Aliona Vilani
Encyclopedia
Aliona Vilani is a Kazakh professional dance
r. She describes herself as the "pussycat" of the dancing world.
when she was five years old and started ballroom dancing at age 11. In 1997, aged 13, she moved to the United States and joined the Kaiser Dance Academy in Brooklyn
, New York, and in 2001 she was part of the US Ballroom team for the National Dance Congress that won the Amateur Ballroom category. She then turned professional and remains the youngest dancer in the US to have done so. On 14 April 2009 she appeared as a guest dancer on Dancing with the Stars
in Hollywood.
Since 2006, she has lived in Los Angeles
where she competes, performs and teaches. She is 5'5" / 163 cm tall.
in 2009, where she partnered Rav Wilding
: they were eliminated in week 3 following a dance-off with actress Lynda Bellingham
and her dance partner.
In 2010 she appeared for the first time on the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour where she partnered actor Ricky Groves
. They danced the American Smooth and the Paso Doble. She also partnered Matthew Cutler in the professional dances. In April 2010 rehearsals started for the Strictly Come Dancing Professionals Tour in which she partnered Matthew Cutler
& two weeks later the opening night started the 12-week spectacular. The show went to Brighton, Birmingham, Dublin, Wales, Leicester, Southampton, Plymouth, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Bristol, Milton Keynes, Hammersmith & Bournemouth.
Vilani was runner up in the 2010 series
of Strictly Come Dancing, partnered with Matt Baker. She has returned for the 9th series
of the show, where her partner is Harry Judd
of British band McFly
.
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
r. She describes herself as the "pussycat" of the dancing world.
Biography
Aliona started dancing balletBallet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
when she was five years old and started ballroom dancing at age 11. In 1997, aged 13, she moved to the United States and joined the Kaiser Dance Academy in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York, and in 2001 she was part of the US Ballroom team for the National Dance Congress that won the Amateur Ballroom category. She then turned professional and remains the youngest dancer in the US to have done so. On 14 April 2009 she appeared as a guest dancer on Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars is the name of several international television series based on the format of the British TV series Strictly Come Dancing, which is distributed by BBC Worldwide – the commercial arm of the BBC. Currently the format has been licensed to over 35 countries...
in Hollywood.
Since 2006, she has lived in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
where she competes, performs and teaches. She is 5'5" / 163 cm tall.
Strictly Come Dancing
Vilani first participated in series 7Strictly Come Dancing (series 7)
The seventh series of Strictly Come Dancing commenced on BBC One on 18 September 2009. Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly returned as presenters together with Craig Revel Horwood, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli as judges. Series 5 winner, Alesha Dixon, joined the judging panel, replacing Arlene Phillips...
in 2009, where she partnered Rav Wilding
Rav Wilding
Rav Wilding is an English television presenter, former security guard at Harrods, former soldier and former police officer who, since June 2004, has been a presenter on Crimewatch.-Early life and education:...
: they were eliminated in week 3 following a dance-off with actress Lynda Bellingham
Lynda Bellingham
Lynda Bellingham is a Canadian-born English actress, broadcaster and author, who is known for her distinctive husky voice.-Early life:...
and her dance partner.
In 2010 she appeared for the first time on the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour where she partnered actor Ricky Groves
Ricky Groves
Richard "Ricky" Groves is an English actor best known for playing Garry Hobbs in EastEnders from 2000–09. Before his role in EastEnders he appeared in the series Burnside, a spin-off from The Bill.-Other TV work:...
. They danced the American Smooth and the Paso Doble. She also partnered Matthew Cutler in the professional dances. In April 2010 rehearsals started for the Strictly Come Dancing Professionals Tour in which she partnered Matthew Cutler
Matthew Cutler
Matthew David Cutler is an English dancer and former World Amateur Latin-American champion. He was a professional dancer on the BBC dancing show, Strictly Come Dancing.-Early life:...
& two weeks later the opening night started the 12-week spectacular. The show went to Brighton, Birmingham, Dublin, Wales, Leicester, Southampton, Plymouth, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Bristol, Milton Keynes, Hammersmith & Bournemouth.
Vilani was runner up in the 2010 series
Strictly Come Dancing (series 8)
The eighth series of Strictly Come Dancing began with a red carpet launch show on 11 September 2010, and the competitive live shows began on 1 October. The series concluded on 18 December when Kara Tointon and Artem Chigvintsev won the competition...
of Strictly Come Dancing, partnered with Matt Baker. She has returned for the 9th series
Strictly Come Dancing (series 9)
The ninth series of Strictly Come Dancing began on 10 September 2011 with a Launch Show, and the live shows started on 30 September and 1 October 2011. The show was broadcast from Wembley Arena on 19 November with all proceeds going to the BBC charity, Children in Need...
of the show, where her partner is Harry Judd
Harry Judd
Harry Mark Christopher Judd is an English musician who is best known as the drummer for British pop rock band McFly, along with fellow band members Tom Fletcher, Dougie Poynter and Danny Jones...
of British band McFly
McFly
McFly are an English pop rock band who first found fame in 2004. The band consists of Tom Fletcher , Danny Jones , Dougie Poynter and Harry Judd . They were signed to the Island Records label from their 2004 launch until December 2007, before creating their own label, Super Records...
.