Keoikantse Motsepe (born 24 November 1989) is a South African dancer. His dancing styles are

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

and

Ballroom A ballroom or ballhall is a large room inside a building, the primary purpose of which is holding large formal parties called ''balls''. Traditionally, most balls were held in private residences; many mansions and palaces, especially histori ...

. He is known for being the first black professional dancer on the ABC show ''

Dancing with the Stars ''Strictly Come Dancing (widely known as Dancing with the Stars)'' is an international television franchise based on the format of the British TV series '' Strictly Come Dancing,'' itself a successor to the show ''Come Dancing'' (1950–1998) ...

''.

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 Lori Susan "Lolo" Jones (born August 5, 1982) is an American hurdler and Bobsleigh, bobsledder who specializes in the 60 metre hurdles, 60-meter and 100-meter hurdles. She won three NCAA titles and garnered 11 All-American honors while at Louisi ...

. They were eliminated during the first week of competition, finishing in 13th place. In season 20, Motsepe was paired up with model

Charlotte McKinney Charlotte Ann McKinney (born August 6, 1993) is an American model and actress who first gained attention as an Instagram personality, eventually achieving wider recognition for her appearance in a Carl's Jr. commercial which aired regionally d ...

. They were eliminated in the third week of competition, finishing in 11th place. For season 21, he paired with

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious ...

-winning singer

Chaka Khan Yvette Marie Stevens (born March 23, 1953), better known by her stage name Chaka Khan ( ), is an American singer. Known as the " Queen of Funk", her career has spanned more than five decades beginning in the early 1970s as the lead vocalist of ...

. 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 ''Full House'' is an American television sitcom created by Jeff Franklin for American Broadcasting Company, ABC. The show is about the recently widowed father Danny Tanner who enlists his brother-in-law Jesse Katsopolis and childhood best friend ...

'' and '' Fuller House'' actress

Jodie Sweetin Jodie Lee Ann Sweetin (born January 19, 1982) is an American actress and television personality. She is best known for her role as Stephanie Tanner in the ABC comedy series ''Full House'' and its Netflix sequel series '' Fuller House''. Earl ...

. 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 Bruno Tonioli (; born 25 November 1955) is a British-Italian television personality, choreographer and dancer. He has judged on the British television talent shows ''Strictly Come Dancing'' (2004–2019), ''DanceX'' (2007) and ''Britain's Got Ta ...

worked with Sweetin and eventual-winner

Nyle DiMarco Nyle DiMarco (born May 8, 1989) is an American model, actor, and Deaf culture, Deaf activist. In 2015, DiMarco was the winner of The CW's reality television series ''America's Next Top Model'' in America's Next Top Model (cycle 22), season 22, be ...

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 María Rosario Pilar Martínez Molina Baeza, professionally known by her stage name Charo, is a Spanish-born actress, singer, comedian, and flamenco guitarist who rose to international prominence in the 1960s on American television, as well ...

. They were eliminated in the third week of competition, finishing in 11th place. Motsepe returned for season 25 and was paired with ''

Shark Tank ''Shark Tank'' is an American business Reality television#Investments, reality television series that premiered on August 9, 2009, on American Broadcasting Company, ABC.Hibberd, James (May 10, 2012)Dancing,' 'Bachelor,' and a bigger 'Shark Tank ...

'' panelist,

Barbara Corcoran Barbara Ann Corcoran (born March 10, 1949) is an American businesswoman, investor, syndicated columnist, and television personality. She founded The Corcoran Group, a real estate brokerage in New York City, which she sold to NRT for $66 million ...

. 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 is an American former competitive Figure skating, figure skater. She is a Figure skating at the 2018 Winter Olympics – Team event, 2018 Olympic Games team event bronze medalist, three-time Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, Four Co ...

and partners

Witney Carson Witney Capri Carson McAllister (née Carson; born October 17, 1993) is an American professional Latin dance, Latin ballroom dancer and choreographer. She first gained attention in 2012, when the then-18-year-old as the last female contestant in ...

and Alan Bersten. For season 27, he was paired with ''

Harry Potter ''Harry Potter'' is a series of seven Fantasy literature, fantasy novels written by British author J. K. Rowling. The novels chronicle the lives of a young Magician (fantasy), wizard, Harry Potter (character), Harry Potter, and his friends ...

'' actress

Evanna Lynch Evanna Patricia Lynch (born 16 August 1991) is an Irish actress and activist. She is best known for portraying Luna Lovegood in the ''Harry Potter'' film series. Born in County Louth, Ireland, Lynch made her film debut in '' Harry Potter and ...

. 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 Anne Celeste Heche ( ; May 25, 1969August 11, 2022) was an American actress, known for her roles across a variety of genres in film, television, and theater. She was the recipient of Daytime Emmy, National Board of Review, and GLAAD Media Awards ...

. They were eliminated in the fourth week of competition and finished in 13th place.

