Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Kristina Rihanoff has questioned the current roster’s “teaching pedigree” after two shock exits from the BBC series.
Rihanoff, who appeared on the BBC show between 2008-2015, joined Mark Dolan on GB News to discuss how the show has become embroiled in controversy.
The iconic dance contest has been hitting the headlines over allegations concerning some of its professional dancers, with Graziano Di Prima and Giovanni Pernice subsequently leaving the show.
Celebrities will often go onto the show as dancing novices, which Rihanoff says brings about potentially significant challenges for the dancing professionals, who take up the role of dance partner and coach through the duration of the show.
Kristina Rihanoff questioned the 'teaching pedigree' of Strictly pros
PA / GB NEWS
She told GB News: “What needs to be done is understanding whether the professionals do actually have a pedigree as teachers.
“Can they actually teach? The primary job is to teach novices. It can be frustrating, of course, but this is your job as a professional.”
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Asked by Mark if she is suggesting some of the professionals on the show are unqualified to teach, Rihanoff said: “I don’t know the background of a lot of dancers on the show.
“They are quite young. In my generation of dancers, we were all older professionals competing and having to finance our lifestyles through teaching.”
Rihanoff was then asked if the BBC is guilty of a dereliction of duty on the matter.
“I just think it has to be a much more thorough process. Do these pros actually have experience in teaching?”, she asked.
“At the end of the day, if you haven’t taught any adult who hasn’t danced, it can be difficult.
“You were always taught quite harshly in our competitive world. You might think this is the way to do it.
“You probably think this is the method acceptable to anyone, but it’s a very different story when done in the light of entertainment.”
Rihanoff called for the broadcaster to impose more welfare measures to ensure such scenarios never come about again.
Rihanoff joined Mark Dolan on GB News
GB NEWS
“We are yet to see what happens this year, but they have to put more measures in place to make sure everyone is safe”, she said.
“That is celebrities and professionals. I spoke about it already, we already suffer like everyone else, feeling overwhelmed and overworked with no one to talk to.
“It’s very stressful. We work very hard to deliver the best show we can on a Saturday, but from a professional point of view, I don’t remember receiving anyone helping me manage stress levels or mental health during rough times.
“I went on the show with a cancer scare and I wasn’t sure about leaving the show.
Strictly Come Dancing will celebrate its 20th year this yearPA“I think having so-called wellbeing producers will be super helpful.”
In a statement, the BBC said: “We will not be commenting or individuals or engaging with speculation.
“However, as we have said previously, we will always listen if people want to make us aware of something or raise it with us directly and we have appropriate procedures in place to manage this.”