Who are the Strictly Come Dancing 2022 professional dancers?

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STRICTLY Come Dancing 2022 is underway, with some new professional dancers on the show.

The celeb line-up have been showing off their dance moves with the help of the Strictly pros.

There are some new professionals

Who are the Strictly Come Dancing 2022 professional dancers?

Vito Coppola

Vito started dancing aged six

Vito is an 11-time Italia Latin American Champion and is one of the new professional dancers for Strictly Come Dancing 2022.

He began dancing at the age of six and won winning national championships when he was just 10.

The dancer is a three-time World Championship finalist and European Cup winner.

In 2021 he stopped competing to take part in and win Ballando con le Stelle, the Italian version of Strictly Come Dancing.

Vito is partnered up with Fleur East.

Carlos Gu

Carlos will join the latest series

Carlos is a Chinese National Champion.

He placed third at the German Open Championship and became Amateur Latin Rising Star Runner Up at the UK Open in 2017.

Carlos also has experience in ballroom, ballet and contemporary dance which he will bring to the Strictly dance floor.

He is paired up with CBBC star Molly Rainford on the 2022 series.

Michelle Tsaikkas

Michelle is from Cyrpus

Michelle began dancing when she was just six in Cyprus.

She then became an undefeated champion, winning national titles between 2001-2011 before moving to London to study.

After moving to the UK, Michelle represented England at international championships and then joined the world touring dance show Burn The Floor.

Lauren Oakley

Lauren is joining Strictly 2022

Lauren, from Birmingham first learned to dance when she was just two-years-old.

The star has won Latin and Ballroom competitions throughout her career.

She has toured across the globe and most recently has been touring with Giovanni Pernice and Anton Du Beke.

Amy Dowden

Amy Dowden made her Strictly debut in 2017Amy Dowden first competed on Strictly in 2017

Amy made her Strictly debut in 2017 with celeb partner Brian Conley, but the pair were eliminated in week four.

However, she came back for the 2018 series and achieved the first 10 of the series with her partner Danny-John Jules.

In 2019, Amy set a personal record, making it to the final with celeb partner Karim Zeroual.

Last year she partnered up with Tom Fletcher.

This year she is dancing alongside EastEnders actor James Bye.

Dianne Buswell

Dianne Buswell made her debut on Strictly in 2017Dianne Buswell made her debut on Strictly in 2017

Dianne made her debut on Strictly in 2017, when she was partnered with Reverend Richard Coles. The two were sent home in week three.

However, things took a turn for the better when Dianne was partnered in 2018 with Joe Sugg – as the pair are now a real-life couple.

She partnered Max George in 2020.

Dianne has also starred on So You Think You Can Dance Australia and Dancing With The Stars Australia.

In 2021, she partnered up with Robert Webb but early on in the series, Robert had to pull out due to health reasons.

She is now partnered up with Tyler West.

Giovanni Pernice

Giovanni Pernice has managed to get to the final three timesGiovanni Pernice has managed to get to the final three times

Despite only joining the show five years ago, Giovanni has managed to get to the final three times!

He finished second with Georgia May Foote in 2015, before he repeated the feat with Debbie McGee in 2017.

In 2018 he was paired with Faye Tozer and made it to the final again.

Ranvir Singh was his celeb partner in 2020 and they made it to the semi-finals.

Giovanni went on to win 2021’s series with Rose Ayling-Ellis, the show’s first deaf contestant.

He was partnered up with Richie Anderson before they left the show.

Gorka Marquez

Gorka Marquez joined Strictly back in 2016Gorka reached the final with EastEnders star Maisie Smith in 2020

Gorka joined Strictly back in 2016. A year later, the pro dancer made it to the final with partner Alexandra Burke.

In 2018, Gorka was paired with TV presenter and charity campaigner Katie Piper, but the duo were sent home in week four.

In 2019, Gorka wasn’t partnered up with a celeb – but in 2020 he was paired with EastEnders actress Maisie Smith and the pair made it to the final and finished runners-up.

Gorka’s celebrity partner for last year’s series was Katie McGlynn but they were sent home after four weeks.

He is dancing with Helen Skelton in the latest series.

Graziano Di Prima

Graziano Di Prima joined the Strictly crew in 2018Graziano Di Prima joined the Strictly crew in 2018

Graziano joined the Strictly pros in 2018.

He made his debut with DJ Vick Hope, but left the competition in the fifth week.

Graziano is an Italian Latin Champion and has represented Belgium at the World Championships.

Graziano exited the 2021 competition after he and Judi Love lost out in the dance-off to Adam Peaty and Katya Jones.

He is partnered up with Kym Marsh in the 2022 season.

Johannes Radebe 

Johannes Radebe got his first celebrity pairing last yearJohannes Radebe got his first celebrity pairing in 2020

Johannes got his first celebrity pairing in 2019 with Coronation Street star Catherine Tyldesley.

The pair got knocked out in the Halloween episode.

He got his second shot at the Glitterball Trophy in 2020 with Caroline Quentin but the pair made an early exit.

Johannes is a two-time Professional South African Latin Champion and three-time South African Amateur Latin Champion.

He is now in a pair with Ellie Taylor.

