# Jennifer Janse van Rensburg

Jennifer Janse van Rensburg (née Urban; born 9 May 1993) is a German ice dancer. With her skating partner, Benjamin Steffan, she is the 2020 Santa Claus Cup champion, the 2021 Egna Dance Trophy silver medalist, a three-time Bavarian Open champion (2022–24), and four time German national champions (2022–25).

## Personal life

Janse van Rensburg was born on 9 May 1993 in Oberstdorf, Germany. She married boyfriend, Ampie Janse van Rensburg, in December 2019, and subsequently adopted his last name.

## Career
### Early career

Janse van Rensburg began figure skating in 1999. Originally competing as a singles skater, she first trained in Oberstdorf under Badri Kurashvili before eventually moving on to train under Michael Huth. She would eventually go on to win the bronze medal at the 2010 German Junior Championships.
Prior to the 2014–15 figure skating season, it was announced that Janse van Rensburg had made the decision to switch to ice dance and had teamed up with Sevan Lerche and that the duo would be coached by Rostislav Sinicyn, Natalia Karamysheva, and Martin Skotnický in Oberstdorf. The duo won silver at the 2015 German Championships and were selected to represent Germany at the 2015 European Championships, where they finished in twenty-first place. Their partnership would dissolve, however, during the following season.

### Partnership with Steffan
#### Early years in partnership

Prior to the 2016–17 figure skating season, it was announced that Janse van Rensburg had teamed with fellow German ice dancer, Benjamin Steffan and that the duo would train in Oberstdorf under coaches, Rostislav Sinicyn and Natalia Karamysheva. For the first few seasons of their career, Janse van Rensburg/Steffan competed at various ISU Challenger Series events. They won their first national medal together, a bronze, at the 2019 German Championships and won their first international medal together, a silver, at the 2019 Bavarian Open. The following year, they would win silver at the 2020 German Championships.

#### 2020–21 season

Janse van Rensburg/Steffan only competed at two events that season, medalling at both. They would win gold at the 2020 Santa Claus Cup and silver at the 2021 Egna Dance Trophy.

#### 2021–22 season

Janse van Rensburg/Steffan started the season by competing at the 2021 Lake Placid Ice Dance International. Going on to compete on the 2021–22 ISU Challenger Series, the duo finished seventh at the 2021 CS Lombardia Trophy, tenth at the 2021 CS Finlandia Trophy, and seventh at the 2021 CS Cup of Austria.
Assigned to an event on the 2021–22 Grand Prix circuit for the first time, Janse van Rensburg/Steffan finished tenth at the 2021 Internationaux de France.
In December, they won their first national title at the 2022 German Championships. They would then close the season by winning gold at the 2022 Bavarian Open and the 2022 Egna Dance Trophy.

#### 2022–23 season

Assigned to compete at 2022 Skate America, Janse van Rensburg/Steffan started the season by finishing ninth at the event. They would then compete on the 2022–23 ISU Challenger Series, finishing winning silver at the 2022 CS Denis Ten Memorial Challenge and the 2022 CS Warsaw Cup as well as sixth at the 2022 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb.
At the 2023 German Championships in January, Janse van Rensburg/Steffan won their second national title. For the first time, they were selected to represent Germany as a team at the European and World Championships. Going on to compete at the 2023 European Championships in Espoo, Finland, Janse van Rensburg/Steffan finished in ninth place. One week following the event, they won gold at the 2023 Bavarian Open for a second consecutive time.
In March, Janse van Rensburg/Steffan competed at the 2023 World Championships in Saitama, Japan. They would finish the event in fifteenth place.

#### 2023–24 season

Janse van Rensburg/Steffan began the season by competing on the 2023–24 ISU Challenger Series, finishing fourth at the 2023 CS Nebelhorn Trophy and fourth at the 2023 CS Budapest Trophy. Assigned to two Grand Prix events for the first time, they would finish eighth at 2023 Skate Canada International and ninth at the 2023 Grand Prix of Espoo. Between these events, they would also take silver at the 2023 CS Denis Ten Memorial Challenge.
After winning their third national title at the 2024 German Championships, Janse van Rensburg/Steffan were selected to compete at the 2024 European Championships in Kaunas, Lithuania, where they finished eleventh.
At the end of January, Rensburg/Steffan took gold at the 2024 Bavarian Open. Two months later, they competed at the 2024 World Championships in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where they would finish in twenty-second place.

