Professional dancer Mika Tatarkin not involved - Last-Minute Shake-Up on Let's Dance as Mika Tatarkin Withdraws Due to Injury
Season 19 of Let's Dance will begin on February 27, but one professional dancer will be missing from the line-up. Mika Tatarkin has pulled out of the competition after suffering a biceps anchor tear. His replacement, Alexandru Ionel, was originally set to take a break this year but has now stepped in at short notice.
Tatarkin's withdrawal comes after a difficult run on the show. In the 2024 season, he and his celebrity partner were the first to be eliminated. This year, he had been preparing to dance with a new partner, Victoria Sauerwald, who is making her debut on Let's Dance. With Tatarkin's injury, Sauerwald will now perform with Ionel instead.
Ionel's return was unexpected, as he had initially planned to sit out this season. His experience on the show contrasts with Tatarkin's recent struggles—previous professionals like Kathrin Menzinger, Valentin Lusin, and Malika Dzumaev have all won titles in their first seasons or early attempts. Menzinger lifted the trophy in 2015 with Hans Sarpei, while Lusin and Dzumaev secured victories in 2023 and 2024 respectively. Ekaterina Leonova also reached the final in 2025 with Diego Pooth, continuing a trend of strong performances from seasoned dancers.
The new season will now proceed with Ionel partnering Sauerwald, marking her first appearance on the show. Tatarkin's absence leaves a gap, but the competition's history suggests that experienced replacements can still deliver standout performances. Fans will see how the last-minute change affects the dynamics when Let's Dance airs on RTL.
