# Nikita Kuzmin (Нікіта Кузьмін)
**Nikita Kuzmin** (Нікіта Кузьмін) is a Ukrainian-born ballroom and Latin dancer and choreographer, best known as a professional dancer on the [BBC One](https://www.edgepedia.org/bbc-one) series *Strictly Come Dancing* since 2021 and previously on Germany's *Let's Dance*.[1](https://www.johnnoel.com/clients/nikita-kuzmin/) He is a six-time Italian Champion in Latin and [Ballroom dance](https://www.edgepedia.org/ballroom-dance), has reached the *Strictly* final twice, finished second on *Celebrity Big Brother* in 2024, and tours internationally with his own dance shows.[1](https://www.johnnoel.com/clients/nikita-kuzmin/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1997 in Kyiv, Ukraine; height 1.80 m[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12949690/) • [3](https://www.rtl.de/themen/personen/nikita-kuzmin-t11454.html) |
| Competitive titles | Six-time Italian Champion in Latin and Ballroom[1](https://www.johnnoel.com/clients/nikita-kuzmin/) |
| Television debut | Professional dancer on *Let's Dance* (Germany), season 13, 2020, partnered with rapper Sabrina Setlur; the youngest pro of that season[4](https://www.rtl.de/cms/let-s-dance-2020-profitaenzer-nikita-kuzmin-tanzt-bei-seinem-debuet-mit-sabrina-setlur-4480930.html) |
| *Strictly Come Dancing* | Professional since 2021; finalist with Layton Williams (2023) and Amber Davies (2025)[1](https://www.johnnoel.com/clients/nikita-kuzmin/) |
| Reality television | *Celebrity Big Brother* (2024), second place[1](https://www.johnnoel.com/clients/nikita-kuzmin/) |
| Solo tours | *The Midnight Dancer* (2025), his first solo UK and Ireland tour; *Supernova* (2026), 38 nights across the UK[1](https://www.johnnoel.com/clients/nikita-kuzmin/) • [5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12949690/news/) |
| Health advocacy | Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 13; ambassador for Diabetes UK and marathon runner[1](https://www.johnnoel.com/clients/nikita-kuzmin/) |
## Early life and competitive career
Kuzmin was born in Kyiv, Ukraine, in 1997.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12949690/) When he was nine years old, his family moved to Italy to support the dancing career of his older sister, Anastasia Kuzmina, who later became a professional dancer on the Italian version of *Let's Dance*, *Ballando con le stelle*, and has won its title.[3](https://www.rtl.de/themen/personen/nikita-kuzmin-t11454.html) • [6](https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2025/0415/1507808-strictlys-nikita-kuzmin-its-a-dream-come-true/) He had first wanted to learn karate like his hero [Jackie Chan](https://www.edgepedia.org/jackie-chan) but failed the entrance trial, and instead discovered dance at the age of four.[4](https://www.rtl.de/cms/let-s-dance-2020-profitaenzer-nikita-kuzmin-tanzt-bei-seinem-debuet-mit-sabrina-setlur-4480930.html)
During his nine years in Italy he became a six-time Italian Champion in Latin and Ballroom dance, competing in his youth with partner Arianna Favaro.[1](https://www.johnnoel.com/clients/nikita-kuzmin/) • [4](https://www.rtl.de/cms/let-s-dance-2020-profitaenzer-nikita-kuzmin-tanzt-bei-seinem-debuet-mit-sabrina-setlur-4480930.html) His listed competitive results include first place in the WDSF Under 21 Latin category at the 2018 Thessaloniki Dance Festival and a semifinal place at the 2019 WDSF North European Championship Adult Latin.[4](https://www.rtl.de/cms/let-s-dance-2020-profitaenzer-nikita-kuzmin-tanzt-bei-seinem-debuet-mit-sabrina-setlur-4480930.html) After that partnership ended, he found a new partner in Nicole Wirt and moved to Germany at eighteen.[4](https://www.rtl.de/cms/let-s-dance-2020-profitaenzer-nikita-kuzmin-tanzt-bei-seinem-debuet-mit-sabrina-setlur-4480930.html)
