Tour organizers reveal dancer has opted out of participating in Strictly live performances

It seems that one of the pro dancers from Strictly Come Dancing will not be joining the rest of the team on their highly anticipated live tour. Michelle Tsiakkas, who has been a part of the show since 2022, has decided not to take part in the 2026 tour amidst rumors of a major cull of pro dancers on the main show. In an official announcement on social media, the Strictly Come Dancing live tour's Instagram page shared the news, stating that they are disappointed with Michelle's decision but respect it and wish her the best for her future endeavors.

They also revealed the lineup for the tour rehearsals, which includes Julian, Vito, Neil, Gorka, Lauren, Jowita, Luba, Alexis, Kai, and Nancy. Michelle, who hails from Cyprus and is 30 years old, joined the show as a pro dancer in 2022 and wowed audiences with her performances with celebrity partner Jamie Borthwick in the 2024 season. Fans of the show can now sign up to receive personalized updates on Strictly and other TV shows through Metro's TV Newsletter, which will be delivered to their inbox every morning.

The news of Michelle's departure from the tour comes after reports of her, Gorka Marquez, and Luba Mushtuk being dropped from the show. This was followed by the surprising news of the longest-serving current pro, Karen Hauer, and Nadiya Bychkova also being let go. Michelle had not been assigned a celebrity partner in the latest season and expressed her disappointment at the time.

In a message to her followers, she shared, "To those of you asking how I am, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't gutted but I think that's a normal feeling to have. Last year was my first year with a partner and it made me realize how much I enjoy the process. I think it's the most beautiful and rewarding part of the show." There may be more updates on this story in the future, so stay tuned.

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