Three new sensational dancers join the professional dancer line up for Strictly Come Dancing 2017

Strictly Come Dancing’s professional dancer line-up for series 15 has been unveiled and the BBC today announces three new fabulous female dancers alongside the return of viewers’ favourites.

The three new stunning professional dancers are all Champions from the Ballroom and Latin world; Dianne Buswell from Australia, Nadiya Bychkova from Ukraine and Amy Dowden from Wales. They will join Strictly Come Dancing when the award-winning entertainment series returns in September to BBC One.

Those returning to the Strictly dance floor once again are male dancers, Anton Du Beke, Brendan Cole, Kevin Clifton, Neil Jones, Pasha Kovalev, Gorka Marquez, Giovanni Pernice, AJ Pritchard and Aljaž Škorjanec; alongside female dancers Karen Clifton, Chloe Hewitt, Katya Jones, Oti Mabuse and Janette Manrara.

Dianne Buswell is an Australian Open Champion and four-time Amateur Australian Open Finalist. She has appeared on Dancing With The Stars Australia and has been part of the Burn The Floor production on Broadway since 2011. She said: “What an honour it is to be a part of Strictly Come Dancing. Words can’t describe how excited I am to take on this amazing challenge and give it my everything. See you on the dance floor!”

Nadiya Bychkova from Ukraine is a two-time World Champion and European Champion in Ballroom and Latin ‘10’ Dance. She is a multiple-time Slovenian Ballroom and Latin Champion and has taken part in the Bosnian version of Strictly. She said: “I'm extremely happy to be joining the Strictly Come Dancing family this year. One of my biggest dreams is to be part of this great show and I can't wait to get started!"

Amy Dowden is from Caerphilly, South Wales and began dancing at the age of eight. She is the current British National Champion and one of the highest-ranking Ballroom and Latin American professional dancers in the UK. Amy is also a four-time British National Finalist and in 2015, she reached the semi-final of the World Championship. She said: “Becoming a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing has made my wildest dreams come true, it does not feel real! I have always been proud of my Welsh roots and feel so honoured to be the first Welsh professional dancer on the most loved show on TV.”

The three new professional dancers will replace Joanne Clifton and Oksana Platero who are leaving the series, along with Natalie Lowe who previously announced she was not returning. Strictly thanks them for their contribution to the show and wishes them all the very best for the future.

Louise Rainbow, Executive Producer, Strictly Come Dancing said: “We’re delighted with our line-up of pros for this year’s series. They are all brilliant dancers and wonderful teachers and Strictly is so lucky to have them. I would like to thank Natalie, Joanne and Oksana for their hard work and the amazing contribution they have made to the show and wish them all well for the future.”

Joanne, the current Strictly champion, will return to the Strictly ballroom one last time. She will perform the winners’ routine with her celebrity partner Ore Oduba at the start of the new series. She said: "Being part of the Strictly experience has been one of the best things that has ever happened to me and I will miss the show so much. It’s been a tough decision but I am looking forward to facing new challenges and focusing on my musical theatre career.”

Oksana said: “I just want to say thank you to everyone involved with Strictly. Last year was my first season and I had an unforgettable time working alongside such amazing dancers and an even better time with Judge Rinder. It was an opportunity of a lifetime and I will never forget it. Thank you so much for the memories.”

At the time of her announcement, Natalie said: “This was a very difficult decision for me not to accept the invitation to appear on this season of Strictly. It is with a very heavy heart that I have arrived at this decision. I’ll be forever grateful for the amazing time, opportunities and memories Strictly has created for me. My time on the programme has been everything that I dreamed it would be and more, from the friendships I developed, the amazing dances I was able to perform in and the experiences that Strictly provided me. It truly has been an incredible and extraordinary experience.”

Karen Clifton

Originally from Venezuela, Karen moved to New York when she was eight years old. She is the United Amateur American Rhythm National Champion and Professional World Mambo Champion. In 2009, Karen appeared in the US series So You Think You Can Dance before joining the West End sensation Burn the Floor as a principal dancer. Karen reached the grand final with Mark Wright in 2014 and most recently was partnered with Will Young. Karen is married to fellow Strictly Come Dancing professional, Kevin Clifton.

Chloe Hewitt

Chloe, aged 21, is one of the youngest professional dancers ever to take part in Strictly Come Dancing. Born in Chester, Chloe was aged eight when Strictly Come Dancing first aired on TV. After watching the show, she decided to take up dancing and started going to Ballroom and Latin lessons. In 2015, Chloe and her fellow dance partner AJ Pritchard won one of the biggest championships in the world to become British Open Youth Latin Champions. That same year they also became European Youth Latin Champions. Together, they have set records by becoming the National Youth Latin Champions for three years in a row from 2012-2014 in the two biggest British competitions. Last year Chloe was partnered with Gethin Jones for the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special.

Katya Jones

World Latin Champion Katya was born in Saint-Petersburg, Russia and started dancing at the age of six where she trained in gymnastics as well as Ballroom and Latin American dancing. In 2008, Katya formed a partnership with Neil Jones and together they won the World Amateur Latin Championships and have won the title a total of three times, before turning professional in 2013. In 2015, they became the World Professional Latin Showdance Champions and are four times undefeated British National Professional Champions. Katya joined Strictly last year and was partnered with Ed Balls.

