Strictly Come Dancing announces Nancy Xu as new professional dancer

Professional dancer Nancy Xu is set to join the line up of Strictly Come Dancing.

The 28-year-old will take to the floor in the next series of the hit BBC contest later this year, the broadcaster confirmed today.

“We’ve got a new #Strictly pro-dancer,” a post on the show’s official Twitter account announced. “Meet Nancy Xu! Happy Birthday Nancy and welcome to the show!”

Xu said she was “thrilled and excited” to take part, adding: “I cannot wait to start this new journey with all these amazing people and share the magic together.

“Thank you so much Strictly for one of the most beautiful birthday gifts ever, thank you for making my dream come true!”

A Latin specialist, Xu was a finalist on So You Think You Can Dance in China and has also appeared in the West End show Burn The Floor.

She will join Gorka Marquez, AJ Pritchard, Kevin Clifton, Oti Mabuse, Aljaz Skorjanec, Anton du Beke, Giovanni Pernice, Dianne Buswell, Amy Dowden, Janette Manrara, Graziano Di Prima, Luba Mushtuk, Johannes Radebe, Nadiya Bychkova, Karen Hauer and Katya and Neil Jones in the new series.

The BBC are yet to confirm which dancers will be paired with celebrities and which will appear as part of the show’s ensemble. 

The announcement comes shortly after Motsi Mabuse was unveiled as the new Strictly judge following Darcey Bussell’s departure earlier this year.

Motsi, who is the sister of Strictly favourite Oti, said that she was “thrilled and overjoyed” to be joining the show.

“I have so much respect and admiration for the other three judges and hope to add my own bit of sparkle to the show,” she wrote on Instagram. “I can’t wait to get started!”

Strictly Come Dancing will return to BBC One later this year.