South African Oti Mabuse is a latin dancing champion and best known from her time on the BBC1 entertainment show Strictly Come Dancing. She joined the team of professionals in 2015 and is the only pro to have won the competition in two consecutive years – first with Kelvin Fletcher in 2019 and then in 2020 with Bill Bailey. Oti’s passion for dance stood out early on and she quickly became one of my all time favourite Strictly pros. Now she has been taking on new challenges including a stage production

Naturally Oti mentions Strictly Come Dancing as she opens the show, but I Am Here is a look back and dedication to the inspirations and influences that helped shape her life – her passion and determination to become a professional dancer.

The simplicity of the staging enhances the spectacular costumes (Alexandra Stewart) and complex choreography (Oti Mabuse and James Bennett) . Centred in window-like frames is a screen projecting images and video of Africa, commentary from Oti herself and precious pictures of the important ladies in her life – sisters Motsi and Phemelo and her mother Dudu.

Oti met her husband Marius lepure in Germany, together they perform a sequence of routines, one to the song 99 Red Balloons sung in German.

As a musicals fan, I really enjoyed the musical medley scene which showcased Oti’s ideas of how she would choreograph routines for shows like Chicago, Dreamgirls, Singin’ in the Rain, Aladdin and many more.

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While the incredible dancers (Anya Ferdinand, Chelsea Hogg, Mlindi Kulashe, Andrew Lyle-Pinnock, Grace Proctor, Tonye Scott-Obene, Zinzile Tshuma, Ricardo Walker and Steven Woods) take a breather, we watch a powerful video from Oti talking about female empowerment. This section of the show was set to the stunning vocals of Natalia Brown singing Girl on Fire (watch out Alicia Keys!) and a contemporary dance executed by Sasha Woodward with beautiful fluidity and strength.

Oti also showcases her home with a personal video, colourful and energetic dance sequences and even a dance in gum boots, but a routine performed in black and white costumes, with a video about South African rules, Apartheid and the troubles Oti faced growing up, carried so much emotion and was a contrast to the vibrancy and excitement already in previous routines.

I must also mention vocalist Nic Vani, who performed throughout, but really highlighted his skillset and background with African songs.

As the show comes to its finale it’s loaded with sequins and fringed with fabulousness that leaves you wanting to dance the night away! The show definitely made me realise how much I miss dancing and why I love it too. I Am Here is a bursting with energy, emotion and talent you cannot help but be inspired and entertained.

I witnessed the incredible talent of Oti Mabuse and her cast at Norwich Theatre Royal, but you can find the UK tour venue and dates here.