Motsi Mabuse won't be part of Strictly live tour
Motsi Mabuse won't be taking part in next year's Strictly Come Dancing live tour because she needs to be with her daughter in Germany.
Motsi Mabuse won't be taking part in next year's Strictly Come Dancing live tour.
The 44-year-old dancer - who lives in Germany with husband Evgenij Voznyuk and their six-year-old daughter - has ruled out sitting on the judging panel for the annual arena shows because she needs to prioritise her little girl but insisted it is just a one-off decision.
She told Fabulous magazine: “As a working mum, you have to make those balancing decisions.
“I have one child starting school, so I experience everything just once. It’s for the first time and the last time. I need to know that she’s fine before I can do things. Everybody [at Strictly] was very understanding. I loved doing the tour, so I’ll be back next time.
“We live once. It is about making those tough choices. Sometimes a mum has to go to work, because if you don’t, your kids will not eat. If you are lucky enough to be able to make decisions like I did, then take them.”
Every week on Strictly Come Dancing, Motsi sends her daughter a "secret sign".
She revealed: "[My daughter] watches the show and each week she will say, ‘Blow a kiss,’ or ‘Make a heart with your hands.’ She makes up little dances I’ve got to do, so she knows it’s a secret sign just for her.”
Motsi doesn't want her daughter to follow in her footsteps but will support her if she chooses to do so.
She said: “Unfortunately, she’s learning to dance.
“I do not want her to compete, but if she wants to, we will support her. She absolutely loves musicals, and she’s good at it. The dance world is a very tough education.
"Her parents are champions, so if she takes my surname or her dad’s, she’s never going to have a clean slate. She will be judged harder. One of the German champions at the moment is always described as ‘so-and-so’s son’.
“Also, you are criticised for everything – your weight, how you look – and I see those 12 year olds in the dresses with the hair and make-up, and I think, ‘No, I want to keep her young!’
“She’s doing karate and swimming, too, so she can compete in those. If you swim in a race and you are fastest, you’ve won. Dancing is so subjective.”
