Ksenia Zsikhotska (, sometimes romanised Zhikhotska; born 11 August 1989) is a Ukrainian dancer and choreographer. She is best known for her role as a professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars. She, alongside professional partner, Ryan McShane, were the 2016 United Kingdom & British Latin Professional Champions & British Show Dance Champions.
Early life Zsikhotska was born in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine. She started folk dancing at the age of four and took up ballroom when she moved to United Kingdom with her mother.
Career In 2015, Zsikhotska toured with Strictly Come Dancing professional Brendan Cole's A Night to Remember tour across the UK and Ireland.
In 2016, Zsikhotska and partner, Ryan McShane, were crowned United Kingdom & British Latin Professional Champions & British Show Dance Champions.
Television career
Got to Dance
In 2013, Zsihotska took part in the Sky One dance competition show, Got to Dance alongside partner, Ryan McShane. They received three gold stars from the judges and advanced to the next round before being eliminated.
Britain's Got Talent (series 8) In 2014, Zsikhotska helped establish the ballroom dance group, Kings & Queens, alongside future Strictly Come Dancing professionals, Katya Jones and Neil Jones as well as her future Dancing with the Stars fellow professionals, Ryan McShane and Kai Widdrington on Britain's Got Talent. Kings & Queens reached the semi-finals of the series before being eliminated.
Dancing with the Stars Ireland In 2017, Zsikhotska was announced as one of the professional dancers for the first series of Dancing with the Stars. She was partnered with singer, Dayl Cronin. Cronin and Zsikhotska made it all the way to the semifinals of the competition before being eliminated and finishing in 4th place.
In 2018, Zsikhotska was partnered with RTÉ broadcaster, Marty Morrissey. Despite receiving low scores throughout their time on the show, the couple made it all the way to week 8 of the competition, finishing in seventh place.
In 2019, Zsikhotska was partnered with Ireland and Munster Rugby player, Peter Stringer. The couple made it to week 8 of the competition; marking the second year in a row that Zsikhotska finished in seventh place.
SeriesPartnerPlace1Dayl Cronin4th2Marty Morrissey7th3Peter Stringer7th
Highest and Lowest Scoring Per Dance
DancePartnerHighestPartnerLowestAmerican Smooth Peter Stringer 20 Marty Morrissey 15Cha-cha-cha Dayl Cronin 25 Marty Morrissey 8Charleston Peter Stringer 25 Marty Morrissey 12Contemporary Ballroom Dayl Cronin 28 Foxtrot Dayl Cronin 22 Marty Morrissey 16Jive Dayl Cronin 27 Paso Doble Dayl Cronin 27 Peter Stringer 20Quickstep Dayl Cronin 26 Marty Morrissey 12Rumba Dayl Cronin 28 Marty Morrissey 16Salsa Peter Stringer 16 Samba Des Cahill1 17 Showdance Tango Dayl Cronin 21 Viennese Waltz Dayl Cronin 26 Peter Stringer 19Waltz 1 This score was awarded during Switch-Up Week.
Series 1
Celebrity partner Dayl Cronin; Average: 25.5; Place: 4th
Week No.Dance/SongJudges' scoreTotalResultRedmondBarryBenson1Charleston / "My Way"77721No elimination2No dance performed - - - -3Tango / "Drag Me Down"77721Safe4Jive / "Footloose"99927Safe5Viennese Waltz / "Iris"89926Safe6Foxtrot / "Marvin Gaye"78722Safe7Samba / "Quando quando quando"56617No eliminationSwitch-Up Week with Des Cahill8Contemporary Ballroom / "Hall of Fame"991028Safe9Cha-cha-cha / "What Do You Mean?"88925Bottom two10Paso Doble / "Bamboléo"Ballroom Blitz / "The Ballroom Blitz"9Extra959Points2732Safe11Rumba / "What About Now"Quickstep / "Peroxide Swing"98109992826Eliminated
Series 2
Celebrity partner Marty Morrissey; Average: 13.3; Place: 7th
Week No.Dance/SongJudges' scoreTotalResultRedmondBarryBenson1Quickstep / "You're Such a Good Looking Woman"34512No elimination2No dance performed - - - -3Cha-cha-cha / "I Got You (I Feel Good)"2248Safe4American Smooth / "Pretty Irish Girl"45615Safe5Charleston / "We No Speak Americano"34512Safe6Quickstep / "L-O-V-E"55616No eliminationSwitch-Up Week with Rob Heffernan7Foxtrot / "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head"55616Safe8Rumba / "The Lady in Red"55616Eliminated
Series 3
Celebrity partner Peter Stringer; Average: 18.6; Place: 7th
Week No.Dance/SongJudges' scoreTotalResultRedmondBarryBenson1Salsa / "Come with Me"55616No elimination2No dance performed - - - -3Quickstep / "Wake Me Up"54514Safe4Paso Doble / "Un Poco Loco"67720Safe5Viennese Waltz / "A Thousand Years"66719Safe6Quickstep / "Are You Gonna Be My Girl"66719No eliminationSwitch-Up Week with Johnny Ward7Charleston / "Pencil Full of Lead"89825Safe8American Smooth / "New York, New York"67720Eliminated
Personal life Zsikhotska and professional partner, Ryan McShane were in a relationship previously.
References