Nikita Kuzmin
Nikita Kuzmin | |
---|---|
Нікіта Кузьмін | |
![]() Kuzmin in 2023 | |
Born | Kyiv, Ukraine | 23 December 1997
Occupation(s) | Dancer Choreographer Presenter |
Known for | Let's Dance Strictly Come Dancing Celebrity Big Brother |
Height | 5 ft 11 in (180cm) |
Relatives | Anastasia Kuzmina (sister) |
Nikita Kuzmin (Ukrainian: Нікіта Кузьмін; born 23 December 1997) is a Ukrainian-Italian 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.[1] In 2024, he was the runner-up on the twenty-third series of Celebrity Big Brother.
Early life
[edit]Kuzmin was born on 23 December 1997 in Kyiv, Ukraine.[2] His family moved to Italy when Kuzmin was nine.[3] 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.[4]
Career
[edit]Let's Dance
[edit]Season | Partner | Place |
---|---|---|
13 | Sabrina Setlur | 13th |
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.[5] They were the second couple to be eliminated.[6] Kuzmin did not return for the 14th season.[7]
Week # | Dance/Song | Judges' score | Result | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gonzalez | Mabuse | Llambi | |||
LS | Group Tango / "Hey Sexy Lady" | 5 | 5 | 5 | No Elimination |
1 | Viennese Waltz / "Dangerous Woman" | 4 | 4 | 1 | Bottom two |
2 | Cha-Cha-Cha / "On the Floor" | 5 | 5 | 2 | Eliminated |
Strictly Come Dancing
[edit]On 26 July 2021, Kuzmin was announced as one of four new professional dancers joining the nineteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing.[8][9] 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."[10] Kuzmin has also previously worked for judge Motsi Mabuse's dance company in Germany.[11] In his first season, Kuzmin was paired with Tilly Ramsay; they were eliminated from the competition in week 10.[12] 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.
Series | Partner | Place |
---|---|---|
19 | Tilly Ramsay | 6th |
20 | Ellie Simmonds | 10th |
21 | Layton Williams | 2nd |
Highest and lowest scoring per dance
Dance | Partner | Highest | Partner | Lowest |
---|---|---|---|---|
American Smooth | Layton Williams | 34 | ||
Argentine Tango | Layton Williams | 40 | Layton Williams | 39 |
Cha-cha-cha | Layton Williams | 37 | Ellie Simmonds | 26 |
Charleston | Layton Williams | 40 | Ellie Simmonds | 33 |
Couple's Choice | Tilly Ramsay | 40 | Layton Williams | 39 |
Foxtrot | Tilly Ramsay | 36 | Ellie Simmonds | 29 |
Jive | Layton Williams | 36 | Tilly Ramsay | 27 |
Paso Doble | Layton Williams | 40 | Ellie Simmonds | 30 |
Quickstep | Layton Williams | 40 | Ellie Simmonds | 27 |
Rumba | Layton Williams | 37 | ||
Salsa | Layton Williams | 39 | Ellie Simmonds | 30 |
Samba | Tilly Ramsay | 30 | Layton Williams | 28 |
Showdance | Layton Williams | 39 | ||
Tango | Layton Williams | 36 | Tilly Ramsay | 31 |
Viennese Waltz | Layton Williams | 28 | ||
Waltz | Ellie Simmonds | 30 | Tilly Ramsay | 21 |
Performances with Tilly Ramsay
[edit]Week # | Dance / Song | Judges' score | Result | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Revel Horwood | Mabuse | Ballas | Du Beke | Total | |||
1 | Waltz / "Consequences" | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 21 | No Elimination |
2 | Charleston" / "Yes Sir, That's My Baby" | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 34 | Safe |
3 | Jive / "The Nicest Kids in Town" | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 27 | Safe |
4 | Paso Doble / "Diablo Rojo" | 6 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 32 | Safe |
5 | Foxtrot / "Little Things" | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 36 | Safe |
6 | Cha-Cha-Cha / "Spooky Movies" | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 35 | Safe |
7 | Tango / "Kings & Queens" | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 31 | Bottom two |
8 | Quickstep / "I Won't Dance" | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 29 | Bottom two |
9 | Couple's Choice / "Revolting Children" | 10* | 10 | 10 | 10 | 40 | Safe |
10 | Samba / "Levitating" | 7 | 7* | 8 | 8 | 30 | Eliminated |
- Green number indicates when Tilly and Nikita were at the top of the leaderboard.
- Red number indicates when Tilly and Nikita were at the bottom of the leaderboard.
