has suffered a heartbreaking loss just days before starting training for the new series of Strictly Come Dancing.
The 34-year-old star, who is returning after walking away from the BBC Latin and ballroom competition in 2022, has mourning the death of his longtime coach Daniela Škofic Novak.
Novak died on Friday aged 61, and Aljaz has paid an emotional tribute to the women to whom he owes ‘ALL [his] professional success.
Alongside a photo of his mentor, he wrote on Instagram: ‘Since I was 7 years old Daniela Škofic Novak was a guide and coach for me and my dance partner Valerija for all of our competitive careers.
‘I owe ALL my professional success to Daniela and her husband Fredi, who along with my parents, were the people that shaped me as a dancer and as a person.
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‘I am forever thankful coach. Rest in Peace🙏🏻’
His wife Janette Manrara replied with a silver heart emoji, while fellow Strictly dancer Neil Jones shared an orange heart.
‘I am so sorry to see your sad news. Sending hug to you. She looked lovely. And will be watching over you,’ a fan commented on the post.
‘Sorry to hear the sad news. I am sure she will carry on dancing and watching you from heaven,’ added a second follower, while a third said: ‘I’m so sorry for your loss Aljaz. May your dear friend rest in peace eternally.’
His loss comes just days before training for the new series is set to get underway, with Strictly reeling amid an investigation into misconduct allegations.
On Friday, The Sun reported that dancer Nikita Kuzmin, 26, was preparing to get back in the rehearsal room.
During his final live show with 2023 celebrity partner Layton Williams at London’s Drury Lane Theatre, he is said to have told fans he was getting ready to head back into training ‘in five days time’.
The show has made headlines recently as Graziano Di Prima, 30, left the BBC series following claims of ‘physical incidents’, including allegations he ‘kicked and hit’ his 2023 partner, Zara McDermott.
It was later confirmed that he did kick his former dance partner and new comments from Amanda Abbington have emerged as she claimed her former dance partner Giovanni Pernice was ‘cruel’.
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Pernice has denied any wrongdoing.