Peta Murgatroyd

Peta Jane Murgatroyd (born 14 July 1986) is an Australian and American professional Latin dancer.

She performed in the international tour of the dance production Burn the Floor, including its Broadway run.

She is best known for her appearances on the American edition of Dancing with the Stars, which she and her partners have won twice.

Murgatroyd was born in Auckland, New Zealand, but moved to Australia when she was 18 months old; as a result, she considers herself more of an Australian.

She was raised in Perth, Western Australia, and started studying classical ballet at age 4.

She trained for 12 years under former principal dancer of the Kirov Ballet, Madame Lubov Nikonorenko.

An ankle injury at the age of 16 forced her to give up ballet.

Murgatroyd then took up Latin dancing.

Within months of beginning ballroom training, Murgatroyd became the W.A. Amateur Latin State Champion in 2002 and won the title again in 2003.

She placed second in the Great World City Championships.

Success at other competitions followed quickly; she was a semi-finalist in the Lion City Championships in Singapore and was a finalist in the Australian Open Championships.

Murgatroyd joined the cast of Burn the Floor in 2004, touring with them around the world for six years.

She placed third in the world at the Blackpool Dance Festival Youth Under 21 Latin competitions in 2005.

When Burn the Floor landed on Broadway in August 2009, Murgatroyd was the lead female dancer.

Murgatroyd joined the cast of Dancing with the Stars in 2011 as a member of the dance troupe in season 12.

She became a regular member of the professional cast as of season 13.

In season 13, Murgatroyd competed on the show as a professional with basketball player Metta World Peace.

Not only were they the first couple eliminated off the show, but also it marked Peta’s earliest exit in the competition.

In 2012, Murgatroyd was again featured as a professional dancer competing on season 14 as the partner of football player Donald Driver.

On 22 May, it was announced that the couple was the winner of the competition.

She is the second professional to win after finishing last the prior season, after Kym Johnson.

For season 15, Murgatroyd was partnered with actor and season 8 runner up Gilles Marini.

They ended up in sixth place.

In 2013, Murgatroyd was again featured as a professional dancer competing on season 16 as the partner of The Bachelor star Sean Lowe.

They landed in sixth place.

For season 17, Murgatroyd was paired with Pretty Little Liars actor Brant Daugherty.

They were the sixth couple eliminated on 4 November 2013.

In 2014, Murgatroyd was again featured as a professional dancer competing on season 18 partnered with Big Time Rush member James Maslow.

They made it to the finale but came in fourth place.

1The guest judges were Robin Roberts (Week 3), Julianne Hough (Week 4), Donny Osmond (Week 5), Redfoo (Week 6), Ricky Martin (Week 7), Abby Lee Miller (Week 8) and Kenny Ortega (Week 9).

2For this week only, as part of the "Partner Switch-Up" week, Maslow performed with Cheryl Burke instead of Murgatroyd; Murgatroyd danced a rumba with Olympic ice dancing champion Charlie White, scoring a 33 (7, 8, 9, 9).

For season 19, Murgatroyd paired with comedian and actor Tommy Chong.

The couple made it to the Semi-finals, but were then eliminated and finished in 5th place.

1Week 3 score given by guest judge Kevin Hart in place of Goodman.

2The American public scored the dance in place of Goodman with the averaged score being counted alongside the three other judges.

3This week only, for "Partner Switch-Up" week, Chong performed with Emma Slater instead of Murgatroyd.

Murgatroyd performed with Jonathan Bennett.

4Score given by guest judge Jessie J in place of Goodman.

5Score given by guest judge Pitbull in place of Goodman.

In 2018, she starred alongside Robert Krantz in the heartwarming, faith-based movie Faith, Hope & Love where she played the owner of a dance studio who is paired with a widower of two girls, in an amateur dancing contest.