 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  16. ↑ "Ballando con le Stelle, il ballerino Simone Arena lascia il programma (con polemica): "Chi dice la verità è scomodo"". www.ilmattino.it (in Italian). 26 December 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  17. ↑ "Dancing with the Stars reveals 2024 pro dancers". 28 November 2023.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  18. ↑ "Meet the new hunk who has just landed a spot on Dancing with the Stars". SundayWorld.com. 29 November 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  19. ↑ Jones, Amy (23 September 2023). "BBC Strictly pro Michelle Tsiakkas' life off screen with boyfriend Simone Arena". OK! Magazine. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.