Karen Hauer

Karen Hauer is Strictly's longest serving female pro dancerKaren Hauer is Strictly’s longest serving female pro dancer

Karen is Strictly’s longest serving female pro dancer, first hitting the dance floor in 2012.

In her third Strictly series, Karen was paired with Essex boy Mark Wright and made it to the final.

In 2019, she made it to the semi finals with comedian Chris Ramsey.

Jamie Laing was her 2020 partner and the pair made it all the way to the final.

In 2021, Karen was paired with Greg Wise before they were voted off.

Karen is now in a same-sex couple on Strictly with Jayde Adams.

Katya Jones

Katya Jones won the Glitterball prize in 2017Katya Jones won the Glitterball prize in 2017

Katya claimed the Glitterball prize in 2017 along with Holby City actor Joe McFadden.

The Russian pro was previously married to Strictly professional Neil Jones.

But she became widely known after THAT kiss with 2018 dance partner Seann Walsh.

In 2019, Katya made it to week eight with Mike Bushell, but she was forced to pull out of the 2020 series after testing positive for coronavirus.

She had made history by being part of the show’s first same-sex pairing with Nicola Adams.

Katya was paired with Adam Peaty in 2021.

The two sparked controversy when they produced a sizzling Argentine Tango  that had some viewers convinced the Olympic swimmer came close to smooching his pro partner.

Katya is now dancing with football legend Tony Adams.

Luba Mushtuk

Last year was Luba Mushtuk's first celebrity pairing2019 marked the year of Luba Mushtuk’s first celebrity pairing

Luba officially joined Strictly in 2018.

In 2019, she had her first celebrity pairing, with Olympic rowing champion James Cracknell.

However, the pair only made it to week two.

She remained as a pro backing dancer in 2020 despite not being paired with a celeb.

Nadiya Bychkova

Last year, Nadiya and David James made it to week fiveNadiya and David James made it to week five in 2019

Nadiya also made her debut in 2017 and made it to week 11 with EastEnders star Davood Ghadami.

She exited the show in week three in 2018 with partner Lee Ryan.

In 2019, Nadiya and celeb partner David James made it to week five, but she failed to bag a celeb in 2020.

In 2021 Nadiya was paired with BBC Breakfast host Dan Walker.

Nadiya and Matt Goss are partnered up.

Neil Jones

Neil Jones has been a Strictly dancer since 2016Neil Jones was paired with Alex Scott in 2019

Neil Jones has been a Strictly dancer since 2016.

However, Neil only got his first celeb partner in 2019 with ex-footballer Alex Scott.

After going without a celeb partner in 2020, Neil failed to find success in the 2021 series – as his dance partner Nina Wadia were eliminated in week two.

Nancy Xu

Nancy Xu is Strictly's newest arrivalNancy Xu is joined in 2019 and is yet to have a celeb partner

Nancy  joined Strictly in 2019.

However, 2021 was the first year she got a celebrity partner.

Nancy has been a finalist on So You Think You Can Dance in China and starred in West End and Broadway show Burn The Floor.

Nancy is dancing alongside actor Will Mellor.

Jowita Przystal


Greatest Dancer champ Jowita Przystal joined the Strictly team in 2021

Jowita, won BBC show The Greatest Dancer in 2020 – mentored by Oti Mabuse – and bagged the prize of performing on Strictly Come Dancing.

She said: “This is my biggest dream come true. No words can describe how I feel right now.

“I’m still pinching myself to check if this is real but I am beyond excited to be joining the Strictly Come Dancing family and I can’t wait to give all of my heart and soul on that dance floor!”

Jowita and cameraman Hamza Yassin are partnered up on the latest series.

Kai Widdrington


Kai Widdrington got to the final of Britain’s Got Talent as a child

Kai, danced on Britain’s Got Talent when he was 16 in 2012, making it to the final.

He’s been a professional dancer on Strictly’s Irish spin-off since 2018.

He said going on the show was his “childhood dream come true”.

He added: “Watching Strictly from the very first series as a young boy from Southampton and now 18 years later, to be a professional dancer on the show is the most amazing feeling and the biggest accomplishment of my career.

“I can’t wait to step on to the Strictly floor and experience the exciting times that lie ahead.”

Kai was partnered with Kaye Adams before they got voted off.

Nikita Kuzmin


Nikita Kuzmin was a pro on Germany’s version of Strictly Come Dancing

Ukranian-born Nikita, was a pro dancer on Let’s Dance, Germany’s version of Strictly Come Dancing.

He said: “I’ve always been amazed by the magic Strictly Come Dancing brings.

“No matter what country I have found myself living in, I’ve never missed a chance to watch it.”

Nikita and Ellie Simmonds are testing out their dancing skill together.

Cameron Lombard


Cameron Lombard represented his native South Africa on the dancefloor

Cameron, a finalist on South Africa’s Got Talent, said: “Thank you Strictly Come Dancing for this life changing opportunity.

“Not only is this a dream come true but a challenge I am accepting with both hands. 

“I am excited beyond imagination and looking forward to leaving my mark on the dance floor!”

Cameron was expelled from his school as a teenager but said he has “learned” from it adding: “I’m a dancer, I’m not a fighter.”