Nikita Kuzmin
Ukrainian dancer and choreographer
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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.[1] In 2024 he was the runner-up on the 23rd series of Celebrity Big Brother.
Nikita Kuzmin | |
|---|---|
Нікіта Кузьмін | |
Kuzmin in 2023 | |
| Born | 23 December 1997 Kyiv, Ukraine |
| Occupations | Dancer Choreographer Presenter |
| Known for | Let's Dance Strictly Come Dancing Celebrity Big Brother |
| Height | 5'11 |
| Relatives | Anastasia Kuzmina (sister) |
Early life
Kuzmin was born on 23 December 1997 in Kyiv, Ukraine.[2] His family moved to Italy when Kuzmin was nine. At 13 years of age he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.[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
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.[5] They were the second couple to be eliminated.[6] Kuzmin did not return for the 14th season.[7]
| Season | Partner | Place |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Sabrina Setlur | 13th |
Season 13
Celebrity partner: Sabrina Setlur
| Week | Dance | Music | Judges' scores[a] | Total score | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LS | Group Tango | "Hey Sexy Lady" | 5 | 5 | 5 | 15 | No Elimination |
| 1 | Viennese Waltz | "Dangerous Woman" | 4 | 4 | 1 | 9 | Bottom two |
| 2 | Cha-Cha-Cha | "On the Floor" | 5 | 5 | 2 | 12 | Eliminated |
- Notes
- Individual judges' scores are listed in the following order: Jorge González, Motsi Mabuse, Joachim Llambi.
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.[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. 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.[13][14] In 2026, he was paired with Dyer again the following series.
| Series | Partner | Place | Average score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | Tilly Ramsay | 6th | 31.5 |
| 20 | Ellie Simmonds | 10th | 29.2 |
| 21 | Layton Williams | 2nd | 36.8 |
| 22 | Sam Quek | 10th | 27.0 |
| 23 | Amber Davies | 2nd | 36.2 |
| 24 | Dani Dyer | 22.0 |
| Dance | Partner | Highest | Partner | Lowest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Smooth | Amber Davies | 35 | Sam Quek | 29 |
| Argentine Tango | Layton Williams | 40 | Amber Davies | 33 |
| Cha-cha-cha | 37 | Ellie Simmonds | 26 | |
| Charleston | Layton Williams Amber Davies |
40 | Sam Quek | 22 |
| Couple's Choice | Tilly Ramsay Amber Davies |
Layton Williams | 39 | |
| Foxtrot | Tilly Ramsay | 36 | Sam Quek | 23 |
| Instant Dance | Amber Davies | 4 | ||
| Jive | 40 | Tilly Ramsay | 27 | |
| Paso Doble | Layton Williams | Sam Quek Ellie Simmonds |
30 | |
| Quickstep | Sam Quek | 26 | ||
| Rumba | 36 | |||
| Salsa | 39 | Ellie Simmonds | 30 | |
| Samba | Tilly Ramsay | 30 | Dani Dyer | 22 |
| Showdance | Layton Williams Amber Davies |
39 | ||
| Tango | Amber Davies | 37 | Tilly Ramsay | 31 |
| Viennese Waltz | 35 | Layton Williams | 28 | |
| Waltz | Ellie Simmonds | 30 | Tilly Ramsay | 21 |
Color key:
- Green number indicates when Nikita and his partner were at the top of the leaderboard.
- Red 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[a] | Total score | Result | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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[b] | 10 | 10 | 10 | 40 | Safe |
| 10 | Samba | "Levitating" | 7 | 7[c] | 8 | 8 | 30 | Eliminated |
- Notes
- Individual judges' scores are listed in the following order: Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke.
- Cynthia Erivo filled in for Craig Revel Horwood in Week 9.
- Cynthia Erivo also filled in for Motsi Mabuse in Week 10.
Series 20
Celebrity partner: Ellie Simmonds
| Week | Dance | Music | Judges' scores[a] | Total score | Result | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
- Notes
- Individual judges' scores are listed in the following order: Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke.
