Strictly's Motsi Mabuse: Racism made finding a dance teacher difficult

The star and her sister, Strictly professional Oti, were born and raised in South Africa during the Apartheid era, where racial tensions were incredibly high, and black people were essentially second class citizens. Speaking to The Mirror, the dancer said: “Finding people to give us the instructions was difficult.” The sisters had to travel to school on separate buses from white children, often riot-stricken streets with torched buildings and burnt-out cars. The dresses are expensive, so my mum learned to sew, and she started a catering company to pay for the lessons and the travel abroad for competitions.” The sacrifice paid off however, and the teenage Mabuse won a national dance competition before finding fame in Europe as a professional on Let’s Dance, the German version of Strictly. Her appointment was welcomed for the most part, but former Pineapple Dance Studios star louie Spence said Mabuse was a “nobody” who was picked as a box ticking exercise. I don’t understand why they wouldn’t put Anton there - everyone loves him as a pro dancer on the show - unless it was because they wanted another woman on the panel.