# Natalie Lowe

Natalie Lowe (born 15 August 1980) is an Australian ballroom dancer. She is a four-time Australian ballroom dance champion. Lowe competed on, and won, Australia's Dancing with the Stars with celebrity partner Anthony Koutoufides. She later joined the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. She competed on Strictly for seven series, leaving after the 2016 series concluded.

## Early life

Lowe grew up in Sydney, New South Wales. Lowe's family lived next door to a ballroom dance studio. At age 5, Lowe began taking dance lessons after watching her older brother and sister dance. Lowe went on to become a four-time Australian ballroom dance Champion.

## Career
### Australia's Dancing with the Stars

She joined Seven Network's Dancing with the Stars in 2004, partnering athlete Matt Shirvington. She then partnered Ian Roberts, and won the 2006 series with AFL footballer Anthony Koutoufides. Lowe then partnered Home and Away actor Tim Campbell, and, in 2008, partnered boxer Danny Green.
| Series | Partner | Place |
| 1 | Matt Shirvington | 5th |
| 2 | Ian Roberts | 2nd |
| 5 | Anthony Koutoufides | 1st |
| 6 | Tim Campbell | 3rd |
| 8 | Danny Green | 2nd |
| 20 | James Magnussen | 10th |

### Strictly Come Dancing

Highest and lowest scoring performances per dance
| Dance | Partner | Highest | Partner | Lowest |
| American Smooth | Ricky Whittle | 36 | Scott Maslen | 31 |
| Cha-Cha-Cha | Ricky Whittle | 38 | Tim Wonnacott | 18 |
| Charleston | Scott Maslen | 35 | Tim Wonnacott | 17 |
| Foxtrot | Ricky Whittle | 39 | Audley Harrison | 25 |
| Argentine tango | Ricky Whittle | 39 | Michael Vaughan | 26 |
| Jive | Scott Maslen | 39 | Michael Vaughan | 15 |
| Paso Doble | Scott Maslen Ricky Whittle | 35 | Tim Wonnacott | 19 |
| Quickstep | Ricky Whittle | 40 | Audley Harrison | 24 |
| Rumba | Ricky Whittle | 32 | Greg Rutherford | 26 |
| Salsa | Scott Maslen Ricky Whittle | 32 | Audley Harrison | 23 |
| Samba | Scott Maslen Ricky Whittle | 32 | Michael Vaughan | 24 |
| Tango | Scott Maslen Ricky Whittle | 35 | Ainsley Harriott | 20 |
| Viennese Waltz | Scott Maslen | 39 | Audley Harrison | 27 |
| Waltz | Ricky Whittle | 38 | Michael Vaughan Audley Harrison | 20 |
| Showdance | Ricky Whittle | 39 | - | - |
In 2009, Lowe competed as a new professional dancer on the seventh series of the original British version of Strictly Come Dancing, partnering Hollyoaks' Ricky Whittle. Lowe joined the show with fellow newcomers Aliona Vilani and Katya Virshilas. After their first dance together in front of the judges, Lowe and Whittle were described by head judge Len Goodman as maybe the most formidable couple Strictly Come Dancing had ever seen. Even so, Lowe and Whittle finished second. Lowe competed in the 2010 series partnering Scott Maslen. Lowe and Maslen were eliminated in the semi-final of the competition along with Gavin Henson and Katya Virshilas.
On 15 June 2011, the BBC announced that Lowe would again be one of the professional dancers in the 2011 series of Strictly Come Dancing. She was partnered by Audley Harrison (champion boxer) and they were the sixth couple to leave. In the 2012 tenth series her partner was former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan; they placed 7th. In 2013, it was revealed that Lowe would return for the eleventh series; however she suffered a foot injury during training and was replaced by Aliona Vilani. Lowe returned for the twelfth series, as partner to television presenter Tim Wonnacott. In March 2015 Lowe won comic relief special, 'The People's Strictly', with veteran, Cassidy Little. She also participated in the thirteenth series main series of the show and was partnered with celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott. Harriott and Lowe were eliminated in the fifth week of competition. Lowe then competed again with Little in the 2015 Christmas Special. In Series 14 she was partnered with Olympic long jump champion Greg Rutherford. On May 4, 2017, Lowe announced her departure from the show after seven series.
| Series | Partner | Place |
| 7 | Ricky Whittle | 2nd |
| 8 | Scott Maslen | 4th |
| 9 | Audley Harrison | 9th |
| 10 | Michael Vaughan | 7th |
| 12 | Tim Wonnacott | 13th |
| 13 | Ainsley Harriott | 12th |
| 14 | Greg Rutherford | 7th |

