In a heartwarming display of camaraderie, professional dancer Luba Mushtuk has reunited with 2025 Strictly Come Dancing winner Karen Carney, just days after confirming her departure from the BBC show. The reunion occurred at Luba's dance class, where the pair shared joyful moments captured on social media.
Emotional Reunion Amidst Strictly Shake-Up
Luba Mushtuk, aged 36, publicly announced her exit from Strictly Come Dancing on Friday, joining a wave of top talent reportedly let go from the programme. The dancer, who had been a fixture on the show since 2018, expressed deep gratitude for her decade-long involvement, stating it "meant the world" to her.
Karen Carney, 38, visited Luba's dance class on Monday, posting photographs of their reunion on Instagram. The images show Karen beaming as she embraces Luba, who then lifted her off the floor in a celebratory gesture. Karen captioned the post: "Reunited @lubamushtuk back on a dancefloor and had the best time at her class."
Support from Fellow Strictly Stars
The reunion garnered immediate support from other Strictly personalities. Fellow 2025 contestant Vicky Pattison commented "Love this," while professional dancer Vito Coppola responded with a heart emoji, highlighting the close-knit nature of the Strictly community.
This reunion follows reports earlier this month that Luba, along with Nadiya Bychkova (36), Karen Hauer (43), Michelle Tsiakkas (30), and Gorka Marquez (35), had all been released from the show. Luba addressed her departure in a heartfelt Instagram statement, expressing gratitude for her ten years on the programme.
Luba's Farewell and BBC Tribute
In her statement, Luba wrote: "With a heart full of gratitude, the time has come for me to step away from Strictly Come Dancing. I am deeply grateful for the past 10 years on this beautiful show! Thank you for the amazing opportunity and the unforgettable memories. It has truly meant the world to me."
She continued, indicating her future plans: "Now it's time for me to follow my dreams beyond the show, and I'm excited for what the future holds. I can't wait to see you all on the Pro Tour and I'm really looking forward to it for one last time. With all my love, Luba."
The BBC responded with their own tribute on the Strictly Instagram account, praising Luba's "outstanding contribution" to the show. The statement highlighted her journey from joining as an assistant choreographer in 2016 to becoming a professional dancer in 2018, noting her "professionalism, creativity, and quality expertise."
A Distinguished Dancing Career
Luba Mushtuk's dance credentials are impressive. The Russian-born dancer moved to Italy at age 12 to train, eventually becoming a four-time Italian Dance Champion and Italian Open Latin Show Dance champion. Her Strictly career began with winning the 2018 Children In Need special alongside Boyzone's Shane Lynch.
She participated in four Strictly Christmas specials, partnering with Jake Wood (2018), Jay Blades (2021), Rickie Haywood-Williams (2022), and Nicholas Bailey (2025). On the main show, her celebrity partners included Olympic rower James Cracknell (2019), former NFL player Jason Bell (2020), actor Adam Thomas (2023), and TV presenter Nick Knowles (2024), with varying elimination outcomes.
The BBC's tribute concluded: "Luba has been, and always will be, a much-loved member of the Strictly family, and we wish her every success in the future." This sentiment echoes through the community, as evidenced by her emotional reunion with Karen Carney, symbolising the enduring bonds formed through the celebrated dance competition.
