STRICTLY COME DANCING UNVEILS FIVE NEW PROFESSIONAL DANCERS JOINING SERIES

Strictly Come Dancing has announced that five new Professional Dancers will join the hit series when it returns to light up Saturday and Sunday nights on the BBC this September.

Hailing from the UK, Canada, Italy, South Africa and Ukraine, Strictly’s new fab five have all danced their way to international acclaim and are some of the most exciting talents in dance today.

Aleksandra Isaeva grew up in Ukraine and now lives in Italy. A multiple Ukrainian National Latin Champion, Aleksandra is ranked in the world’s top 21 Latin dancers and has reached top 10 positions at both the European Latin Championships in Blackpool and the Dutch Open’s World Latin Dance Competition, as well as becoming a finalist at the UK Dance Festival’s Latin Rising Star competition.

On joining Strictly, Aleksandra says: “I’ve been living and breathing dance for as long as I can remember, so joining the Strictly family is a true honour. The thought of learning from and sharing this experience with such extraordinary dancers, choreographers and the whole Strictly family still gives me goosebumps. I can’t wait to pour my whole heart into every performance, inspire others and be inspired along the way!”

Aleksandra joins Strictly with her dance partner Cristian Priori. A four-time Italian Latin Champion who was ranked in the World’s top 24 Latin dancers for eight consecutive years, Cristian’s international success saw him become a Rising Star Latin Finalist at the Blackpool Dance Festival and an Open World Latin Semi-Finalist. Born in Rome, Cristian achieved dance success from a young age as the Junior Italian 10-Dance Champion, before going on to become a Rising Star Finalist at both the UK Open and the Dutch Open.

Cristian says: “Saying yes to Strictly was an easy decision. Dance has always been my way of expressing myself, and I’m so excited to begin this new chapter. I’m ready to give my all, enjoy every moment of this amazing journey, and embrace everything it has to offer. Strictly is where passion, hard work and entertainment come together, so being part of it is a real privilege.”

Lethabo Monametsi is an undefeated South African Latin Champion who first fell in love with dance after watching the South African version of Strictly Come Dancing. No stranger to television, she won the TV dance competition Dance Yo Dumo as a member of Urban Wave and has since performed as a dancer on The Masked Singer SA.

Lethabo has also shared the stage with global icons including Diana Ross and Hans Zimmer, and represented South Africa at the WDC Amateur Open World Championships in Ireland. As if that all weren’t enough, Lethabo also holds a Bachelor of Arts (Law Major) Degree from the University of the Witwatersrand.

Lethabo says: "This moment is bigger than me. I step into it with profound gratitude and deep humility, knowing it is the culmination of years of unwavering love, belief, and support from the people who dared to dream alongside me. Representing South Africa on the Strictly Come Dancing stage is far more than a career milestone, it is an honour beyond words, and I cannot wait to embrace every extraordinary moment of this journey."

Maddie Ingoldsby is a UK National Ballroom Champion and eight-time Amateur 10-Dance World Champion from Bournemouth, who was previously also crowned World Rising Star and Under 21 World Ballroom Champion. As a child Maddie played Annie in the West End, and made her television debut on Strictly: It Takes Two – before going on to perform in a Pros’ group number on the main show’s Christmas special. Maddie can also be seen in the hit film Last Christmas, starring Emma Thompson and Emilia Clarke.

Maddie says: “Joining Strictly as a professional dancer is truly a dream come true. My heart is so full of gratitude, excitement, and anticipation as I begin this incredible new chapter. Dance has always been where I feel most myself, and to now share my heart, my creativity, and my love for it on a show that has inspired millions is an honour beyond words.”

Mark Karmalita is a two-time National Latin Champion in his native Canada, and a Canadian Championship winner and finalist across multiple age groups. Mark is also an Empire Dance US Latin Rising Star Champion, and was previously ranked 10th in the World at the Under 21 Latin Dance Festival in Blackpool.

Mark says: "Joining Strictly feels incredibly special, and I’m honoured to be stepping into a ballroom with so much history and heart. I can’t wait to bring my own style, connect with the audience, and enjoy every moment along the way.”

The five new dancers join Strictly’s returning Professionals: Alexis Warr, Aljaž Škorjanec, Amy Dowden, Carlos Gu, Dianne Buswell, Jowita Przystal, Julian Caillon, Kai Widdrington, Katya Jones, Lauren Oakley, Nancy Xu, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, and Vito Coppola.

Sarah James, Executive Producer, BBC Studios says: “Aleksandra, Cristian, Lethabo, Maddie and Mark are all outstanding world class dancers and we can’t wait to see them shine under the Strictly glitterball this September.”

Jo Wallace, Senior Commissioning Editor, BBC Entertainment says: “It’s so exciting to welcome the brilliantly talented Aleksandra, Cristian, Lethabo, Maddie and Mark. As if the return of Strictly wasn't shaping up to be fab-u-lous enough already, they're five more reasons why the new series is not to be missed.”

This year’s series will be the first to be presented by Strictly’s brand new presenting line-up of Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe. Celebrity contestants for 2026 are being announced across the summer.

Strictly Come Dancing is a BBC Studios Entertainment production for BBC One and BBC iPlayer, commissioned by Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment at the BBC. The executive producer is Sarah James, the series editors are Nicola Fitzgerald and Jack Gledhill. The commissioning editor for the BBC is Jo Wallace.