From Italian championships to British ballroom: the versatile rise of Vito Coppola
In short: A child prodigy from Eboli, Italy, has mastered more than just the ballroom floor. Since winning his first Italian championship at age 10, Vito Coppola has transitioned from competitive dance championships to becoming a household name on both Italian and British television.
Vito Coppola's journey into professional dance began at the age of 6. By the age of 10, he had already secured his first Italian championship in the Juveniles category. After achieving notable early victories, he earned an FIDS selection for Italy's Team Match in Mannheim, Germany, later reaching three World Championship finals and winning a European Cup.
Coppola's television career is marked by high-stakes victories across different formats. In 2021, he participated in the 16th series of the Italian dance competition Ballando con le Stelle, where he and his partner, the singer and actress Arisa, were crowned winners. Following this, he moved to the British version of the show, Strictly Come Dancing, joining the 20th series in July 2022. His first season with the British program saw him paired with singer-songwriter Fleur East, where they achieved the series' first perfect score and finished as runners-up.
His success continued in the UK, where he won the 21st series of Strictly Come Dancing alongside his partner, former Coronation Street actress Ellie Leach. Beyond the ballroom, Coppola has demonstrated remarkable versatility, winning the 19th series of Celebrity MasterChef in 2024. He is also a multi-lingual performer, fluent in his native Italian as well as English, Russian, and Spanish.
In addition to his competitive and televised work, Coppola has engaged in charitable efforts, such as headlining a charity dance show in April 2024 with Luba Mushtuk to benefit Macmillan Cancer Support. He also participated in the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special, winning alongside Scarlett Moffatt.
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