## Television career
**Let's Dance.** In Germany, Kuzmin worked at the dance studio of [Motsi Mabuse](https://www.edgepedia.org/motsi-mabuse), later a fellow *Strictly* judge, before joining the RTL show *Let's Dance*, the German version of *Strictly Come Dancing*, as a professional dancer in 2020.[1](https://www.johnnoel.com/clients/nikita-kuzmin/) At 22 he was the youngest professional in the thirteenth season and debuted alongside the rapper Sabrina Setlur.[4](https://www.rtl.de/cms/let-s-dance-2020-profitaenzer-nikita-kuzmin-tanzt-bei-seinem-debuet-mit-sabrina-setlur-4480930.html)
**Strictly Come Dancing.** Within a year he was taken on as a professional dancer on the BBC version, joining *Strictly Come Dancing* in 2021.[1](https://www.johnnoel.com/clients/nikita-kuzmin/) His celebrity partners on the show have included the actor [Layton Williams](https://www.edgepedia.org/layton-williams) and the West End performer Amber Davies.[1](https://www.johnnoel.com/clients/nikita-kuzmin/) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12949690/) In 2023 he and Layton Williams formed one of the show's same-sex partnerships and reached the final; the pair later reunited for the live show *Layton & Nikita – LIVE!*, performing at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall and the [Theatre Royal, Drury Lane](https://www.edgepedia.org/theatre-royal-drury-lane) in London.[1](https://www.johnnoel.com/clients/nikita-kuzmin/) • [7](https://www.out.com/gay-tv-shows/strictly-come-dancing)
In the 2025 series he was originally paired with [Dani Dyer](https://www.edgepedia.org/dani-dyer), who withdrew before the first live show after fracturing her ankle in rehearsals.[8](https://www.womanandhome.com/life/news-entertainment/amber-davies-new-strictly-come-dancing-contestant/) Amber Davies, the West End actor and 2017 *Love Island* winner, replaced her and danced with Kuzmin from the first live show on 27 September 2025, opening with a waltz; the two reached the final.[8](https://www.womanandhome.com/life/news-entertainment/amber-davies-new-strictly-come-dancing-contestant/) • [1](https://www.johnnoel.com/clients/nikita-kuzmin/) Dyer returned as his partner for the 2026 series, and Kuzmin said he cried "tears of joy" when the reunion was announced.[9](https://www.ireland-live.ie/uk-news/strictlys-nikita-kuzmin-cried-tears-of-joy-when-reunited-with-dani-dyer-9120128)
**Other appearances.** In 2024 Kuzmin entered the *Celebrity Big Brother* house, saying he wanted to show a side of himself the audience had not seen; he reached the final and finished second.[1](https://www.johnnoel.com/clients/nikita-kuzmin/) • [10](https://bigblagger.co.uk/nikita-kuzmin/) His television credits also include appearances on *Good Morning Britain*, *Celebrity Mastermind*, *The Weakest Link*, *Loose Women*, and the 2025 *Comic Relief: Funny for Money* telethon.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12949690/)
## Solo tours
**The Midnight Dancer.** In 2025 Kuzmin undertook his first live solo tour of the UK and Ireland, *The Midnight Dancer*, which he described as a lifelong ambition.[1](https://www.johnnoel.com/clients/nikita-kuzmin/) • [6](https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2025/0415/1507808-strictlys-nikita-kuzmin-its-a-dream-come-true/) In interviews during the tour he described the intensity of touring but said that seeing audiences dancing and singing at the end of each show made the effort worthwhile.[11](https://discover.ticketmaster.co.uk/theatre/nikita-kuzmin-interview-stuck-in-a-lift-64957/)
**Supernova.** His 2026 follow-up, *Burn the Floor presents: Nikita Kuzmin – Supernova*, is a dance show created with the choreographer and BAFTA Award winner Jason Gilkison, the main choreographer of *Strictly Come Dancing*, and presented by the dance company Burn the Floor.[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12949690/news/) • [12](https://www.revamp-magazine.co.uk/nikita-kuzmin) The tour opened at the Theatre Severn in [Shrewsbury](https://www.edgepedia.org/shrewsbury) on 9 June 2026 and visited more than thirty cities including Manchester, Edinburgh, Newcastle, and Ipswich; Kuzmin's management describes the run as thirty-eight nights across the country.