Strictly Come Dancing has confirmed five new professional dancers will join the line-up when the BBC series returns in September. The newcomers – Aleksandra Isaeva, Cristian Priori, Lethabo Monametsi, Maddie Ingoldsby and Mark Karmalita – come from the UK, Canada, Italy, South Africa and Ukraine.
Aleksandra Isaeva, who grew up in Ukraine and now lives in Italy, is a multiple Ukrainian National Latin Champion and ranked in the world's top 21 Latin dancers. Her partner Cristian Priori, a four-time Italian Latin Champion, was ranked among the world's top 24 Latin dancers for eight consecutive years.
South African Lethabo Monametsi is an undefeated Latin champion and previously won TV dance competition Dance Yo Dumo. She has performed with Diana Ross and Hans Zimmer. Maddie Ingoldsby from Bournemouth is a UK National Ballroom Champion and eight-time Amateur 10-Dance World Champion, who appeared as a child in the West End production of Annie.
Canada's Mark Karmalita is a two-time National Latin Champion and Empire Dance US Latin Rising Star Champion. All five will join Strictly's professional roster for the upcoming series.