Series 21
Celebrity partner: Layton Williams
| Week | Dance | Music | Judges' scores[a] | Total score | Result | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Samba | "Touch" | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 29 | 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 Charleston |
"Lift Me Up" "Fit as a Fiddle" |
9 10 |
9 10 |
9 10 |
9 10 |
36 40 |
Safe |
| 13 | Quickstep Showdance Argentine tango |
"Puttin' On The Ritz" "Friend Like Me" "Tattoo" |
10 9 10 |
10 10 10 |
10 10 10 |
10 10 10 |
40 39 40 |
Runner-up |
- Notes
- Individual judges' scores are listed in the following order: Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke.
Series 22
Celebrity partner: Sam Quek
| Week | Dance | Music | Judges' scores[a] | Total score | Result | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Foxtrot | "Where Did Our Love Go" | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 23 | No Elimination |
| 2 | Charleston | "The Charleston" | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 22 | Safe |
| 3 | Paso Doble | "Elevation (Tomb Raider Mix)" | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 30 | Safe |
| 4 | Samba | "Hips Don't Lie" | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 | Safe |
| 5 | Quickstep | "Unwritten" | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 26 | Safe |
| 6 | Jive | "Time Warp" | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 31 | Safe |
| 7 | American Smooth | "Love Story" | 6 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 29 | Eliminated |
- Notes
- Individual judges' scores are listed in the following order: Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke.
Series 23
Celebrity partner: Amber Davies
| Week | Dance | Music | Judges' scores[a] | Total score | Result | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waltz | "When We Were Young" | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 27 | No Elimination |
| 2 | Samba | "Bam Bam" | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 29 | Safe |
| 3 | American Smooth | "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 35 | Safe |
| 4 | Argentine tango | "Angel of My Dreams" | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 33 | Safe |
| 5 | Cha-cha-cha | "Break Free" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 33 | Bottom two |
| 6 | Viennese waltz | "I See Red" | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 35 | Safe |
| 7 | Salsa | "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 38 | Safe[15] |
| 8 | Paso doble | "Dream On" | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 38 | Safe[1] |
| 9 | Quickstep | "Reach" | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 36 | No Elimination |
| 10 | Jive | "Proud Mary" | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 40[16] | Safe |
| 11 | Charleston | "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat" | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 40 | Bottom two |
| 12 | Tango Couple's choice |
"Higher" "Fly Me to the Moon" |
9 10 |
10 10 |
9 10 |
9 10 |
37 40 |
Bottom two |
| 13 | Paso doble Showdance Jive |
"Dream On" "Rain on Me" "Proud Mary" |
9 9 10 |
10 10 10 |
10 10 10 |
10 10 10 |
39 39 40 |
Runner-up |
- Notes
- Individual judges' scores are listed in the following order: Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke.
Christmas Specials
Celebrity partners: Tamzin Outhwaite (2024)
| Year | Dance | Music | Judges' scores[a] | Total score | Result | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Viennese Waltz | "Hallelujah" | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 37 | Participant |
- Notes
- Individual judges' scores are listed in the following order: Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke.
Other work
In March 2024 Kuzmin entered the Celebrity Big Brother house as a housemate on the 23rd series.[17] He finished the series in second place behind David Potts of Ibiza Weekender fame.[18]
In September 2024 Kuzmin announced he would appear with Jowita Przystał at "Dancing with the Stars Weekends" 2025.[19]
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.[20] They were later reunited.[21]
In October 2023, Kuzmin was reported to be dating a model called Lauren Jaine.[22]
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.[23]
Filmography
Television
| Year | Title | Channel | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Let's Dance | RTL | Professional dancer (Season 13) |
| 2021–present | Strictly Come Dancing | BBC One | Professional dancer (Seasons 19-24) |
| 2024 | The Weakest Link | BBC One | Contestant; 1 episode.[24] |
| Celebrity Big Brother | ITV1 | Runner-up; series 23 | |
| 2025 | Celebrity Mastermind | BBC Two | Contestant; 1 episode.[25] |
Stage
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2022–present | Strictly Come Dancing Live! | Professional dancer |
| 2025 | Nikita Kuzmin: Midnight Dancer | Himself |
| 2026 | Burn the Floor: Supernova | Himself |