Pasha’s three women

The Strictly Come Dancing star may be most passionate about dancing, but in the past year Pasha has had three special women in his life – his professional dance partner, Russian Anya Garnis, his Strictly professional partner, Katya, and his celebrity dance partner, Chelsea Healey, star of TV’s Waterloo Road.

He says he has nothing but admiration for Chelsea’s stamina, as she was combined her filming with dance practice.

“Chelsea is sweet and lovely and a very hard worker,” he said.

“I don’t know how she got through, working from 6am to 6pm and then rehearsing for two hours. It was non-stop.”

Pasha thoroughly enjoyed his debut on Strictly and hopes he will be back in the autumn. He was teamed with Katya for the series.

“Strictly is like one big family,” he said. ‘’Everyone is very supportive and ready to help when trying out a different step. It is not so much a competition between the couples, more a competition against yourself, creating choreography to showcase your celebrity’s strengths.”

Anya and Pasha, whose real name is Pavel, left Russia for America in 2002. They won through to the finals of the US Open each year until 2006.

“I have been dancing with Anya for 13 years now. We did Broadway Ballroom show together and it was Anya who dragged me into auditioning for the TV show So You Think You Can Dance,’’ said Pasha But it is TV partner Katya who is appearing with him in tonight’s sell-out show at the Wyvern. Flicky Harrison Strictly Come Dancing star Pasha Kovalev is walzing into Swindon this month giving five lucky dancers the chance to join him on stage in a Strictly style competition as part of a new show.

It has been a whirlwind time for Pasha, appearing for the first time on BBC TV’s Strictly Come Dancing and sailing off on the Oriana cruise ship as part of the Strictly tour.

“For the first two days it is a strange feeling trying to do a straight line in dancing. The ship moves and so do you,’’ said Pasha, who will be back on board the Oriana this summer sailing to the Canaries.

He may be strictly passionate about dancing but during the last year Pasha has had three special women in his life, his professional dance partner from Russia, Anya Garnis, his Strictly Come Dancing professional partner Katya Virshilas and his celebrity dance partner Chelsea Healey, star of TV’s Waterloo Road.

He says that he has nothing but admiration for Chelsea’s stamina as she was combining her filming with dance practice.

“Chelsea is sweet and lovely and a very hard worker. I don’t know how she got through working from 6am to 6pm and then rehearsing for two hours. It was non -stop.’’ Pasha thoroughly enjoyed his turn on Strictly and hopes he will be back in the autumn. He was teamed with Katya for the series.

“Strictly is like one big family,’’ he said. ‘’Everyone is very supportive and ready to help when trying out a different step.

“It is not so much a competition between the couples, more a competition against yourself creating choreography to showcase your celebrity’s strengths.’’ He says they all become friends and the show changes as people leave. “It is hard, the show isn’t the same each time a couple goes.’’ Anya and Pasha, whose real name is Pavel, left Russia for America in 2002. They won through to the finals of the US Open each year until 2006.

“I have been dancing with Anya for 13 years now. We did Broadway Ballroom show together and it was Anya who dragged me into auditioning for the TV show So You Think You Can Dance,’’ said Pasha But it is Katya who is coming to the Wyvern Theatre in Swindon from 7.30pm with Pasha.

“It is a different mind set for this show,’’ said Pasha. “We create our own show, we can express ourselves. If you enjoy yourself on stage the crowd enjoys it too.’’ They will be performing dance routines from Strictly and asking five members of the audience to join in a Strictly Come Dancing-style competition on stage.

There will also be a question and answer session for the audience to find out all the secrets from behind the scenes of the Strictly set.