BBC Strictly star says 'I have another purpose' as she issues career update
Strictly Come Dancing star Oti Mabuse is launching a brand new live stage tour after becoming a first-time mum. Oti, who is now a judge on ITV's Dancing On Ice, is still a choreographer for the BBC dance show but is no longer one of the professional dancers.
But now she's branching out with her own live stage show and she's taking both her baby daughter and husband on the road with her.
Oti - whose sister Motsi is now a judge on Strictly Come Dancing - gave birth two months early at the end of last year and the little one had to spend six weeks in intensive care. After she was born, medics discovered the infant had jaundice, picked up from Oti after she developed sepsis during pregnancy.
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But luckily she made a full recovery and now Oti is looking forward to taking her and her professional dancer husband Marius Lepure on the road when she launches her Viva Carnival tour next year. Opening in Sheffield on June 12, it will be a celebration of carnivals across the world and cover everything from the Sambas of Brazil to the Tangos of Argentina.
Oti appeared on The One Show on Thursday when she spoke about the tour. Co-host Alex Jones 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?" asked Alex.
"It does and I think now I have another purpose in life - I'm doing it for her," smiled Oti, who said the little one loves watching her parents dancing. Oti joked: "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 pupose has completely changed now."
Alex was keen to talk about the outfits for the tour saying with carnivals come "brilliant costumes".
Oti said: "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 weeknights at 7pm and on BBC iPlayer