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Luba Mushtuk reunited with 2025 Strictly Come Dancing winner Karen Carney after being ‘axed’ from the show.
Professional dancer Luba, 36, confirmed she was leaving the BBC show on Friday amid a bloodbath of top talent being let go.
Karen, 38, headed to Luba’s dance class and shared pictures of their reunion on Instagram on Monday.
In the photos, Karen beamed as she hugged Luba, who then lifted her off the floor.
She wrote: ‘Reunited @lubamushtuk back on a dancefloor and had the best time at her class’.
Fellow 2025 contestant Vicky Pattison wrote: ‘Love this’ while Vito Coppola posted a love heart emoji.
The Daily Mail revealed earlier this month that Luba, Nadiya Bychkova, 36, Karen Hauer, 43, Michelle Tsiakkas, 30, and Gorka Marquez, 35, had all been given the boot.
She spoke out leaving the BBC show on Friday, saying her time on the dancing competition ‘meant the world’ to her.
In an Instagram statement, Luba penned: ‘With a heart full of gratitude, the time has come for me to step away from Strictly Come Dancing.
‘I am deeply grateful for the past 10 years on this beautiful show!
‘Thank you for the amazing opportunity and the unforgettable memories. It has truly meant the world to me.’
Luba continued: ‘Now it’s time for me to follow my dreams beyond the show, and I’m excited for what the future holds.
‘I can’t wait to see you all on the Pro Tour and I’m really looking forward to it for one last time. With all my love, Luba.’
The BBC then paid tribute to Luba with their own statement, sharing on the Strictly Instagram account: ‘A heartfelt thank you to Luba Mushtuk for her outstanding contribution to Strictly Come Dancing.
‘Since joining in 2016 as an assistant choreographer and stepping into the professional dancer line-up two years later, Luba has been a valued member of the team – bringing professionalism, creativity, and her quality expertise year after year.
‘Respected both on and off the dance floor, she has consistently delivered unforgettable routines, captivating audiences with her remarkable talent and signature elegance.
‘We are incredibly grateful for her dedication to the programme and for always going above and beyond – whether through the care and commitment she showed her celebrity partners or her warmth and kindness behind the scenes.
‘Luba has been, and always will be, a much-loved member of the Strictly family, and we wish her every success in the future.’
Russian dancer Luba moved to Italy when she was 12 to train, where she became four-time Italian Dance Championship and an Italian Open Latin Show Dance champion.
After joining Strictly in 2018 she went on to win that year’s Children In Need special with Boyzone’s Shane Lynch.
She has also competed on the Strictly Christmas special four times, with Jake Wood in 2018, Jay Blades in 2021, Rickie Haywood-Williams in 2022 and Nicholas Bailey in 2025.
Her first celebrity partner on the main show was Olympic rower James Cracknell in 2019, with the pair becoming the first couple to be eliminated.
In 2020, she was partnered with the former NFL player and sports pundit, Jason Bell and they were the second couple to be eliminated.
Luba was then placed in the dance troupe for two years before gaining actor Adam Thomas as a partner in 2023.
They were the sixth couple to be eliminated. The following year she was paired up with TV presenter Nick Knowles and they were the third couple to be eliminated.
