Nikita Kuzmin

From Ukraine to Italy to Elstree, say hello to the brilliant Nikita Kuzmin!

This fab-u-lous performer started dancing at the age of four, although he actually wanted to practise karate like his hero Jackie Chan – but the call of the Ballroom had other plans...

Nikita and his family moved from Ukraine to Italy when he was nine to support his sister’s dancing career, but it was also the beginning of his own success. He went on to become a six-time Italian Champion in Latin and Ballroom, before joining the German version of Strictly, Let’s Dance, as a professional dancer.

Nikita joined our Strictly Pro line-up in 2021, partnering TV and social media star Tilly Ramsay for his debut series. He returned to the dancefloor with Paralympic champion Ellie Simmonds in 2022, before enjoying an incredible run with actor and performer Layton Williams in 2023, dancing all the way to the Grand Final!

In 2024, Nikita teamed up with presenter and former hockey player Sam Quek, with the pair making it to Week Seven of the competition.

Nikita returned in 2025 alongside actress and performer Amber Davies – and what a partnership it proved to be! The pair wowed their way through the competition and danced all the way to the Grand Final, making it Nikita’s second Strictly Final in just three years.

With six Italian Championship titles and two Strictly Finals already under his belt, Nikita is back and ready to bring even more energy, creativity and show-stopping moves to the Ballroom!