From Understudy to Unstoppable: Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin’s ‘Flawless’ Perfect 40 Charleston Shakes the Competition

There are moments in live entertainment that transcend the scorecards and the competition itself—moments so purely spectacular, so deeply charged with emotional effort, that they redefine what viewers thought was possible. On a night dedicated to the magic of the West End, Amber Davies and her professional partner Nikita Kuzmin didn’t just perform a dance; they delivered a seismic cultural event, executing a Charleston that earned the season’s first, and arguably most deserved, perfect score of 40. The performance wasn’t just good; it was a defiant, flawless masterpiece that cemented Davies’s transformation from a last-minute replacement into the competition’s most compelling, and dangerous, contender.

The electric routine, set to “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ The Boat” from the musical Guys And Dolls, was an audacious blend of high-octane energy, complex precision, and sheer theatricality. The climax, featuring a series of gravity-defying lifts and a spin so rapid and controlled it left the audience physically recoiling in amazement, was the peak of the entire series. It was the kind of television moment social media was invented for—a breathtaking display that demanded instant, breathless discussion.

The Chaos and the Comeback

To truly appreciate the monumental achievement of the perfect 40, one must look back at the dramatic, almost chaotic circumstances that led to Amber Davies stepping onto the famous dance floor. Amber, a talented West End performer and former Love Island winner, was not originally intended to compete in this series of Strictly Come Dancing. She was drafted in at the eleventh hour, a mere 24 hours before the first live show, to replace fellow reality star Dani Dyer, who had fractured her ankle in a cruel twist of fate during training.

This sudden call-up meant Davies had minimal time to prepare, forcing her to hit the ground running alongside Nikita Kuzmin, a partner who has proven himself to be as much a mentor and emotional anchor as he is a choreographer. This unexpected start provided the essential emotional backdrop to their entire journey. For weeks, Davies has had to compensate for lost training time, battling self-doubt under the fierce glare of public and critical scrutiny. She herself admitted the start of her journey was “madness,” a story she’ll recount for decades to come.

However, this pressure cooker environment did not break the partnership; it forged it into something unbreakable. Nikita, seeing the raw potential and the sheer fighting spirit in his celebrity partner, became her fiercest advocate. In the run-up to a previous high-scoring performance, he took to social media, gushing about Amber’s dedication: “So so proud of you Amber, you’re giving it your all and improving everyday,” he wrote, praising her ability to listen, absorb information, and train hard, emphasizing that she was “fighting for our spot in the competition”. This mutual respect and unwavering belief became the emotional fuel for every subsequent performance.

The Salsa That Signaled Seriousness

Before the ultimate high of the Charleston, the partnership signaled their true intentions with a breathtaking Salsa, performed to Sylvester’s You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real). This performance was an emotional and technical breakthrough, bagging them a stunning 38 points and their first two 10s of the series.

The package shown before the dance provided a sweet, relatable glimpse into their unique dynamic, highlighting the human element often lost in the glitz of the ballroom. Amber, a proud Welsh star, admitted she struggled to find the necessary fluidity for the Latin routine, feeling too “straight.” To help her relax and connect, she taught Nikita some Welsh—a charming and vulnerable moment that humanized the star and professional in the eyes of the nation.

The actual dance was a revelation. Head Judge Shirley Ballas lauded the performance’s “fluidity, flexible, lovely rotation” and the ease with which Davies executed the complex tricks and highlights, noting the “great chemistry”. Motsi Mabuse declared it “absolutely spectacular”. It was clear that the “Team Amkita” had moved past being merely good; they were now serious contenders capable of blowing the roof off the ballroom.

The ‘Perfection’ of Musicals Week

Then came Musicals Week, and the Charleston that will go down in Strictly history. The pressure was immense. The competition was tightening, and Amber and Nikita knew they needed to deliver something extraordinary to maintain their standing. They chose a routine that demanded not just athleticism but impeccable timing and fearless abandon.

The Charleston is a deceptively difficult dance, requiring hyper-extended swivels, sharp lines, and explosive energy, all while maintaining perfect synchronicity. Amber Davies, leveraging her background in the West End with roles in productions like 9 To 5: The Musical, was perfectly placed to own the stage, but even for a seasoned performer, the choreography was staggering.

The performance was a relentless rush of energy. Davies fearlessly incorporated a full-on splits move, executed with such precision that it looked entirely effortless, followed immediately by one of the series’ most ambitious lift sequences. But it was the core mechanism of the dance—the swivels and the aforementioned incredible spin—that stole the show and the judges’ hearts.

The judging panel, known for their often harsh critiques and high standards, were unanimous in their awe. The usually flinty Craig Revel Horwood, a man rarely satisfied, was forced to swallow his cynicism and deliver perhaps the highest praise of the series. He declared: “The swivels were perfect and the timing and execution was flawless,” confirming that the speed, control, and rhythm of the essential Charleston footwork were beyond reproach.

Head Judge Shirley Ballas was equally effusive, calling the routine “absolutely fantastic” and labeling Davies an “absolute star”. Anton Du Beke, often the most generous with praise, admitted that it would be “very difficult to find a dance better than this”.

But it was Motsi Mabuse who articulated the feeling of the nation and the defining gravity of the performance. Shaken by the magnitude of the dance, she provided a one-word critique that resonated across the auditorium and social media: “Perfection.” She added that she had “never seen anything like that,” a monumental statement in a show with over two decades of legendary routines.

The inevitable paddle display followed, confirming the judges’ consensus: four 10s. A perfect 40.

The Emotional High

This perfect score was not just a tally; it was validation of the toughest journey in the competition. It was the emotional payoff for a partnership built on trust, hustle, and heart, confirming that the last-minute replacement had surpassed the expectations of everyone, perhaps even herself.

The moment was a powerful reminder that Strictly Come Dancing is as much about personal growth and emotional connection as it is about foxtrots and tangos. Amber and Nikita’s relationship, rooted in professional respect and deep encouragement, provided a beautiful counter-narrative to the standard celebrity competition arc. They proved that fighting for a spot, absorbing criticism, and channeling raw emotion into a difficult, technical routine can lead to moments of true, uncontestable perfection.

Their victory in Musicals Week didn’t just top the leaderboard; it shifted the balance of the competition. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin are no longer the underdogs who had to scramble to catch up; they are the gold standard, the benchmark by which all future performances in the series will now be measured. That incredible spin was not just a technical flourish—it was the moment they spun the entire series on its head, setting themselves on a trajectory that now seems utterly unstoppable. The ballroom awaits their next move with bated breath, but for now, the roar of the perfect 40 echoes across the dance floor.