Strictly’s Oti Mabuse signs two-book deal

Walker Books have announced a two-book deal with Strictly Come Dancing’s Oti Mabuse. Best known as one of the professional dancers on the show, Oti is also a choreographer, presenter and actress who has been entertaining children during lockdown with online dance classes and a subsequent CBeebies show, Oti’s Boogie Beebies.

Oti was born in South Africa, and has been dancing since the age of four. Whilst training and competing as a dancer, she also studied civil engineering. Now she is one of the most successful South African dancers in the world; she joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2015 and won the coveted trophy four years later. Her incredible Strictly performances led her to become a Dance Captain on BBC One’s The Greatest Dancer.

Oti’s debut picture book Dance with Oti (illustrated by Samara Hardy) will celebrate dance, movement and expressing your feelings – as well as teaching a simple 10-step dance routine. The book will also coincide with Oti’s sell-out tour I AM HERE, hitting 40 venues around the country from April to June 2021.

Oti commented: “I am incredibly proud and excited to be working with the team at Walker Books on my first children’s book. It has always been my passion to get children dancing – this first book is an easy way for mums and dads to get their kids moving, talking about their feelings and hopefully just having fun. I can’t wait for you all to read it next year.”