Keoikantse Motsepe (born 24 November 1989) is a South African dancer. His dancing styles are Latin and Ballroom. He is known for being the first black professional dancer on the ABC show Dancing with the Stars.
Life and career Motsepe started his career at 11 years of age by entering into a competitive dance scene representing his country. In 2012, Motsepe joined the cast of Burn the Floor. In 2014, it was announced that Motsepe would join the cast of pro dancers on Dancing with the Stars.
Dancing with the Stars In season 19, Motsepe was paired up with Olympic athlete Lolo Jones. They were eliminated during the first week of competition, finishing in 13th place.
In season 20, Motsepe was paired up with model Charlotte McKinney. They were eliminated in the third week of competition, finishing in 11th place.
For season 21, he paired with Grammy Award-winning singer Chaka Khan. They were the first couple eliminated on the second week of competition, finishing in 13th place.
For season 22, he was partnered with Full House and Fuller House actress Jodie Sweetin. The couple was eliminated in the eighth week of competition, despite being at the top of the leader board that week. They placed 6th overall. In a surprise challenge, judge Bruno Tonioli worked with Sweetin and eventual-winner Nyle DiMarco and their professional partners. During the sequence, the two celebrities swapped partners, seeing DiMarco and Motsepe dance the tango in ballroom hold, with both men shirtless, and Motsepe lift and twirl DiMarco. This was the first same-sex dancing included in the show's franchise world-wide.
He returned to season 23 but as a troupe member.
For season 24, he returned as a pro dancer and was partnered with actress & comedian Charo. They were eliminated in the third week of competition, finishing in 11th place.
Motsepe returned for season 25 and was paired with Shark Tank panelist, Barbara Corcoran. They were the first couple eliminated on the second week of competition, finishing in 13th place.
For season 26, he was partnered with former Olympic softball pitcher Jennie Finch Daigle. They were eliminated on the third week of competition and finished in 4th place, tying with Chris Mazdzer and Mirai Nagasu and partners Witney Carson and Alan Bersten.
For season 27, he was paired with Harry Potter actress Evanna Lynch. The couple made it to the finals where they finished in 3rd place, marking Motsepe's best so far and also his first time in the finale.
Motsepe appeared in season 28 as a pro dancer, but was not paired with a celebrity. He returned to compete again on season 29 where he is partnered with actress Anne Heche. They were eliminated in the fourth week of competition and finished in 13th place.
Season Partner Place Average Score 19 Lolo Jones 13th 26.0/40 20 Charlotte McKinney 11th 27.3/40 21 Chaka Khan 13th 14.0/30 22 Jodie Sweetin 6th 25.8/30 24 Charo 11th 23.3/40 25 Barbara Corcoran13th16.5/30 26 Jennie Finch Daigle 4th 23.0/30 27 Evanna Lynch 3rd 27.1/30 29 Anne Heche 13th 18.8/30
With Lolo Jones Average: 26.0; placed 13th WeekDanceSongJudges' scoreTotalResultInabaGoodmanJ. HoughTonioli1Cha-cha-cha"Tell Her" — Rizzle Kicks667726 Eliminated
With Charlotte McKinney Average: 27.3; placed 11th WeekDanceSongJudges' scoreTotalResultInabaGoodmanJ. HoughTonioli1Jive"Shake a Tail Feather" — The Blues Brothers777627No Elimination2Cha-cha-cha"California Gurls" — Katy Perry, feat. Snoop Dogg777728Safe3Rumba"Empire" — Shakira777627 Eliminated
With Chaka Khan Average: 15.5; placed 13th WeekDanceSongJudges' scoreTotalResultInabaJ. HoughTonioli1Cha-cha-cha"I Feel for You" — Chaka Khan56516No Elimination2Foxtrot"Chicago (That Toddlin' Town)" — Frank Sinatra55515 Eliminated
With Jodie Sweetin Average: 25.8; placed 6th WeekDanceSongJudges' scoreTotalResultInabaGoodmanTonioli1Tango"Confident" — Demi Lovato76720No Elimination2Samba"Bun Up the Dance" — Dillon Francis & Skrillex77721Safe3Foxtrot"Rise Up" — Andra Day87823Safe4Cha-cha-cha"Try Everything" — Shakira88831Safe5Paso doble"Under Control" — Calvin Harris & Alesso, feat. Hurts910937No EliminationViennese waltz"These Arms of Mine" — Otis Redding888306Contemporary"Try" — Pink9101029Safe7Quickstep"For Once in My Life" — Stevie Wonder109928SafeTeam Freestyle"End of Time""If I Were a Boy""Crazy in Love" — Beyoncé1099288Jive"Something's Got a Hold on Me" — Etta James10101030 EliminatedTeam-up Argentine tango"Habanera" — Georges Bizet1010929
With Charo Average: 23.3; placed 11th WeekDanceSongJudges' scoreTotalResultInabaGoodmanJ. HoughTonioli1Salsa"Cuban Pete" — Mambo Compañeros655521No Elimination2Paso doble"España cañí" — Charo667625Safe3Foxtrot"Chapel of Love" — The Dixie Cups666624 Eliminated
With Barbara Corcoran Average: 16.5; placed 13th WeekDanceSongJudges' scoreTotalResultInabaGoodmanTonioli1Salsa"Money Maker" — Ludacris, feat. Pharrell Williams56516No Elimination2Tango"Whatever Lola Wants" — Sarah Vaughan65617 Eliminated
With Jennie Finch Daigle Average: 23.0; placed 4th WeekDanceSongJudges' scoreTotalResultInabaGoodmanTonioli1Foxtrot"All-American Girl" — Carrie Underwood78722Safe2Cha-cha-cha"Do It Like This" — Daphne Willis77728SafeTeam Freestyle"Instant Replay" — Dan Hartman999373Viennese waltz"The Rest of Our Life" — Tim McGraw & Faith Hill78730 EliminatedCha-cha-cha Dance-off"Dance" — DNCE colspan="3" 0
With Evanna Lynch Average: 27.1; placed 3rd WeekDanceSongJudges' scoreTotalResultInabaGoodmanTonioli1Foxtrot"Do You Believe in Magic" — Aly & AJ77620Safe2Samba"Can't Touch It" — Ricki-Lee Coulter78823No EliminationJive"Heat Wave" — Martha and the Vandellas810927Safe3Viennese waltz"Hedwig's Theme" — John Williams99927Safe4Salsa"Black Magic" — Little Mix89825Safe5Jazz"When Will My Life Begin?" — Mandy Moore89825No Elimination6Tango"Disturbia" — Rihanna1091029Safe7Rumba"Every Little Thing" — Carly Pearce1091029SafeTeam Freestyle"9 to 5" — Dolly Parton10910298Contemporary"Stand Up for Something" — Andra Day & Common10101030SafeFoxtrot"Rewrite the Stars" — Zac Efron & Zendaya1099289Tango"Disturbia" — Rihanna10101030 Third PlaceFreestyle"It's Oh So Quiet" — Björk10101030
With Anne Heche Average: 18.8; placed 13th WeekDanceSongJudges' scoreTotalResultInabaD. HoughTonioli1Cha-cha-cha"Don't Start Now" — Dua Lipa45615No Elimination2Foxtrot"Counting Stars" — OneRepublic67619Safe3Quickstep"Zero to Hero" — Ariana Grande75719 Bottom Two4Paso doble"Rise" — Katy Perry87722 Eliminated
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