motsi mabuse
From South Africa to the biggest dance shows in Germany and Britain, she has built a career through skill, courage and hard work. Her full name is Motshegetsi Mabuse. motsi mabuse is a ballroom and Latin dancer, teacher, judge, author and business owner. Dance came before television fame. Her life has taken her from South Africa to a major career in Germany and the United Kingdom.
Her work reaches audiences in more than one country. In Germany, she has spent many years on a major dance programme. In Britain, her role on a Saturday-night show introduced her to a new audience. Despite the cameras and costumes, she treats dance as a craft that needs patience, practice and strong partnerships.
Motherhood has also shaped the way she sees success. She speaks about making time for family, health and rest while keeping a busy career. This balance is an important part of her life today.
She was born on 11 April 1981 in Mankwe, South Africa. Her family moved to Pretoria when she was five. She grew up with her sisters, Oti and Phemelo, in a home where education, discipline and family mattered. Her family placed strong value on education and personal discipline.
Motsi Mabuse Early Life and Love of Dance
Dance entered her life in childhood. She came to love the music, costumes and movement, then began entering competitions while still young. Dance gave her a place where she could build confidence, learn control and express herself.
Growing up was not always easy. She has spoken honestly about racism and unfair treatment in her younger years. Dance spaces did not always welcome Black dancers, and she had to learn how to stand tall when she felt alone. These moments helped her value fairness, respect and representation.
Motsi Mabuse Education and a Brave Career Choice
Before becoming a full-time dancer, she studied law at the University of Pretoria. Her family expected her to follow a stable professional path, yet she felt drawn to dance. She chose to take a risk and build a future in the field she loved.
At the age of 18, she moved to Germany to develop her career. The move meant leaving home and adapting to a new country. Germany later became the base for her business, marriage and television work.
Motsi Mabuse Competitive Dance Success
Mabuse built her name on the competition floor before television. In 1998, she became South African runner-up. With Timo Kulczak, she won German Latin titles in 2009 and 2010. These wins showed her high level of control, skill and commitment.
Competitive dance can be demanding because every step and piece of music is judged. This experience gave her a clear understanding of both the joy and pressure felt by performers.
Motsi Mabuse on Let’s Dance and Strictly Come Dancing
Her first large television role came through Germany’s Let’s Dance. She took part as a professional dancer in 2007 and returned in 2010. The show gave German audiences a close view of her teaching, stage presence and dance knowledge.
In 2011, she moved from the dance floor to the judging panel. This role made her one of Germany’s best-known dance judges. She has also worked on other German entertainment programmes, including Das Supertalent and Stepping Out. In 2025, she joined the cast of the RTL reality game Die Verräter – Vertraue Niemandem.
Motsi Mabuse’s Strictly Come Dancing Role
In 2019, she joined the judging panel of Strictly Come Dancing in the United Kingdom. She took over from Dame Darcey Bussell and brought major competition experience to the programme.
Mabuse looks for clean steps, rhythm, confidence, partnership and emotion. She knows that a routine needs more than correct footwork. The dancers must connect with the music and help the audience feel the story.
Motsi Mabuse as a Fair and Caring Judge
Her judging style is honest without being cruel. She knows contestants are often nervous, tired and far outside their comfort zone. Her comments aim to push them forward while protecting their confidence.
She brings warmth and strong feeling to the judging panel. Her knowledge comes from years of serious training, competition and teaching. This makes her feedback both firm and encouraging.
Motsi Mabuse Husband, Daughter and Home Life
Mabuse is married to Evgenij Voznyuk, a Ukrainian professional dancer. They were dance partners before their relationship became romantic. They married in 2017 and share one daughter. The couple keep their daughter’s name and daily life private.
Before this marriage, she was married to her former dance partner, Timo Kulczak. They married in 2003 and divorced in 2014. Dance has remained a steady part of her life through these changes.
Motsi Mabuse and the Taunus Dance School
Mabuse and Voznyuk run the Motsi Mabuse Taunus Dance School in Kelkheim, Germany. The school welcomes children, teenagers and adults. Its programme includes ballroom, Latin, ballet, hip-hop, salsa and fitness classes.