Oti Mabuse

Oti began dancing in South Africa as a young child along with her sister, who is also a professional dancer and a judge on the German version of the show. Oti moved to Germany to push herself as she was the eight-time South African Latin American Champion and wanted new challenges. She has achieved many titles in her dancing career including World European Latin semi-finalist and World Cup Championship semi-finalist. Oti joined the show in 2015 and last year she reached the final with Danny Mac.

Janette Manrara

Janette was born in Miami, Florida and joined the Strictly family in 2013. She has performed with Jennifer Lopez at the 82nd Academy Awards and she was the principal dancer in the TV series and live tour of Glee. She was also a finalist in season five of So You Think You Can Dance in the USA before joining the cast of Burn The Floor in the West End. Last year, she was partnered with Melvin Odoom and together they went on to win the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special.

Anton Du Beke

British-born Anton specialises in Ballroom dancing and has been performing since the age of 14. Anton has appeared in every series of Strictly to date, but he is still yet to lift the Glitter Ball Trophy, although he made it all the way to the final with Katie Derham in 2015. Previous partners include Ann Widdecombe, Jerry Hall, Nancy Dell’Olio and Judy Murray and last year, Anton danced with Lesley Joseph.

Brendan Cole

Kiwi Brendan specialises in all things Latin American. He began dancing at the age of six and is a former New Zealand and Asian Open Professional Champion. Brendan has appeared in every series of Strictly to date and was the first professional dancer to lift the Glitter Ball Trophy in series one with Natasha Kaplinsky. Brendan has also been a judge on the New Zealand version of Strictly and last year he was partnered with Anastacia.

Kevin Clifton

Kevin from Grimsby is a former Youth World Number One and four-time British Latin Champion. Taught by his parents from an early age - former World Champions themselves Keith and Judy Clifton - Kevin went on to win International Open titles all over the world. Kevin has also starred in the West End in Dirty Dancing and Burn The Floor. Kevin joined Strictly in 2013 and is the only professional dancer to reach four consecutive grand finals with Susanna Reid, Frankie Bridge, Kellie Bright and last year with Louise Redknapp. Kevin is married to fellow Strictly professional dancer Karen Clifton.

Gorka Marquez

Spanish Gorka began dancing at the age of 12 and represented Spain in the World Latin Championships in 2010 and reaching the semi-finals of the 2012 WDSF World Cup. In 2014, Gorka joined the global Ballroom and Latin dance phenomenon Burn The Floor as one of their leads and has toured with them all around the world. He joined Strictly last year and was partnered with Tameka Empson.

Pasha Kovalev

Siberian-born Pasha has been a professional dancer on Strictly since 2011 and has made the grand final three times and lifted the Glitter Ball Trophy in 2014 with Caroline Flack. Pasha started dancing at eight years old and his professional achievements include performing on Broadway and reaching the finals of the US version of So You Think You Can Dance. He has also starred in Burn The Floor in the West End. Last year, he was partnered with Naga Munchetty.

Giovanni Pernice

Italian Giovanni was born in Sicily and decided from a young age that he wanted to take up dance lessons. At 14 years old he moved to Bologna to concentrate on dance and be taught by some of the best teachers in the world. His greatest achievement is the day he won the Italian Championships in 2012. In his first series on Strictly, Giovanni reached the grand final with Georgia May Foote. Last year, he was partnered with Laura Whitmore.

Neil Jones

Neil is the undefeated four-time British National Champion and the three-time winner of the World Amateur Latin Championships with his wife Katya Jones. In 2015, Neil and Katya were crowned World Professional Latin Showdance Champions. Neil was born in a British Army Camp in Munster, Germany and started dancing at a local ballet school at the age of three. He concentrated mainly in Ballroom and Latin and also trained in tap, modern and ballet. He holds many titles including the UK, British, European and World Latin Champion. Last year, Neil was partnered with Hollie Webb in the Strictly Come Dancing Children In Need Special.

AJ Pritchard

AJ was born in Stoke-on-Trent and is aged 21. In 2015, AJ and his dance partner Chloe Hewitt won one of the biggest championships in the world to become British Open Youth Latin Champions. That same year they also became European Youth Latin Champions. Together they have set records by becoming the National Youth Latin Champions for three years in a row from 2012-2014 in the two biggest British competitions. Last year, AJ was partnered with Claudia Fragapane.

Aljaž Škorjanec

Born in Slovenia, Aljaž took to the dance floor at the age of five and has enjoyed success in his home country where he won 19 Slovenian championships in Ballroom and Latin. For over a decade, Aljaž represented Slovenia in the World Latin and Ballroom Championships and has appeared in Slovenia’s Dancing with the Stars. Aljaž joined Strictly in 2013 and during his first year, he lifted the Glitter Ball Trophy with Abbey Clancy. Last year, he was partnered with Daisy Lowe.

June 22, 2017 4:12am ET by BBC One  

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