Debashine Thangevelo
IT’S always a proud moment when a South African makes waves globally. This time, it is 24-year-old Oti Mabuse in the spotlight – she has joined the UK’s multi-award winning series, Strictly Come Dancing.
The eight-time Latin American champion is partnered with Olympic medallist and professional boxer, Anthony Ogogo.
Interestingly, her siblings have also been involved with the show, albeit in different countries.
She explains: “I have two sisters. My one sister, Phemelo Mabuse, was a dancer in the second season of South Africa’s Strictly Come Dancing. My other sister was in Let’s Dance, which is the German version, as a dancer. Now she is a judge on the show. We are all BBC girls, in a way!”
Though Mabuse studied civil engineering, dancing was always the cornerstone in her life.
The talented performer reveals: “I started dancing long before I started studying. I always had a passion for dancing. It started with my mother, who had her own dance school.”
Not long after she moved to Germany, three- and-a-half-years ago, she was snatched up by Let’s Dance. While she was with the series, she was scouted for the UK’s current season.
Mabuse shares: “There’s usually a representative from BBC Worldwide, who goes all over the world to check the standard of all Strictly Come Dancing shows. I was dancing in Let’s Dance and there was a representative there. We later bumped into each other and started chatting, which is how I found out who he was. A few weeks later, I got an e-mail from Strictly Come Dancing asking for my CV and some dance videos.
“There was a really long process from that. I had to do some interviews, but they came to Germany as I was still competing in the show. They wanted to see how I was in front of the camera and to see my choreography. After a month, I got a call to say I made the cut.”
As for being partnered with Ogogo, she notes: “He was a lot of fun (laughs). He is a boxer and young. The only thing is that he had a dislocated shoulder while we were on the show so he couldn’t use his arm. Even before we started training, he was in a sling. There were parts where I had to put on his shoes or T-shirt to help him. But I think he made up for it in just how dedicated he was and how hard he wanted to learn. We had a good few months and laughed a lot.”
On making such big strides before turning 25, she offers: “You don’t feel it. I live in the now. I’m honoured and really, really happy. I don’t think I would have got this opportunity anywhere else. It’s an unbelievable feeling.”
And her focus is always on delivering the best she can on the show.
Away from the cameras, her schedule is busy with gym, practice and final runs, and tutoring with her husband, who is also her professional dance partner.
While she is making waves internationally, she does make time to visit her folks and family in South Africa.
She adds: “We were in South Africa recently. I was there with my whole family for the first time. OMG, I missed the food. I miss pap, braaing, Romany Creams, Fritos… everything. The food, from the chicken, the beef, the stews, the chakalaka, mogodu… I always come back looking like Father Christmas. By the way, I made chakalaka in one of the episodes of Strictly Come Dancing.”
Some of the other celebrities in this season include TV chef Ainsley Harriott, singer Daniel O’Donnell, Coronation Street actress Georgia May Foote, Call the Midwife star Helen George, singer and TV presenter Jamelia, pop star Jay McGuiness (The Wanted), EastEnders actress Kellie Bright and singer and presenter, Peter Andre.
The competition is going to be stiff but, given Mabuse’s confidence, I’m sure she will own that dance floor and do us proud.
Strictly Come Dancing, BBC Lifestyle (DStv channel 174), Sundays at 6pm.