Strictly Come Dancing star announces career move away from TV
Strictly Come Dancing favourite Oti Mabuse discussed her latest career move when she appeared on The One Show on Thursday.
The dancer, who has a judging role on ITV's Dancing On Ice, continues to lend her choreographic talents to BBC Strictly but is no longer among the pro dancing line up. Now away from her TV work she's launching a live stage show next year and will be taking her baby girl and her husband, fellow dance pro Marius Lepure, on the road with her.
Oti is gearing up to share her passion for dance with the world through the Viva Carnival tour. Set to kick off in Sheffield on June 12, the tour promises an exhilarating homage to global carnivals, featuring everything from Brazilian Sambas to Argentine Tangos, reports WalesOnline.
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It comes after Oti, whose sister Motsi is a Strictly judge, welcomed her first child prematurely at the end of last year. Following a challenging start that included a six-week intensive care stay and treatment for jaundice, the little one has thankfully made a full recovery.
The One Show, co-host Alex Jones chatted to Oti about the tour following her baby's traumatic birth. She said: "It's amazing that you're back doing a tour like this after having a baby, that's a feat in itself but, of course, like it happens often it wasn't straight forward - you've talked about that very openly. Does it feel good to be back and finally be able to do it?"
"It does and I think now I have another purpose in life - I'm doing it for her," beamed Oti, who shared that her little one adores watching her parents dance. Oti quipped: "I'm like I wanted you to be an accountant not a dancer and she's already liking dance like this so it's nice to see I'm dancing and I'm doing it for her and the purpose has completely changed now."
Alex was eager to discuss the tour's outfits, associating carnivals with "brilliant costumes".
Oti added: "I think costumes have a power of placing you and telling you where we're going to be because the show is based on carnivals from all over the world so if we're in Brazil for a number the costumes have to say that and if we're doing the Notting Hill Carnival the costumes have to say that so for me they're really important but it's important I can dance in them!"
The One Show is on BBC One week nights at 7pm and on BBC iPlayer