BBC One has appointed five new professional dancers for the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing. The new recruits include Aleksandra Isaeva, Cristian Priori, and Lethabo Monametsi. The series is scheduled to return to the network in September, airing on Saturday and Sunday nights.
Aleksandra Isaeva is a former Ukrainian National Latin Champion who currently resides in Italy. She is ranked within the top 21 Latin dancers globally and has placed in the top 10 at the European Latin Championships in Blackpool and the Dutch Open World Latin Dance Competition. She was also a finalist in the Latin Rising Star category at the UK Dance Festival.
Cristian Priori joins the cast as a four-time Italian Latin Champion. He maintained a world ranking in the top 24 Latin dancers for eight consecutive years. His competitive record includes a Rising Star Latin Finalist appearance at the Blackpool Dance Festival and a semi-final position at the Open World Latin championships. Born in Rome, he previously held the title of Junior Italian 10-Dance Champion.
Lethabo Monametsi is an undefeated South African Latin Champion. Her television credits include a win on the dance competition Dance Yo Dumo as a member of Urban Wave and appearances as a dancer on The Masked Singer SA. She has performed with Diana Ross and Hans Zimmer and represented South Africa at the WDC Amateur Open World Championships in Ireland. Monametsi holds a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Law.
The BBC has released introductory footage of the new professionals across its official Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube channels. The program remains a staple of the network's autumn weekend schedule.