Luba Mushtuk has been seen heading to her new job just days after her departure from Strictly Come Dancing was announced. The 36-year-old professional dancer, who had been part of the BBC show since 2018, was photographed arriving at a dance class in central London, looking upbeat despite the news.
The images, taken over the weekend, mark the first time the dancer has been seen in public since she broke her silence on Instagram. In her post, Mushtuk said the time had come for her to “step away” from the programme, adding: “I am deeply grateful for the past 10 years on this beautiful show.” She also expressed excitement for the future and noted she would be taking part in the Pro Tour “one last time.”
Mushtuk was dressed in rehearsal wear and blew a kiss to the camera, appearing confident and cheerful. She was among four professionals axed from the line-up, including Karen Hauer, Michelle Tsiakkas and Nadiya Bychkova, as part of a move to bring in “fresh faces.”
In a statement, the BBC praised Mushtuk’s dedication, saying: “We are incredibly grateful for her dedication to the programme… Luba has been, and always will be, a much-loved member of the Strictly family.” Fellow dancers including Amy Dowden and Johannes Radebe shared supportive messages on her Instagram post.
Meanwhile, it has been reported that Nadiya Bychkova, who was also axed, has been offered a choreography role on the show. The identity of new presenters following the exit of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman has not yet been announced.
