Nikita Kuzmin (Ukrainian: Нікіта Кузьмін; born 23 December 1997) is a Ukrainian 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 six Italian Championship titles. In 2024 he was the runner-up on the 23rd series of Celebrity Big Brother.
Early life Kuzmin was born on 23 December 1997 in Kyiv, Ukraine. His family moved to Italy when Kuzmin was nine. At 13 years of age he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. 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.
Career Let's Dance In 2020, 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. They were the second couple to be eliminated. Kuzmin did not return for the 14th season.
SeasonPartnerPlace13Sabrina Setlur13th
Season 13 Celebrity partner: Sabrina Setlur
Week Dance Music Judges' scores Total score ResultLSGroup Tango"Hey Sexy Lady"55515No Elimination1Viennese Waltz"Dangerous Woman"4419Bottom two2Cha-Cha-Cha "On the Floor"55212 Eliminated
Notes
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. 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." Kuzmin has also previously worked for judge Motsi Mabuse's dance company in Germany. In his first season, Kuzmin was paired with Tilly Ramsay; they were eliminated from the competition in week 10. 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. In his fourth season, Kuzmin was paired with Sam Quek; they were eliminated in week 7. In his fifth season, Kuzmin was initially paired with Dani Dyer, however following the launch show, Dyer sustained a fractured ankle during rehearsal and had to withdraw from the competition. He was subsequently re-partnered with Dyer's replacement Amber Davies, prior to the first live show. In 2026, he was paired with Dyer again the following series.
SeriesPartnerPlaceAverage score19Tilly Ramsay6th31.520Ellie Simmonds10th 29.221Layton Williams2nd36.822Sam Quek10th27.023Amber Davies2nd36.224Dani Dyer22.5
DancePartnerHighestPartnerLowestAmerican Smooth Amber Davies 35 Sam Quek 29Argentine Tango Layton Williams 40 Amber Davies 33Cha-cha-cha 37 Ellie Simmonds 26CharlestonLayton WilliamsAmber Davies 40 Sam Quek 22Couple's Choice Tilly RamsayAmber DaviesLayton Williams39FoxtrotTilly Ramsay 36Sam Quek Dani Dyer 23Instant DanceAmber Davies4Jive 40 Tilly Ramsay 27Paso Doble Layton Williams Sam QuekEllie Simmonds 30QuickstepSam Quek 26Rumba 36 Salsa 39 Ellie Simmonds 30Samba Tilly Ramsay 30 Dani Dyer 22Showdance Layton WilliamsAmber Davies 39Tango Amber Davies 37 Tilly Ramsay 31Viennese Waltz 35 Layton Williams 28Waltz Ellie Simmonds 30 Tilly Ramsay 21
Color key:
number indicates when Nikita and his partner were at the top of the leaderboard. number indicates when Nikita and his partner were at the bottom of the leaderboard.
Series 19 Celebrity partner: Tilly Ramsay
Week Dance Music Judges' scores Total score Result1Waltz "Consequences"556521No Elimination 2Charleston"Yes Sir, That's My Baby" 8998Safe3Jive"The Nicest Kids in Town"677727Safe4Paso Doble "Diablo Rojo"689932Safe5Foxtrot "Little Things"999936Safe6Cha-Cha-Cha "Spooky Movies"899935Safe7Tango "Kings & Queens"887831Bottom two8Quickstep "I Won't Dance"777829Bottom two9Couple's Choice "Revolting Children"10101010Safe10Samba "Levitating"7788 Eliminated
Notes
Series 20 Celebrity partner: Ellie Simmonds
Week Dance Music Judges' scores Total score Result1Cha-Cha-Cha "Dance"677626No Elimination 2Waltz "Can't Help Falling in Love" 787830Safe3Quickstep "Peppy and George"677727Safe4Salsa "I Love Your Smile"787830Safe5Paso Doble "Montagues and Capulets"688830Safe6Foxtrot "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!"687829Safe7Charleston "Too Darn Hot"798933 Eliminated
Notes
Series 21 Celebrity partner: Layton Williams
Week Dance Music Judges' scores Total score Result1Samba "Touch"787729 2Quickstep "Puttin' On The Ritz"9999Safe3Viennese waltz "There Are Worse Things I Could Do"777 728Safe4Cha-cha-cha "Million Dollar Bill"91099Safe5Salsa "Quimbara"9101010Safe6Tango "Vampire"999936Safe7Jive "Shake Ur Body"81010836Safe8Argentine tango "Tattoo"9101010Safe9Couple's Choice "Ain't No Other Man"9101010Safe10American Smooth "It's Oh So Quiet"898934Bottom two11Paso doble "Backstage Romance"10101010No Elimination12RumbaCharleston"Lift Me Up""Fit as a Fiddle"91091091091036Safe13QuickstepShowdanceArgentine tango"Puttin' On The Ritz""Friend Like Me""Tattoo"10910101010101010101010Runner-up
Notes
Series 22 Celebrity partner: Sam Quek
Week Dance Music Judges' scores Total score Result1Foxtrot "Where Did Our Love Go"666523No Elimination2Charleston "The Charleston"466622Safe3Paso Doble "Elevation (Tomb Raider Mix)"787830Safe4Samba "Hips Don't Lie"777728Safe5Quickstep "Unwritten"676726Safe6Jive "Time Warp"788831Safe7American Smooth "Love Story"687829 Eliminated
Notes
Series 23 Celebrity partner: Amber Davies
Week Dance Music Judges' scores Total score Result1Waltz "When We Were Young"777627No Elimination2Samba "Bam Bam"877729Safe3American Smooth "Sixteen Going on Seventeen"899935Safe4Argentine tango "Angel of My Dreams"898833Safe5Cha-cha-cha "Break Free"888933Bottom two6Viennese waltz"I See Red"998935Safe7Salsa"You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)"91091038Safe8Paso doble"Dream On"910910Safe9Quickstep"Reach"999936No Elimination10Jive"Proud Mary"10101010Safe11Charleston"Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat"10101010Bottom two12TangoCouple's choice"Higher""Fly Me to the Moon"910101091091037Bottom two13Paso dobleShowdanceJive"Dream On""Rain on Me""Proud Mary"9910101010101010101010Runner-up
Notes
Christmas Specials Celebrity partners: Tamzin Outhwaite (2024)
Year Dance Music Judges' scores Total score Result2024Viennese Waltz"Hallelujah"9991037Participant
Notes
Other work In March 2024 Kuzmin entered the Celebrity Big Brother house as a housemate on the 23rd series. He finished the series in second place behind David Potts of Ibiza Weekender fame.
In September 2024 Kuzmin announced he would appear with Jowita Przystał at "Dancing with the Stars Weekends" 2025.
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. They were later reunited.
In October 2023, Kuzmin was reported to be dating a model called Lauren Jaine.
He is a Type 1 diabetic, having been diagnosed at the age of 13. His CGM sensor is often visible in his Strictly Come Dancing costumes.
Filmography Television YearTitleChannelRole2020 Let's DanceRTLProfessional dancer (Season 13)2021–presentStrictly Come DancingBBC OneProfessional dancer (Seasons 19-24) 2024 The Weakest LinkBBC OneContestant; 1 episode. Celebrity Big BrotherITV1Runner-up; series 23 2025Celebrity MastermindBBC TwoContestant; 1 episode.
Stage YearTitleRole2022–presentStrictly Come Dancing Live!Professional dancer 2025Nikita Kuzmin: Midnight DancerHimself2026Burn the Floor: SupernovaHimself
References