Nikita Kuzmin
Нікіта Кузьмін
Born (1997-12-23) 23 December 1997 (age 26)
Kyiv, Ukraine
Occupation(s)Dancer
Choreographer
Presenter
Known forStrictly Come Dancing
Let's Dance
Height5 ft 11 in (180cm)
RelativesAnastasia Kuzmina (sister)

Nikita Kuzmin (Ukrainian: Нікіта Кузьмін; born 23 December 1997) is a Ukrainian-Italian dancer and choreographer. He is best known for being a professional dancer on the RTL and BBC One dance competitions Let's Dance and Strictly Come Dancing. Kuzmin is also the holder of 6 Italian Championship titles.[1]

Early life

Kuzmin was born on 23 December 1997 in Kyiv, Ukraine.[2] His family moved to Italy when Kuzmin was nine.[3] He has an older sister, Anastasia Kuzmina, who has appeared as a professional dancer on Ballando con le Stelle. He has lived in Frankfurt, Germany since the age of 18.[4]

Career

Let's Dance

Season Partner Place
13 Sabrina Setlur 13th

In 2020, Nikita Kuzmin became a professional dancer on the RTL dance competition Let's Dance for the 13th season, where he was partnered with rapper Sabrina Setlur.[5] They were the second couple to be eliminated.[6] Kuzmin did not return for the 14th season.[7]

Strictly Come Dancing

On 26 July 2021, Kuzmin was announced as one of four new professional dancers joining the nineteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing.[8][9] Upon joining the show, Kuzmin said "I've always been amazed by the magic Strictly Come Dancing brings and that no matter what country I have found myself living in, I've never missed a chance to watch it. 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."[10] Kuzmin has also previously worked for judge Motsi Mabuse's dance company in Germany.[11] In his first season, Kuzmin was paired with Tilly Ramsay; they were eliminated from the competition in week 10.[12] In his second season, Kuzmin was paired with Ellie Simmonds; they were eliminated from the competition in week 7. In his third season, Kuzmin was paired with Layton Williams. They made it to the final where they finished as joint runners-up, alongside Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell, and behind series champions Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola.

Series Partner Place
19 Tilly Ramsay 6th
20 Ellie Simmonds 10th
21 Layton Williams 2nd

Highest and lowest scoring per dance

Performances with Tilly Ramsay

Main article: Strictly Come Dancing (series 19)

Performances with Ellie Simmonds

Main article: Strictly Come Dancing (series 20)

Performances with Layton Williams

Main article: Strictly Come Dancing (series 21)

Dance tours

In September 2023, Kuzmin announced he was to appear with Jowita Przystał at "Dancing With The Stars Weekends" 2024.[13]

Personal life

In March 2022, Kuzmin appeared on Lorraine to discuss his fears for his grandmother living in Ukraine following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[14] They were later reunited.[15]

In October 2023 Kuzmin was reported to be dating Lauren Jaine, a model signed to First Model Management and a recent graduate from Durham University.[16][17]

Kuzmin is multi-lingual. According to his partner Lauren Jaine, he is fluent in 5 languages, including English and Russian.

References

  1. ^ Adejobi, Alicia (19 July 2021). "Strictly Come Dancing 2021: Four new professional dancers announced ahead of new series". Metro. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  2. ^ "Nikita Kuzmin". WEB.DE. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  3. ^ Schwab Dunn, Billie (19 July 2021). "Strictly Come Dancing 2021: Who are the new dancers?". Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  4. ^ "Nikita Kuzmin ist als Profitänzer in der 13. "Let's Dance"-Staffel dabei" (in German). RTL. 22 February 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  5. ^ "Nikita Kuzmin privat: Wie lebt der Let's Dance-Star abseits des Tanzparketts?" (in German). 20 July 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  6. ^ "Rapperin Sabrina Setlur schwingt bei Let's Dance ihr Tanzbein" (in German). RTL. 11 March 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  7. ^ "Sabrina Setlur muss nach der 2. Show das Tanzparkett verlassen" (in German). 9 March 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  8. ^ Daly, Helen (31 March 2022). "Strictly Come Dancing 2021 professional dancers: Meet the confirmed line-up". Radio Times. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  9. ^ Sarrubba, Stefania (8 September 2021). "Strictly Come Dancing shares new look at 2021 professional dancers and confirms start date". Digital Spy. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  10. ^ "Strictly Come Dancing: Greatest Dancer winner joins professional dancer line-up". BBC News. 19 July 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  11. ^ "Nikita". Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  12. ^ Morris, Lauren (28 November 2021). "Who left Strictly Come Dancing? Ninth celebrity voted out revealed". Radio Times. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  13. ^ "5* Weekend Break with the Stars of BBC Strictly Come Dancing". www.donaheys.co.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  14. ^ "Lorraine Kelly in tears as Strictly star Nikita pleads for Ukraine crisis help". edinburghlive. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  15. ^ "Strictly's Nikita Kuzmin Reunited With Grandmother As She Escapes Kyiv". HuffPost. 12 March 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  16. ^ Saner, Emine (2023-10-18). "'It's not easy for me!': Layton Williams on Strictly, joy, glitter – and the myth of his unfair advantage". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  17. ^ "Meet Strictly star Nikita Kuzmin's new girlfriend Lauren Jaine". HELLO!. October 18, 2023.


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