With
Lolo Jones Lori Susan "Lolo" Jones (born August 5, 1982) is an American hurdler and Bobsleigh, bobsledder who specializes in the 60 metre hurdles, 60-meter and 100-meter hurdles. She won three NCAA titles and garnered 11 All-American honors while at Louisi ...

*Average: 22.0; placed 13th

With
Charlotte McKinney Charlotte Ann McKinney (born August 6, 1993) is an American model and actress who first gained attention as an Instagram personality, eventually achieving wider recognition for her appearance in a Carl's Jr. commercial which aired regionally d ...

*Average: 23.3; placed 11th

With
Chaka Khan Yvette Marie Stevens (born March 23, 1953), better known by her stage name Chaka Khan ( ), is an American singer. Known as the " Queen of Funk", her career has spanned more than five decades beginning in the early 1970s as the lead vocalist of ...

*Average: 14.0; placed 13th

With
Jodie Sweetin Jodie Lee Ann Sweetin (born January 19, 1982) is an American actress and television personality. She is best known for her role as Stephanie Tanner in the ABC comedy series ''Full House'' and its Netflix sequel series '' Fuller House''. Earl ...

*Average: 24.5; placed 6th ¹ Score given by guest judge

Zendaya Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman ( ; born September 1, 1996) is an American actress and singer. List of awards and nominations received by Zendaya, Her accolades include two Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Awards, Golden Globe Award. I ...

.
² For this week only, as part of "America's Switch Up", Sweetin performed with

Valentin Chmerkovskiy Valentin Aleksandrovich "Val" Chmerkovskiy (born March 24, 1986) is a Ukrainian-American professional dancer, best known for his appearances on the U.S. version of '' Dancing with the Stars'', which he won three times. Chmerkovskiy is a two-time ...

instead of Motsepe. Motsepe performed with Kim Fields.
³ Score given by guest judge Maksim Chmerkovskiy.
⁴ Due to Tonioli being the judge coaching Sweetin's team during the team-up dance, the viewers scored the dance in his place with the averaged score being counted alongside the remaining judges.

With
Charo María Rosario Pilar Martínez Molina Baeza, professionally known by her stage name Charo, is a Spanish-born actress, singer, comedian, and flamenco guitarist who rose to international prominence in the 1960s on American television, as well ...

*Average: 23.3; placed 11th

With
Barbara Corcoran Barbara Ann Corcoran (born March 10, 1949) is an American businesswoman, investor, syndicated columnist, and television personality. She founded The Corcoran Group, a real estate brokerage in New York City, which she sold to NRT for $66 million ...

*Average: 15.5; placed 13th

With Jennie Finch Daigle

*Average: 22.0; placed 4th ¹ Score given by guest judge Rashad Jennings.
² Score given by guest judge David Ross.

With
Evanna Lynch Evanna Patricia Lynch (born 16 August 1991) is an Irish actress and activist. She is best known for portraying Luna Lovegood in the ''Harry Potter'' film series. Born in County Louth, Ireland, Lynch made her film debut in '' Harry Potter and ...

*Average: 26.7; placed 3rd

With
Anne Heche Anne Celeste Heche ( ; May 25, 1969August 11, 2022) was an American actress, known for her roles across a variety of genres in film, television, and theater. She was the recipient of Daytime Emmy, National Board of Review, and GLAAD Media Awards ...

*Average: 18; placed 13th

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Motsepe, Keo South African ballroom dancers South African male dancers South African dancers Living people 1989 births South African expatriates in the United States People from Pretoria

Life and career

''Dancing with the Stars''

With Lolo Jones Lori Susan "Lolo" Jones (born August 5, 1982) is an American hurdler and Bobsleigh, bobsledder who specializes in the 60 metre hurdles, 60-meter and 100-meter hurdles. She won three NCAA titles and garnered 11 All-American honors while at Louisi ...

With Charlotte McKinney Charlotte Ann McKinney (born August 6, 1993) is an American model and actress who first gained attention as an Instagram personality, eventually achieving wider recognition for her appearance in a Carl's Jr. commercial which aired regionally d ...

With Chaka Khan Yvette Marie Stevens (born March 23, 1953), better known by her stage name Chaka Khan ( ), is an American singer. Known as the " Queen of Funk", her career has spanned more than five decades beginning in the early 1970s as the lead vocalist of ...

With Jodie Sweetin Jodie Lee Ann Sweetin (born January 19, 1982) is an American actress and television personality. She is best known for her role as Stephanie Tanner in the ABC comedy series ''Full House'' and its Netflix sequel series '' Fuller House''. Earl ...

With Charo María Rosario Pilar Martínez Molina Baeza, professionally known by her stage name Charo, is a Spanish-born actress, singer, comedian, and flamenco guitarist who rose to international prominence in the 1960s on American television, as well ...

With Barbara Corcoran Barbara Ann Corcoran (born March 10, 1949) is an American businesswoman, investor, syndicated columnist, and television personality. She founded The Corcoran Group, a real estate brokerage in New York City, which she sold to NRT for $66 million ...