The school shows her belief that dance should not belong only to champions or television stars. It can help people move, meet others, build confidence and enjoy music.
Motsi Mabuse Sister Oti and the Mabuse Family
Her younger sister, Oti Mabuse, is also a professional dancer and television personality. Oti won Strictly Come Dancing twice as a professional partner, with Kelvin Fletcher in 2019 and Bill Bailey in 2020. The sisters shared the show for three series while Motsi was a judge and Oti was a professional dancer.
Their sister Phemelo also grew up with dance as part of family life. A new television documentary, Motsi & Oti – Meet the Mabuses, is due to explore the family’s roots and story. It will also include their parents and show more of their life beyond the stage.
Motsi Mabuse Weight Loss, Health and Confidence
Mabuse has spoken about health with care and honesty. She does not treat wellbeing as a quick fix. Instead, she talks about energy, strength, food choices and caring for herself while managing work and motherhood.
She shared that she lost 14 kilograms across 104 weeks through a WeightWatchers plan. She linked the change to steady habits and self-care rather than harsh rules. She has also spoken about strength training, Pilates, swimming and other movement that helps her feel healthy.
Motsi Mabuse on Body Image and Self-Respect
Her message is clear: health should support a full life, not create fear or shame. She has spoken against cruel comments about women’s bodies and pressure in entertainment.
People often see only a photograph or stage outfit. They do not see the work and personal change behind it. Mabuse encourages people to care for their bodies without measuring their worth by size.
Motsi Mabuse and Life Changes
She has also spoken about preparing for menopause and making choices that support future health. Her open manner helps make these subjects easier to discuss. She shows that a dancer’s body also needs care, rest and respect.
Motsi Mabuse Books, Television and Future Work
In 2022, she published her English memoir, Finding My Own Rhythm: My Story. The book covers her South African childhood, dance career, move to Germany, family life and journey into television.
She also wrote a German book called Chili im Blut: Mein Tanz durchs Leben. Writing has given her another way to share lessons from her life, beyond television.
Motsi Mabuse’s Work in 2026
Mabuse remains active in German television as a judge on Let’s Dance. WDR has announced two new projects for 2026. The first, Motsi & Oti – Meet the Mabuses, follows her family story. The second, Vibes – Find Your Fire, focuses on women facing major life changes.
These projects fit the values seen across her career: family, confidence, courage and finding direction. They also show that her work now goes beyond dance judging.
Motsi Mabuse’s Lasting Impact
She has earned her place through real dance skill and years of hard work. She has been a champion, teacher, judge, author, business owner, wife and mother.
From her first dance lessons in South Africa to television studios in Germany and Britain, she has kept moving forward. Her life reminds people that talent grows stronger when joined with courage and discipline.
Fact-check basis: her birth, education, early competitive career, marriages, dance school, German television work and Strictly role were checked against RTL and Penguin; her experience of racism was supported by her Guardian interview; her wellness comments were checked against her WeightWatchers feature; and her 2026 WDR projects were confirmed by WDR.
FAQs
Who is Motsi Mabuse?
Motsi Mabuse is a South African-born ballroom and Latin dancer, television judge, author and dance teacher. She is best known as a judge on Strictly Come Dancing in the UK and Let’s Dance in Germany. Her career began in competitive dance before she moved into television.
Who is Motsi Mabuse’s husband?
Motsi Mabuse is married to Evgenij Voznyuk, a Ukrainian professional dancer. They worked together as dance partners before getting married in 2017. The couple also run a dance school in Kelkheim, Germany, and have one daughter.
Is Oti Mabuse related to Motsi Mabuse?
Yes, Oti Mabuse is Motsi Mabuse’s younger sister. Both sisters are professional dancers and television personalities. Oti became famous after winning Strictly Come Dancing twice, while Motsi became known as a judge on the same programme.
How did Motsi Mabuse lose weight?
Motsi Mabuse has spoken about improving her health through steady food choices, exercise and self-care. She shared that she lost 14 kilograms over 104 weeks. Her routine included strength training, Pilates, swimming and movement that helped her feel stronger and healthier.
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