Otlile (‘Oti’) Mabuse has received the Freedom of the City today, in recognition of her significant achievements in contemporary dance and her charitable work.
One of the UK’s most popular broadcasters, presenters, and talent show judges, Oti attended her ceremony at Guildhall this morning with family members and friends.
A dancer of international success, the 34-year old Latin dance champion is best known for winning BBC-1’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2019 and 2020, and for her appearances as a dance captain, panellist, and judge on The Greatest Dancer, The Masked Dancer, and Dancing on Ice.
Oti was nominated for the Freedom by the City Corporation’s Policy Chairman, Chris Hayward, and Sheriff-Elect of the , Keith Bottomley.
Speaking after her Freedom ceremony, Oti Mabuse said:
“I am delighted to have received the Freedom of the for my dance and charitable work, and I am very grateful to Chris Hayward and Keith Bottomley for nominating me.
“To be following in the footsteps of legends of the arts and entertainment industry, including Sir Matthew Bourne, Dame Judi Dench, Sir Cameron Mackintosh, Giles Terera, and Strictly’s very own Len Goodman, feels quite remarkable!”
Policy Chairman, Chris Hayward, said:
“Having won a clutch of dance titles during her career and a place in our hearts, mostly, down to her appearances on the hugely popular ‘Strictly’, I am sure that Oti’s Freedom will be welcomed warmly by her many admirers.
“Away from the dance world, her work with UNICEF to raise awareness of the support needed by premature babies and their mothers, is highly commendable, and I am very happy to join my colleague, Keith Bottomley, in nominating Oti for the Freedom.”
Sheriff-Elect Keith Bottomley said:
“As well as impressing us on the dance floor, Oti Mabuse’s charitable work with women and young people in communities across London, and overseas with UNICEF, deserves our admiration and respect.
“It has been a pleasure to nominate Oti to be admitted into the Freedom, and I am sure that she will have very happy memories of today for many years to come.”
One of the ’s ancient traditions, the Freedom is believed to have begun in 1237 and enabled recipients to carry out their trade.
As well as being nominated for, or applying for, the Freedom, it is also offered by the Corporation to individuals as a way of paying tribute to their outstanding contribution to London or public life, or to celebrate a very significant achievement.
Recent high profile recipients include multi-award-winning choreographer and director, Sir Matthew Bourne; six-time Olympic gold-winning athlete, Sir Chris Hoy and his wife, Lady Sarra Hoy; and comedian, actor, and writer, Sir Lenny Henry.
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