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Oti Mabuse, dancer

Oti Mabuse, dancer, shares the eight discs, book and luxury item she would want with her if cast away on a desert island. With Lauren Laverne.

Oti Mabuse is a dancer, choreographer and TV talent show judge. She has enjoyed great success on the ±«Óătv show Strictly Come Dancing and is one of only two professional dancers to win the glitterball trophy twice.

Oti was born in South Africa in 1990, the year that Nelson Mandela was released from prison, and dance was a central part of her life from a very early age: her mother had set up a dance school so that black children could learn ballroom and Latin dancing. Oti followed in the footsteps of her two older sisters, winning dance competitions in South Africa and taking part in international events. She competed in Blackpool when she was just 11 years old, and retains strong memories of the elegant Tower Ballroom and the poor weather.

Oti's father trained as a lawyer and her mother worked in education, and they felt that their youngest daughter needed the security of a professional qualification, so Oti studied civil engineering at university. Shortly before qualifying, she decided to abandon her degree and become a professional ballroom dancer, joining her sister Motsi in Germany.

She first appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2015 and has recently announced her departure from the show. She lives in London with her husband, the dancer Marius Lepure.

DISC ONE: Lose My Breath by Beyoncé (with Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams)
DISC TWO: My Afrikan Dream by Vicky Sampson
DISC THREE: A Song for Mama by Boyz II Men
DISC FOUR: Dance With My Father by Luther Vandross
DISC FIVE: Un-break my Heart by Toni Braxton
DISC SIX: I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman by Britney Spears
DISC SEVEN: It’s My Life by Bon Jovi
DISC EIGHT: Survivor by Destiny’s Child
BOOK CHOICE: Will by Will Smith
LUXURY ITEM: A photo of Oti and her Grandma
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: It’s My Life by Bon Jovi

Presenter Lauren Laverne
Producer Sarah Taylor

Available now

35 minutes

Last on

Fri 11 Mar 2022 09:00
±«Óătv Radio 4

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Music Played

  • BeyoncĂ© (with Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams)

    Lose My Breath

    • ±«Óătvcoming: The Live Album.
    • Columbia Records.
    • 31.

  • Vicky Sampson

    My Afrikan Dream

    • Long Walk To Freedom.
    • Wrasse Records.
    • 8.

  • Boyz II Men

    A Song for Mama

    • The Best of Boyz II Men.
    • Universal Music Canada.
    • 10.

  • Luther Vandross

    Dance With My Father

    • Dance With My Father.
    • J Records.
    • 7.

  • Toni Braxton

    Un-Break My Heart

    • Secrets.
    • LaFace Records.
    • 4.

  • Britney Spears

    I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman

    • Britney.
    • Jive.
    • 5.

  • Bon Jovi

    It's My Life

    • Crush.
    • Mercury.
    • 1.

  • Destiny’s Child

    Survivor

    • Survivor.
    • Columbia.
    • 2.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 6 Mar 2022 11:00
    ±«Óătv Radio 4
  • Fri 11 Mar 2022 09:00
    ±«Óătv Radio 4

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