### Strictly Come Dancing performances
#### Series 7 – with celebrity dance partner Ricky Whittle

| Week No. | Dance/Song | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Result |
| Week No. | Dance/Song | Horwood | Bussell | Goodman | Dixon | Tonioli | Total | Result |
| 2 | Waltz / "It Is You (I Have Loved)" | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 41 | Safe |
| 2 | Rumba / "Stepping Stone" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 40 | Safe |
| 3 | Paso Doble / "Spanish Gypsy Dance" | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 44 | Safe |
| 4 | Salsa / "Dancing Machine" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 40 | Safe |
| 5 | Viennese Waltz / "How Can I Be Sure" | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 45 | Safe |
| 6 | Samba / "Good Lovin'" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 40 | Safe |
| 7 | Quickstep / "Down with Love" | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 49 | Safe |
| 8 | Tango / "You Really Got Me" | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 44 | Safe |
| 9 | Jive / "Rip It Up (Little Richard song)" | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 43 | Safe |
| 10 | American Smooth / "Over The Rainbow" | 9 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 45 | Safe |
| 11 | Rock'n'Roll / "Hound Dog" | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 39 | Bottom two |
| 12 | Foxtrot / "Too Marvelous for Words" Cha-Cha-Cha / "Sunshine of Your Love" | 9 9 | 9 10 | 10 9 | 10 10 | 10 9 | 48 47 | Bottom two |
| 13 | Waltz / "Kissing You" Argentine Tango / "Verano Porteno" | 9 9 | 9 10 | 10 10 | 9 10 | 10 10 | 47 49 | Safe |
| 14 | Quickstep / "Down with Love" Lindy Hop / "Sing with a Swing" Cha-Cha-Cha / "Sunshine of Your Love" Showdance / "Last Dance" | 10 8 9 10 | 10 8 10 9 | 10 9 9 10 | 10 9 10 10 | 10 9 10 10 | 50 43 48 49 | Runners-Up |

#### Series 8 – with celebrity dance partner Scott Maslen

| Week No. | Dance/Song | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Total | Result |
| Week No. | Dance/Song | Horwood | Goodman | Dixon | Tonioli | Total | Result |
| 1 | Waltz / "I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You" | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 29 | None |
| 2 | Salsa / "Let's Hear It for the Boy" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 32 | Safe |
| 3 | Quickstep / "I Wan'na Be Like You (The Monkey Song)" | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 34 | Safe |
| 4 | Tango / "Allegretto" | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 35 | Safe |
| 5 | Viennese Waltz / "I Put a Spell on You" | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 39 | Safe |
| 6 | Rhumba / "Wishing on a Star" | 4 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 28 | Safe |
| 7 | Jive / "Hit the Road Jack" | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 39 | Safe |
| 8 | Samba / "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" | 6 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 32 | Safe |
| 9 | American Smooth / "Fly Me to the Moon" | 6 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 31 | Safe |
| 10 | Paso Doble / "James Bond Theme" | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 35 | Bottom two |
| 11 | Argentine Tango / "Época" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 33 | Eliminated |
| 11 | Swing-athon / "In the Mood" | Awarded | 2 | Extra | Points | 35 | Eliminated |
| 11 | Charleston / "Anything Goes" | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 35 | Eliminated |

#### Series 9 – with celebrity dance partner Audley Harrison

| Week No. | Dance/Song | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Total | Result |
| Week No. | Dance/Song | Horwood | Goodman | Dixon | Tonioli | Total | Result |
| 1 | Waltz / " Angel" | 3 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 20 | None |
| 2 | Salsa / Don't Stop Till You Get Enough | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 23 | Bottom two |
| 3 | Quickstep / "Too Darn Hot" | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 24 | Safe |
| 4 | Foxtrot / "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 25 | Safe |
| 5 | Jive / " Little Shop of Horrors Prologue" | 3 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 20 | Bottom two |
| 6 | Viennese Waltz / "I'm with You" | 5 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 27 | Bottom two |
| 7 | Cha-Cha-Cha / "Uptight (Everything's Alright)" | 3 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 20 | Eliminated |