#### 2024–25 season

Beginning their season on the 2024–25 Grand Prix circuit, Janse van Rensburg/Steffan finished seventh at the 2024 NHK Trophy.

## Programs
### Ice dance with Benjamin Steffan

| Season | Rhythm dance | Free dance | Exhibition |
| 2024–2025 | Boogie Shoes by KC and the Sunshine Band Land of a Thousand Dances by Chris Kenner performed by Wilson Pickett choreo. by Pasquale Camerlengo | Phantasia (Based on The Phantom of the Opera) by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Julian Lloyd Webber, & Sarah Chang choreo. by Pasquale Camerlengo | |
| 2023–2024 | Beds Are Burning by Midnight Oil Don't Leave Me Now by Supertramp Runaway by Bon Jovi choreo. by Pasquale Camerlengo | Tango by Mgzavrebi Libertango by Astor Piazzolla, performed by Aydar Gaynullin choreo. by Pasquale Camerlengo | Moana How Far I'll Go by Auliʻi Cravalho You're Welcome by Dwayne Johnson |
| 2022–2023 | Samba: Safari by J Balvin, Pharrell Williams, Bia, Sky Rompiendo Cha Cha: Havana by Camila Cabello performed by Pentatonix Samba: I Like to Move It by Reel to Real ft. The Mad Stuntman choreo. by Mariia Tumanovska-Chaiika | Prelude (Age of Heroes) by Balázs Havasi choreo. by Mariia Tumanovska-Chaiika | Is This Love by Bob Marley & The Wailers |
| 2021–2022 | Is This Love by Bob Marley & The Wailers Blues: Ain't No Sunshine by Matt Andersen choreo. by Maria Tumanovskaia-Chaika | The Wedding (from You Only Live Twice) by John Barry James Bond Theme (from Dr. No) by John Barry Live and Let Die (from Live and Let Die) performed by 2Cellos & Lang Lang choreo. by Maria Tumanovskaia-Chaika | |
| 2020–2021 | Foxtrot: Cabaret performed by Janice Hagan Quickstep: Cabaret (English version) performed by Edurne Charleston: Mein Herr performed by Ute Lemper (from Cabaret) by John Kander choreo. by Maria Tumanovskaia-Chaika | Paint It Black by The Rolling Stones performed by Ciara Deer Stop by Goldfrapp Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) by Eurythmics performed by Escala choreo. by Maria Tumanovskaia-Chaika | |
| 2019–2020 | Foxtrot: Cabaret performed by Janice Hagan Quickstep: Cabaret (English version) performed by Edurne Charleston: Mein Herr performed by Ute Lemper (from Cabaret) by John Kander choreo. by Maria Tumanovskaia-Chaika | Paint It Black by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards choreo. by Maria Tumanovskaia-Chaika |
| 2018–2019 | Paso Doble: Battle Dawn by Q-Factory Tango: Angelica (from Pirates of the Caribbean) by Hans Zimmer choreo. by Maria Tumanovskaia-Chaika | Human by Goldfrapp Deer Stop by Goldfrapp Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) by Eurythmics performed by Escala choreo. by Maria Tumanovskaia-Chaika | |
| | Short dance | | |
| 2017–2018 | Rhumba: Mil Pasos performed by Soha Samba: Travels performed by Samba Carnja choreo. by Maria Tumanovskaia-Chaika | Little Drop of Poison by Rebekka Bakken Love Is the Drug by Bryan Ferry These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You) by Eric Maschwitz performed by Emmy Rossum Crazy in Love (from The Great Gatsby) by Beyoncé performed by Emeli Sandé with The Bryan Ferry Orchestra choreo. by Maria Tumanovskaia-Chaika | |