[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12949690/news/) • [1](https://www.johnnoel.com/clients/nikita-kuzmin/) The show features guest dancers including [Karen Hauer](https://www.edgepedia.org/karen-hauer), live vocalists, and personal storytelling from Kuzmin about his life and career.[12](https://www.revamp-magazine.co.uk/nikita-kuzmin) • [13](https://www.likenobodyswatching.com/discover/supernova-nikita-kuzmin-2026) A review at the New Wimbledon Theatre praised him as a showman and called the show joyous fun while noting an uneven structure between its storytelling and dance numbers.[13](https://www.likenobodyswatching.com/discover/supernova-nikita-kuzmin-2026)
## Diabetes advocacy and personal life
Kuzmin was diagnosed with [Type 1 diabetes](https://www.edgepedia.org/type-1-diabetes) at age thirteen and has campaigned to raise awareness of the condition, saying he wants to inspire young children with the message that it does not have to restrict their ambitions.[1](https://www.johnnoel.com/clients/nikita-kuzmin/) He is an active ambassador for the charity Diabetes UK and has run several marathons, including the Rome Marathon, the Midnight Sun Marathon in Norway, and the 2026 [London Marathon](https://www.edgepedia.org/london-marathon) on the charity's behalf.[1](https://www.johnnoel.com/clients/nikita-kuzmin/)
He lives in London and describes himself as a keen cook, gamer, and animal lover; his pets include three cats, Leo, Bagheera, and Jelly, and a Chihuahua, Mabel, who joined the household in 2026.[10](https://bigblagger.co.uk/nikita-kuzmin/) • [1](https://www.johnnoel.com/clients/nikita-kuzmin/) • [14](https://shows.acast.com/walking-the-dog/episodes/nikita-kuzmin-part-one)
## References
1. [Nikita Kuzmin, John Noel Management](https://www.johnnoel.com/clients/nikita-kuzmin/)
2. [Nikita Kuzmin, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12949690/)
3. [Nikita Kuzmin: Alle News & Infos, RTL](https://www.rtl.de/themen/personen/nikita-kuzmin-t11454.html)
4. [Let's Dance 2020: Profitänzer Nikita Kuzmin tanzt bei seinem Debüt mit Sabrina Setlur, RTL](https://www.rtl.de/cms/let-s-dance-2020-profitaenzer-nikita-kuzmin-tanzt-bei-seinem-debuet-mit-sabrina-setlur-4480930.html)
5. [Nikita Kuzmin – News, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12949690/news/)
6. [Strictly's Nikita Kuzmin: 'It's an incredible feeling!', RTÉ Entertainment](https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2025/0415/1507808-strictlys-nikita-kuzmin-its-a-dream-come-true/)
7. [Meet Layton Williams & Nikita Kuzmin, 'Strictly's New Same-Sex Dance Couple, Out.com](https://www.out.com/gay-tv-shows/strictly-come-dancing)
8. [Amber Davies announced as new Strictly Come Dancing 2025 contestant, Woman & Home](https://www.womanandhome.com/life/news-entertainment/amber-davies-new-strictly-come-dancing-contestant/)
9. [Strictly's Nikita Kuzmin cried 'tears of joy' when reunited with Dani Dyer, Ireland Live](https://www.ireland-live.ie/uk-news/strictlys-nikita-kuzmin-cried-tears-of-joy-when-reunited-with-dani-dyer-9120128)
10. [Nikita Kuzmin, Big Blagger UK](https://bigblagger.co.uk/nikita-kuzmin/)
11. [Nikita Kuzmin thinks more people need to know about Kinder Buenos, Ticketmaster Discover](https://discover.ticketmaster.co.uk/theatre/nikita-kuzmin-interview-stuck-in-a-lift-64957/)
12. [Nikita Kuzmin, Revamp Magazine](https://www.revamp-magazine.co.uk/nikita-kuzmin)
13. [Supernova: Nikita Kuzmin – Dance Review, Like Nobody's Watching](https://www.likenobodyswatching.com/discover/supernova-nikita-kuzmin-2026)
14. [Nikita Kuzmin (Part One), Walking The Dog with Emily Dean, Acast](https://shows.acast.com/walking-the-dog/episodes/nikita-kuzmin-part-one)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Unscripted, reality, and web-native series › Reality and competition franchise editions › Dancing with the Stars and dance-competition franchises*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 20, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license