Iveta Lukošiūtė (born 29 June 1980) is a Lithuanian dancer and choreographer. 2 time World Professional Ten Dance Champion. 5 time US National Professional Ten Dance Champion. 4 time US National Classical Showdance Champion. She is best known for appearing as a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing between 2012 and 2014.
Early and personal life Lukošiūtė was born in Klaipėda, Lithuania on 29 June 1980. Lukošiūtė began learning ballroom dance at the age of 6 when she was accepted as a student at the Žuvėdra Ballroom Dance School. She danced for pop groups, concerts and festivals throughout Lithuania, and appeared in several music videos.
Lukošiūtė married Jenya Raytses in August 2017 and they have two children together.
Dancing career Lukošiūtė moved to Woodside, New York in 2003, where she went on to gain numerous dance titles including World Professional Ten Dance Champion, five time U.S. National & North American Professional Ten Dance Champion, four time U.S. National Classical Showdance Champion and two times World Classical Showdance Finalist.
In 2011, Lukošiūtė appeared on the eighth season of So You Think You Can Dance. She reached the top 20, however was the second female contestant to be eliminated.
Strictly Come Dancing In September 2012, Lukošiūtė was announced to be joining the Strictly Come Dancing as a replacement for Aliona Vilani who sustained an injury, Lukošiūtė was paired with Vilani's partner, TV presenter Johnny Ball, who was the oldest ever contestant to appear on the show. They were the first couple to be eliminated from the series. Lukošiūtė returned to the show for the eleventh series where she was paired with actor Mark Benton. The pair landed in the dance-off four consecutive times, a Strictly record before being eliminated in the ninth week, leaving them in 7th place. In Lukošiūtė's final series, she was paired with rugby player and model Thom Evans, they were eliminated in week five of the competition which was described as a shock, leaving them in 12th place.
Whilst appearing on Strictly Come Dancing, Lukošiūtė made guest appearances on British television chat shows such as Daybreak, Loose Women and The One Show.
Series Partner PlaceAverage score10Johnny Ball14th18.511Mark Benton7th26.012Thom Evans12th27.4
Highest and Lowest Scoring Per Dance DancePartnerHighestPartnerLowestAmerican Smooth Mark Benton 26 Argentine Tango Cha-cha-cha Thom Evans 27 Johnny Ball 17Charleston Thom Evans 32* Couple's Choice Foxtrot Thom Evans 30 Johnny Ball 20Jive Mark Benton 29 Paso Doble Mark Benton 25 Quickstep Rumba Mark Benton 23 Salsa Thom Evans 25 Mark Benton 22Samba Mark Benton 29 Showdance Tango Mark Benton 24 Viennese Waltz Waltz Mark Benton 28 Thom Evans 23
(*) Excludes extra score given by guest judge.
Series 10 Lukošiūtė's first celebrity partner was television presenter Johnny Ball. Week Dance / Song Judges' scores Score ResultHorwoodBussellGoodmanTonioli 1 Cha-cha-cha / "Drive My Car" 3 5 5 4 17 No Elimination 2Foxtrot / "Everything"555520Eliminated
Series 11 Lukošiūtė's second celebrity partner was stage and screen actor Mark Benton. Week Dance / Song Judges' scores Score ResultHorwoodBussellGoodmanTonioli 1 Tango / "Hernando's Hideaway" 5 6 7 6 24 No Elimination 2Salsa / "Bom Bom"467522Safe3American Smooth / "It Must Be Love"667726Safe4Cha-cha-cha / "U Can't Touch This"388726Safe5Waltz / "Apologize"777728Safe6Paso Doble / "I Lost My Heart to a Starship Trooper"667625Safe7Rumba / "Goldfinger"567523Bottom two8Jive / "You Can't Stop the Beat"5888Bottom two9Foxtrot / "It's a Beautiful Day"687728Bottom two10Samba / "I Just Can't Wait to Be King"7778Eliminated
Series 12 Lukošiūtė's third celebrity partner was former rugby player Thom Evans. Week Dance / Song Judges' scores Score ResultHorwoodBussellGoodmanTonioli 1 Waltz / "You Raise Me Up" 5 6 6 6 23 No Elimination 2Salsa / "Hot Hot Hot"577625Safe3Charleston / "New York, New York"787* / 8838*Safe4Foxtrot / "Build Me Up Buttercup"688830Safe5Cha-cha-cha / "It's My Party"677727Eliminated
(*) Score given by guest judge Donny Osmond.
References