- Score given by guest judge Cynthia Erivo
Performances with Ellie Simmonds
[edit]Week # | Dance / Song | Judges' score | Result | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Revel Horwood | Mabuse | Ballas | Du Beke | Total | |||
1 | Cha-Cha-Cha / "Dance" | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 26 | No Elimination |
2 | Waltz / "Can't Help Falling in Love" | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 30 | Safe |
3 | Quickstep / "Peppy and George" | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 27 | Safe |
4 | Salsa / "I Love Your Smile" | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 30 | Safe |
5 | Paso Doble / "Montagues and Capulets" | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 30 | Safe |
6 | Foxtrot / "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!" | 6 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 29 | Safe |
7 | Charleston / "Too Darn Hot" | 7 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 33 | Eliminated |
Performances with Layton Williams
[edit]Week # | Dance / Song | Judges' scores | Result | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Horwood | Mabuse | Ballas | Du Beke | Total | |||
1 | Samba / "Touch" | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 | No Elimination |
2 | Quickstep / "Puttin' On The Ritz" | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 36 | Safe |
3 | Viennese waltz / "There Are Worse Things I Could Do" | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 | Safe |
4 | Cha-cha-cha / "Million Dollar Bill" | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 37 | Safe |
5 | Salsa / "Quimbara" | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 39 | Safe |
6 | Tango / "Vampire" | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 36 | Safe |
7 | Jive / "Shake Ur Body" | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 36 | Safe |
8 | Argentine tango / "Tattoo" | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 39 | Safe |
9 | Couple's Choice / "Ain't No Other Man" | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 39 | Safe |
10 | American Smooth / "It's Oh So Quiet" | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 34 | Bottom two |
11 | Paso doble / "Backstage Romance" | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 40 | No elimination |
12 | Rumba / "Lift Me Up" Charleston / "Fit as a Fiddle" |
9 10 |
10 10 |
9 10 |
9 10 |
37 40 |
Safe |
13 | Quickstep / "Puttin' On The Ritz" Showdance / "Friend Like Me" Argentine tango / "Tattoo" |
10 9 10 |
10 10 10 |
10 10 10 |
10 10 10 |
40 39 40 |
Runner-up |
- Green number indicates when Layton and Nikita were at the top of the leaderboard.
Other work
[edit]In September 2023, Kuzmin announced he was to appear with Jowita Przystał at "Dancing with the Stars Weekends" 2024.[13]
In March 2024, Kuzmin entered the Celebrity Big Brother house as a housemate on the twenty-third series.[14] He finished the series in second place behind David Potts of Ibiza Weekender fame.
Personal life
[edit]In March 2022, Kuzmin appeared on Lorraine to discuss his fears for his grandmother living in Ukraine following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[15] They were later reunited.[16]
In October 2023, Kuzmin was reported to be dating Lauren Jaine, a model signed to First Model Management.[17][18]
Kuzmin is multi-lingual: fluent in five languages, including English and Russian.[citation needed] 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.[19]
Filmography
[edit]Television
[edit]Year | Title | Channel | Role |
---|---|---|---|
2020 | Let's Dance | RTL | Professional dancer (Season 13) |
2021–present | Strictly Come Dancing | BBC One | Professional dancer (Seasons 19–21) |
2024 | The Weakest Link | BBC One | Contestant; 1 episode.[20] |
Celebrity Big Brother | ITV1 | Runner-up; series 23 |
Stage
[edit]Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
2022–present | Strictly Come Dancing Live! | Professional dancer |
2025 | Nikita Kuzmin: Midnight Dancer | Himself |
References
[edit]- ^ Adejobi, Alicia (19 July 2021). "Strictly Come Dancing 2021: Four new professional dancers announced ahead of new series". Metro. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ "Nikita Kuzmin". WEB.DE. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ Schwab Dunn, Billie (19 July 2021). "Strictly Come Dancing 2021: Who are the new dancers?". Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ "Nikita Kuzmin ist als Profitänzer in der 13. "Let's Dance"-Staffel dabei" (in German). RTL. 22 February 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ "Nikita Kuzmin privat: Wie lebt der Let's Dance-Star abseits des Tanzparketts?" (in German). 20 July 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ "Rapperin Sabrina Setlur schwingt bei Let's Dance ihr Tanzbein" (in German). RTL. 11 March 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ "Sabrina Setlur muss nach der 2. Show das Tanzparkett verlassen" (in German). 9 March 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ Daly, Helen (31 March 2022). "Strictly Come Dancing 2021 professional dancers: Meet the confirmed line-up". Radio Times. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ Sarrubba, Stefania (8 September 2021). "Strictly Come Dancing shares new look at 2021 professional dancers and confirms start date". Digital Spy. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ "Strictly Come Dancing: Greatest Dancer winner joins professional dancer line-up". BBC News. 19 July 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ "Nikita". Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ Morris, Lauren (28 November 2021). "Who left Strictly Come Dancing? Ninth celebrity voted out revealed". Radio Times. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ "5* Weekend Break with the Stars of BBC Strictly Come Dancing". donaheys.co.uk. 7 September 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ "Celebrity Big Brother 2024 cast: Confirmed line-up".
- ^ "Lorraine Kelly in tears as Strictly star Nikita pleads for Ukraine crisis help". edinburghlive. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ "Strictly's Nikita Kuzmin Reunited With Grandmother As She Escapes Kyiv". HuffPost. 12 March 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ Saner, Emine (18 October 2023). "'It's not easy for me!': Layton Williams on Strictly, joy, glitter – and the myth of his unfair advantage". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ "Meet Strictly star Nikita Kuzmin's new girlfriend Lauren Jaine". HELLO!. 18 October 2023.
- ^ Macleod, Melanie (14 October 2023). "Strictly star Nikita Kuzmin's fears about 'career-ending' diabetes". Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ "BBC One - The Weakest Link, Series 3, Episode 11". BBC. Retrieved 17 February 2024.