#### Series 10 – with celebrity dance partner Michael Vaughan

| Week No. | Dance/Song | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Total | Result |
| Week No. | Dance/Song | Horwood | Bussell | Goodman | Tonioli | Total | Result |
| 1 | Waltz / "If You Don't Know Me by Now" | 5 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 20 | None |
| 2 | Jive / "This Ole House" | 2 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 15 | Safe |
| 3 | Cha-Cha-Cha / "Hot Stuff" | 3 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 19 | Bottom Two |
| 4 | Quickstep / "That Old Black Magic" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 31 | Safe |
| 5 | Foxtrot / "I Get the Sweetest Feeling" | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 31 | Safe |
| 6 | Salsa / "I Want You Back" | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 26 | Safe |
| 7 | American Smooth / " New York, New York" | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 35 | Safe |
| 8 | Argentine Tango / "Bust Your Windows" | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 26 | Bottom Two |
| 9 | Samba / "Tequila" | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 24 | Eliminated |

#### Series 12 – with celebrity dance partner Tim Wonnacott

| Week No. | Dance/Song | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Total | Result |
| Week No. | Dance/Song | Horwood | Bussell | Osmond | Goodman | Tonioli | Total | Result |
| 1 | Cha-Cha-Cha / "Shop Around" | 3 | 5 | _ | 5 | 5 | 18 | None |
| 2 | Waltz / "When You Wish upon a Star" | 5 | 6 | _ | 6 | 6 | 23 | Safe |
| 3 | Charleston / "Money Money" | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 22 | Safe |
| 4 | Paso Doble / "The Best" | 3 | 6 | _ | 5 | 5 | 19 | Eliminated |

#### Series 13 – with celebrity dance partner Ainsley Harriott

| Week No. | Dance/Song | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Total | Result |
| Week No. | Dance/Song | Horwood | Bussell | Goodman | Tonioli | Total | Result |
| 1 | Tango / "Voulez-Vous" | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 20 | None |
| 2 | Salsa / "Don't Touch My Tomatoes" | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 26 | Safe |
| 3 | Cha-Cha-Cha / "Boogie Wonderland" | 3 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 20 | Bottom two |
| 4 | Waltz / "What a Wonderful World" | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 26 | Safe |
| 5 | Jive / "Shake, Rattle and Roll" | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 21 | Eliminated |

#### Series 14 - with celebrity dance partner Greg Rutherford

| Week No. | Dance/Song | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Total | Result |
| Week No. | Dance/Song | Horwood | Bussell | Goodman | Tonioli | Total | Result |
| 1 | Jive / "Get Ready" | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 27 | No Elimination |
| 2 | Tango / " Jump" | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 26 | Safe |
| 3 | American Smooth / "Everything I Do (I Do It For You)" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 32 | Safe |
| 4 | Salsa / "Wrapped Up" | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 | Safe |
| 5 | Cha-cha-cha / "We Found Love" | 4 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 24 | Safe |
| 6 | Rumba / "Bring Me to Life" | 4 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 26 | Safe |
| 7 | Viennese Waltz / "You Don't Own Me" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 32 | Safe |
| 8 | Paso Doble / "Tamacun" | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 31 | Bottom Two |
| 9 | Quickstep / "Hand Jive" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 32 | Eliminated |

### Other projects

Beginning in 2005, Lowe joined the cast of the ballroom dance stage show Burn the Floor. Lowe toured with the show for five years. In March 2013, Lowe launched FitSteps, a dance inspired fitness program, with fellow Strictly professional dancer Ian Waite and former Strictly celebrity Mark Foster.

## Personal life

In October 2015, Lowe announced her engagement to company director James Knibbs. Lowe first met Knibbs when they sat opposite each other on a train ride to London. Lowe married Knibbs in July 2018. Lowe gave birth to a baby boy, Jack, in December 2019.