### Ice dance with Sevan Lerche

| Season | Short dance | Free dance |
| 2015–2016 | Waltz: March: Chess Waltz: Chess by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus | Tango by Angelica feat. Rodrigo y Gabriela |
| 2014–2015 | Paso Doble: | Spirit of Persia |

### Single skating

| Season | Short program | Free skating |
| 2011–2012 | Memoirs of a Geisha by John Williams choreo. by Rostislav Sinicyn | Tango de los Exilados by Walter Taieb performed by Vanessa-Mae choreo. by Rostislav Sinicyn |

## Competitive highlights

* GP – Event of the ISU Grand Prix Series
* CS – Event of the ISU Challenger Series

### Ice dance with Benjamin Steffan

Competition placements at senior level :
| Season | 2016–17 | 2017–18 | 2018–19 | 2019–20 | 2020–21 | 2021–22 | 2022–23 | 2023–24 | 2024–25 |
| World Championships | | | | | | | 15th | 22nd | TBD |
| European Championships | | | | | | | 9th | 11th | 11th |
| German Championships | 4th | 4th | 3rd | 2nd | | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st |
| GP Finland | | | | | | | | 9th | |
| GP France | | | | | | 10th | | | |
| GP NHK Trophy | | | | | | | | | 7th |
| GP Skate America | | | | | | | 9th | | |
| GP Skate Canada | | | | | | | | 8th | |
| CS Alpen Trophy | | | 8th | | | | | | |
| CS Asian Open Trophy | | | | 4th | | | | | |
| CS Budapest Trophy | | | | | | | | 4th | |
| CS Denis Ten Memorial | | | | | | | 2nd | 2nd | |
| CS Finlandia Trophy | | 13th | | | | 10th | | | |
| CS Golden Spin of Zagreb | 10th | | | 5th | | | 6th | | 3rd |
| CS Ice Challenge | | 4th | | | | 7th | | | |
| CS Ice Star | 9th | 10th | | | | | | | |
| CS Lombardia Trophy | | | | | | 7th | | | |
| CS Nebelhorn Trophy | | | 6th | 8th | | | | 7th | |
| CS Tallinn Trophy | | 6th | 6th | | | | | | |
| CS Warsaw Cup | | | | | | | 2nd | | 6th |
| Bavarian Open | 10th | 4th | 2nd | | | 1st | 1st | 1st | |
| Egna Dance Trophy | | | | 6th | 2nd | 1st | | | |
| Halloween Cup | | | 5th | | | | | | |
| Lake Placid Ice Dance | | | | | | 8th | | | |
| Open d'Andorra | | | | 5th | | | | | |
| Open Ice Mall Cup | | | 6th | | | | | | |
| Road to 26 Trophy | | | | | | | | | 3rd |
| Santa Claus Cup | | 7th | | | 1st | | | | |
| Winter Universiade | 9th | | | | | | | | |

### Ice dance with Sevan Lerche

International :
| Event | 2014–15 | 2015–16 |
| Europeans | 21st | |
| CS Finlandia | | 11th |
| CS Nebelhorn | | 9th |
| CS Ice Challenge | 7th | |
| Bavarian Open | 6th | |
| NRW Trophy | 6th | |
| Toruń Cup | 6th | |
| Universiade | 8th | |
| National |||
| German Champ. | 2nd | |

### Single skating

International :
| Event | 08–09 | 09–10 | 10–11 | 11–12 | 12–13 | 13–14 |
| Bavarian Open | | | | 9th | 25th | 10th |
| Challenge Cup | | | | 18th | 11th | |
| Golden Spin | | | | | 14th | |
| NRW Trophy | | | | | | 12th |
| Ondrej Nepela | | | | | | 18th |
| Warsaw Cup | | | | | | 10th |
| International: Junior |||||||
| Ice Challenge | | 14th | | | | |
| NRW Trophy | 15th | | | | | |
| Triglav Trophy | | 10th | | | | |
| National |||||||
| German Champ. | 9th J | 3rd J | 18th | 10th | 4th | 6th |