Strictly Come Dancing have unveiled four new professional dancers.
Jowita Przystal, 26, Nikita Kuzmin, 23, Kai Widdrington, 25, and Cameron Lombard, 20, have been confirmed as the new additions ahead of the 2021 series of the popular BBC competition.
The line-up of Strictly professional was left thinner for this year after Anton Du Beke, 54, stepped into a judging role and Janette Manrara, 37, decided to leave in order to host the spin-off show.
Fabulous Four: Strictly Come Dancing have announced that four new professional dancers have joined the show. Pictured: Jowita Przystal, 26, one of the new professionals
BBC bosses have confirmed the identities of the four new sizzling hot dancers stepping up to fill in their dancing shoes.
Polish Open Latin Champion 2014 and winner of BBC One’s The Greatest Dancer 2020, Jowita Przystal started ballroom dancing at the age of 12 and is a Polish Open Latin Champion.
In 2015 she ended her competitive Ballroom and Latin career to join the cast of touring dance company, Burn The Floor where she stayed for four years before moving to the UK in 2019.
Under the mentorship of Strictly Champion, Oti Mabuse, Jowita won the BBC’s The Greatest Dancer in 2020, and the prize of performing on Strictly Come Dancing.
Talented! Under the mentorship of Strictly Champion, Oti Mabuse, Jowita won the BBC’s The Greatest Dancer in 2020 (pictured), and the prize of performing on Strictly Come Dancing
Newcomer Jowita was left lost for words when asked how she felt about being cast in the latest series of the dance competition.
She said: ‘This is my biggest dream come true. No words can describe how I feel right now.
‘I’m still pinching myself to check if this is real but I am beyond excited to be joining the Strictly Come Dancing family and I can’t wait to give all of my heart and soul on that dance floor!’
New dancer: Six-time Latin and Ballroom National Champion in Italy Nikita Kuzmin, 23, (pictured) has also signed up for the latest series of the hit dance show
From Germany to the UK: In 2020 Nikita was a professional dancer on Let’s Dance, Germany’s version of Strictly Come Dancing (pictured with celebrity partner Sabrina Setlur in 2020)
Six-time Latin and Ballroom National Champion in Italy professional Nikita Kuzmin, 23, has also signed up for the latest series of the hit dance show.
Nikita was born in Ukraine and lived there until he was 9 years old when his family moved to Italy, where he then lived for 9 years, to support his sister’s dancing career.
In 2020 Nikita was a professional dancer on Let’s Dance, Germany’s version of Strictly Come Dancing.
Nikita, who started dancing aged 4, said of joining Strictly in the UK: ‘I’ve always been amazed by the magic Strictly Come Dancing brings. No matter what country I have found myself living in, I’ve never missed a chance to watch it.
‘And joining it as a professional dancer is my big chance to make some magic on the most famous dance floor. I can’t wait to give it my all! I am excited beyond imagination and looking forward to leaving my mark on the dance floor!
Excited: Kai Widdrington, 25, (pictured) is among the four new dancers to join the show, and was the World Junior Latin American Champion in 2010
Blast from the past: Kai – who appeared on Britain’s Got Talent in 2012 aged 16 and made it to the final – has also been confirmed as a new Strictly professional (Pictured with Natalia Jeved)
Kai Widdrington – who appeared on Britain’s Got Talent in 2012 aged 16 and made it to the final – has also been confirmed as a new Strictly professional.
He has previously worked as a professional dancer on Dancing With The Stars Ireland, since its first series in 2017. He finished twice as Runner-up on the show in 2018 and 2020.
Kai was all set to follow in his dads footsteps by becoming a professional footballer, but aged 9 decided to take up dancing instead and by the time he was 14, he became the 2010 World Junior Latin-American champion.
Speaking about being cast in the upcoming series, Kai said: ‘This is my childhood dream come true.
‘Watching Strictly from the very first series as a young boy from Southampton and now 18 years later, to be a professional dancer on the show is the most amazing feeling and the biggest accomplishment of my career.
‘I can’t wait to step onto the Strictly floor and experience the exciting times that lie ahead.’
Taking to a new stage: Reigning South African Latin Champion Cameron Lombard, 20, (pictured) has also been named as a new professional dancer on the show
Looking to earn another dancing crown, reigning South African Latin Champion Cameron Lombard has been named by the BBC as one of the new Strictly professionals.
Cameron has won eighteen national titles across Ballroom and Latin during his decorated dance career.
He started competing aged 6, and within a year he was already winning local and regional competitions.
In 2012 he was a finalist on South Africa’s Got Talent and in 2019 he represented South Africa at the World Championships.
The four new dancers join the existing line-up of professionals which includes: Aljaž Škorjanec, Amy Dowden, Dianne Buswell, Giovanni Pernice, Gorka Marquez, Graziano Di Prima, Johannes Radebe, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Luba Mushtuk, Nadiya Bychkova, Nancy Xu, Neil Jones, and Oti Mabuse.
Strictly Come Dancing returns for its 19th series this autumn on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Departed: The Strictly line-up was left thinner for this year after Anton Du Beke (left) stepped into a judging role and Janette Manrara (right) decided to leave the show
In June, it was revealed that the show’s longest-serving pro Anton Du Beke would step into Bruno Tonioli’s shoes to act as judge alongside Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood.
The BBC confirmed Anton would make the step up to a judging seat this year for the entire series following a successful two-week stint as a panellist last year.
He will replace Bruno, who will not be able to take part in the 19th series due to the ongoing uncertainty regarding travel restrictions caused by COVID-19.
Around the same time, Janette Manrara, 37, also announced that she’d quit as a professional dancer on Strictly after eight years in order to be Zoe Ball’s replacement on It Takes Two.