Strictly Come Dancing: Four new pro dancers join the show

Strictly Jowita Przysta crop — Strictly welcomes four new pros including Jowita Przysta. (BBC) (BBC)

Strictly Come Dancing has announced an exciting new line-up of professional dancers joining the cast for the 2021 series.

The BBC One celebrity dance contest had previously shared that none of the pro dancer stars from the last series would be leaving this time, although Anton Du Beke is moving over to the judges' desk in place of Bruno Tonioli.

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So far, it's unclear who will be getting a celebrity partner to compete as a couple and who will be part of the professionals performance group who dance during the live shows and at the beginning of the results show.

Strictly's new dancers hail from South Africa, Ukraine, Poland and the United Kingdom, with some serious performance credentials between them.

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Programme Name: Strictly Come Dancing 2021 - TX: n/a - Episode: Strictly Come Dancing 2021 - Pro Dancers (No. n/a) - Picture Shows: Strictly Come Dancing 2021's new professional dancer, Cameron Lombard - (C) BBC - Photographer: Jack Barnes — Cameron Lombard has promised to leave his mark on the dancefloor. (BBC/Jack Barnes) (BBC/Jack Barnes)

Joining the cast are World Junior Latin American Champion 2010 and former Dancing With The Stars Ireland professional Kai Widdrington; six-time Latin and Ballroom National Champion in Italy and former Let’s Dance Germany professional Nikita Kuzmin; reigning South African Latin Champion Cameron Lombard; and Polish Open Latin Champion 2014 and winner of BBC One’s The Greatest Dancer 2020 Jowita Przystal.

They join the professional dancers already revealed for the upcoming series Aljaž Škorjanec, Amy Dowden, Dianne Buswell, Giovanni Pernice, Gorka Marquez, Graziano Di Prima, Johannes Radebe, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Luba Mushtuk, Nadiya Bychkova, Nancy Xu, Neil Jones, and Oti Mabuse.

Programme Name: Strictly Come Dancing 2021 - TX: n/a - Episode: Strictly Come Dancing 2021 - Pro Dancers (No. n/a) - Picture Shows: Strictly Come Dancing 2021's new professional dancer, Kai Widdrington - (C) Kai Widdrington - Photographer: Unknown — Kai Widdrington says it's a childhood dream come true. (BBC) (Kai Widdrington)

Kai Widdrington said: “This is my childhood dream come true. Watching Strictly from the very first series as a young boy from Southampton and now 18 years later, to be a professional dancer on the show is the most amazing feeling and the biggest accomplishment of my career."

Another Strictly superfan Nikita Kuzmin said: “I’ve always been amazed by the magic Strictly Come Dancing brings. No matter what country I have found myself living in, I’ve never missed a chance to watch it. And joining it as a professional dancer is my big chance to make some magic on the most famous dance floor."

Cameron Lombard said: “I am excited beyond imagination and looking forward to leaving my mark on the dance floor!”

Programme Name: Strictly Come Dancing 2021 - TX: n/a - Episode: Strictly Come Dancing 2021 - Pro Dancers (No. n/a) - Picture Shows: Strictly Come Dancing 2021's new professional dancer, Nikita Kuzmin - (C) Nikita Kuzmin - Photographer: Unknown — Nikita Kuzmin can't wait to get stuck in to the magic of Strictly. (BBC) (Nikita Kuzmin)

And Jowita Przystal added: “I’m still pinching myself to check if this is real but I am beyond excited to be joining the Strictly Come Dancing family.”

Not all of the pro dancers get matched with a celebrity, but that doesn't mean they won't get a chance to feature in the live shows as in previous years dancers without a partner have been used as stand-ins for injured pros.

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