Russian dance champion Polina Kulakova sets sights on ‘Strictly’ fame as she dreams of becoming global TV star
With 1.8 million Instagram followers, championship titles and a business generating millions of roubles, Polina Kulakova has her sights set on an even bigger stage – and hopes to follow in the footsteps of the Russian professionals who have become household names on television's biggest dance shows.
Polina Kulakova is determined to take her dancing career from Moscow to international television, with ambitions to appear on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing and America's Dancing with the Stars.
The World and European dance champion, 21, who opened her first dance school at just 18 and now runs three locations in Moscow, believes her combination of competitive experience, choreography skills and social media following could make her a natural fit for prime-time entertainment.
With 1.8 million Instagram followers and a business generating up to three million roubles (£27k–$37K) in monthly revenue, Kulakova is already an established name in Russia.
But she now wants to reach audiences on a much bigger scale, following a path taken by a string of Russian-born dancers who have made the transition from professional competition to international television.
Among them is current Strictly Come Dancing professional Katya Jones, 37, who was born in Russia and has become one of the BBC show's best-known dancers.
Jones won the Glitterball Trophy with actor Joe McFadden in 2017 and has remained a prominent member of the professional line-up.
The show's other Russian-born alumni also include Luba Mushtuk, 36, who left the programme in 2026 after years as a professional dancer, and Kristina Rihanoff, 49, who appeared on the BBC show between 2008 and 2015.
On the American version of the ballroom show, Russian-born Pasha Pashkov, 40, is currently among the professional dancers on Dancing with the Stars, having joined the show in 2019.
Another familiar Russian name is Gleb Savchenko, 43, who has appeared on both Strictly Come Dancing and the American series, competing in multiple seasons of the latter.
For Kulakova, their success provides an example of what can be achieved when elite ballroom experience meets mainstream television appeal.
"I would absolutely love to be on television. It is one of my biggest ambitions," she said.
"I have spent my whole life dancing, competing and performing, and I feel ready to take everything I have learned to a much bigger audience.
"I love the idea of bringing dance into people's homes and showing viewers that it is not just about competitions or professional dancers. It is about emotion, personality, entertainment and connecting with people.
"Shows like Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing with the Stars are incredible because they introduce millions of people to dance. I would love to be part of something like that, and to use them to spread my message that dance can transcend conflict and political division."
The prospect of joining a major television production would represent another significant step in a career she has largely built independently.
Kulakova has won World, European and Russian championship titles, as well as the prestigious Blackpool Dance Festival in the UK.
She also holds the Russian Master of Sport designation and was previously a member of the Russian National Dance Team.
But she insists her ambitions have never been limited to collecting trophies.
"I don't want to be known only as a competitive dancer. I want to become an international personality and show people everything that dance can offer," she said.
"I think television is a fantastic opportunity because you can show your personality, your creativity and your ability to connect with people, not just your technique.
"I would love to work with celebrities, teach them to dance and help them discover something they never knew they were capable of."
Her business experience could also prove invaluable in the entertainment industry.
Having launched her first dance school at 18, she has developed an operation across three Moscow locations while building a substantial online following.
She says her school generates between 2.5 million and three million roubles in monthly revenue, in addition to income from private lessons, social media collaborations and advertising partnerships.
Her private tuition costs 15,000 roubles an hour.
Unlike many performers who rely on management companies or established entertainment connections, Kulakova says she has developed her career without the backing of influential producers.
"I have built my entire career independently, without producers or influential people supporting my success," she said.
"Today, I've built my own dance business, created a personal brand, and reached millions of people through social media. I've shown that a dancer can also be an entrepreneur, a creator, and an international personality."
Her interest in television also reflects a wider ambition to change how the public perceives professional dancers.
She believes the traditional image of a dancer as someone whose career revolves exclusively around competitions and performances is outdated, arguing the profession can offer opportunities in business, entertainment, fashion and digital media.
"I think dancers have so much more to offer than people sometimes realise," she said.
"I want to show that you can be an athlete, an artist, a businesswoman and a television personality. You don't have to choose just one identity.
"I want to inspire the next generation of dancers to think bigger and realise that their possibilities are not limited."
Her journey has not been without difficult periods.
Kulakova previously decided to step away from competitive dancing, describing the decision as one of the most challenging moments of her life.
It came after she became disillusioned with the brutality of the dance world and its relentless focus on maintaining physical perfection.
"There was a period when I decided to step away from competitive dancing," she said.
"It was an incredibly difficult decision because dance had been such a huge part of my identity.
"For a while, I didn't know what my future would look like without competitions."
But she eventually realised that she did not want to abandon dancing itself, only the competitive structure that had defined much of her early career.
"I realised that I didn't want to quit dancing itself. I just wanted to experience it differently," she said.
"That decision completely changed my life. I started building my own projects, developing my social media presence, and eventually opening my dance school.
"What initially felt like an ending became the beginning of something much bigger."
Her international ambitions are developing against the backdrop of Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine, which has complicated the participation of Russian performers and athletes in international events.
Kulakova has said she prefers to remain politically neutral, arguing people should not be judged simply because of their nationality.
"I believe that human life, peace, and mutual respect should always come first," she said.
"As an artist and professional dancer, I have spent much of my life connecting with people from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds.
"Dance has always been an international language for me. It brings people together regardless of nationality, religion, or political views."
She added: "I do not believe that individuals should be judged solely based on their nationality or where they were born."
The dancer says her ambitions extend beyond securing a television appearance.
She wants to develop international projects, work with major entertainment brands and establish a recognisable presence in the UK, US and Europe.
Her existing Instagram audience provides a platform for that expansion, with approximately 11 per cent of her followers based in the United States and nine per cent in Italy, according to figures she supplied.
Britain is particularly important to her because of her competitive career and success at the Blackpool Dance Festival.
"I would love to build a much stronger connection with the UK and the American entertainment industry," she said.
"I think there are so many opportunities for dancers in television, and I would love to bring my own style and personality to an international audience.
"My dream is to work on major television projects, collaborate with famous people and create performances that millions of people can enjoy."
Away from the competition floor, Kulakova also wants to encourage people who might never have considered themselves dancers to take their first steps.
She regularly teaches adults who have no previous experience, believing confidence and consistency matter more than natural ability.
"I believe that discipline, patience, and hard work can make almost anything possible," she said.
"As a teacher, I have helped many adults learn to dance from scratch and achieve results they never thought were possible."
She added: "My biggest message is that it is never too late to start dancing, and you do not need natural talent to achieve something extraordinary. Consistency, dedication, and belief in yourself matter much more."
Ultimately, Kulakova wants to become a name recognised far beyond the professional ballroom world.
"My biggest ambition is to become one of the most recognised dancers in the world," she said.
"I want to expand my presence in international media, grow my dance schools, launch global online dance projects, and inspire millions of people to dance.
"When people think of dance, I want them to think of Polina Kulakova. I want the whole world to dance with me."
