Who is Nikita Kuzmin? Meet Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer
All you need to know about the Strictly pro.
Nikita Kuzmin made history last year on Strictly Come Dancing alongside his celebrity partner Layton Williams, as they scored the earliest 10 for a cha-cha ever - and he will certainly be hoping to replicate that success with new partner Sam Quek.
Performing a foxtrot to Where Did Our Love Go by The Supremes for Strictly 2024's first live show, the duo will be pulling out all the stops in the hopes of reaching the top of the leaderboard - but more importantly, to have fun as well.
Beyond Strictly, Nikita was recently on screens on Celebrity Big Brother, which saw him reach the final alongside David Potts and Colson Smith, drawing in a new cohort of fans in the process.
The dancer joined the Strictly ballroom in 2021 and had constant show-stopping routines in the 2023 competition, but what else is there to know about him?
Read on for everything you need to know about Nikita Kuzmin.
Who is Nikita Kuzmin?
Age: 26
Instagram: nikita_kuzmin
X/Twitter: @kuzmin_nikita
Celebrity partner: Sam Quek
Nikita certainly knows his way around the dance floor, having been on Germany's Let's Dance.
He is also a six-time Latin and Ballroom National Champion in Italy - so he will undoubtedly know all the right moves to teach Sam Quek in this year's competition.
Born in Ukraine and moved to Italy at the age of nine, he began dancing at the young age of four - so was clearly always destined to do it.
And, fun fact, dancing must be in the genes, as his sister is a professional dancer on Italy's Dancing with the Stars.
Who is Nikita paired with on Strictly Come Dancing 2024?
Vito Coppola is paired with hockey player and TV presenter Sam Quek on Strictly Come Dancing 2024.
What has Nikita said about being on Strictly Come Dancing?
Describing Strictly as a "euphoric" experience, Nikita said it is a "privilege" to partake in the show's 20th anniversary.
"To be back doing what we love most, being with the guys, reuniting with the crew, and creating these amazing numbers - it's truly the dream job for all of us," he said.
"We feel incredibly grateful. I'm in a very fortunate position, and I'm really happy to be back."
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Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday 21st September at 7pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
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