FROM Siberia to Basildon, and countless glamorous destinations inbetween, Strictly Come Dancing’s Pasha Kovalev has inspired audiences all over the world with his red-hot Russian dancing talent.

Now, along with his professional dance partner Katya Virshilas, Pasha is set to come dancing right here in Essex when the couple arrive at Basildon’s Towngate Theatre later this month.

The duo, famed for their beatiful ballroom and luscious Latin routines, are hoping to wow audiences with their new show, the Best of Strictly: A Kaleidoscope of Dance, which will also hit the West Cliff Theatre, in Clacton, in May.

For Strictly superfans suffering from sequin and spray-tan withdrawal and missing their Saturday night fix of the incredibly successful show, Pasha and Katya’s new offering is one not to be missed.

Fiery cha chas, romantic waltzes, rumbas and paso doubles galore are all on the bill, as well as sumptuous costumes worthy of Strictly stalwarts.

Pasha, 34, only joined Strictly three years ago, but has waltzed his way to the final twice – with Waterloo Road actress Chelsee Healey and Girls Aloud’s Kimberley Walsh. Last year, he was paired with Southend’s homegrown maths genius Countdown presenter Rachel Riley, but the couple were voted off in week six.

Although the glitterball trophy has remained just out of reach, Pasha says Strictly has been one of the best things to happen to him.

He said: “Strictly is something everyone involved feels privileged to be part of. It’s amazing, it’s massive and I feel incredibly lucky to have had the partners I have in Chelsee, Kimberley and Rachel.

“Chelsee and Kimberley were both fantastic and we had some memorable routines. With Rachel, I was so lucky as we had so much fun. She was so eager to learn, she almost had fire in her eyes. She made teaching her a real delight.”

A Kaleidoscope of Dance will be Pasha and Katya’s third UK tour and will feature performances from local dance schools and most likely impromptu Q&A sessions. There could even be on-the-spot training for lucky audience members, who could be invited up on the stage.

“It’s great to have some interaction with the audience sometimes,” added Pasha. “Often they have questions they want to ask us about Strictly and we are happy to answer them.”

Pasha was born in the town of Komsomolsk-on-Amur, in Siberia, and began dancing at the age of eight.

It’s not a secret that dancing of all disciplines is considered to be a serious business in Russia. In fact, last year Pasha’s Strictly dancing colleague Artem Chigvintsev explained to audiences at the Cliffs Pavilion, in Southend, how doctors wanted to break both his legs in order for him to persue a career as a ballet dancer.

“Luckily, my mum said no – thank you mum,” Artem said at the time.

For Pasha, there were no leg-breaking requests, but his long, hard journey perfecting his dance skills was just as tough. Things turned for Pasha in 2001 when he moved from Russia to the USA, along with his partner on and off the dancefloor at the time, Anya Garnis.

He then gained fame on the US reality show So You Think You Can Dance, as well as appearing on Dancing with the Stars, the States’ version of Strictly.

Pasha is keen to encourage youngsters to take up dance, but as long as the enjoyment factor is there.

He said: “I hear people saying ‘I’ve been dancing since I was two’ and so and so. Look you can’t remember what you were doing when you were two! I’ve worked with kids in Siberia and although it’s wonderful to see them dancing their little hearts out, most of the time kids are more interested in their cat than dancing.”

Pasha now lives in London and it’s been a long time since his childhood days back in Siberia, so what does he miss most about home?

He said: “I think it’s what everyone misses when they live in a different country – family and friends or simple things like being able to cycle through town in the summer and hang out with friends. But I’ve been very lucky in the success I’ve had, so I’m not complaining.”

Pasha has shared the floor with some of the famous women on the planet, but who would he most like to get into his dance frame?

He said: “That’s a hard one, but I’d have to say Beyonce. It would be interesting to see if she could master ballroom the way she has mastered other forms of dancing.”

A professional dancer has to be at the top of their game physically, but does Pasha ever splurge?

He said: “Oh yeah, definitely. I eat chocolate all the time and don’t feel guilty about it. I’m a chocolate addict. When you are dancing, it’s like you are your own instrument which you have to look after, but six/seven hours of training a day and you’re going to end up eating loads.

“Saying that, if I have a break, I’ve noticed the pounds creeping on a bit lately, so maybe I should be careful!”

Pasha and Katya have performed at several theatres in Essex before, including the Towngate, where audiences went wild for the pair.

He said: “I can truly say we always get an amazing response from the audiences in Essex. It’s something we talk about afterwards to each other, about the warmth of the audience.”

So what would Pasha be doing if his career in dance hadn’t panned out so well?

He said: “I have a bit of a scientific mind, so I’d probably be doing something techy, maybe building websites. But it’s hard to think of dancing not being a part of my life, at least not for a long time.”

Perhaps the secret to Pasha’s success is his gentlemanly manner, which leads to nothing but compliments from those he works with, and his genuine love for his craft – to be a dancer not a celebrity.

As for Strictly, set to return in September, the line-up remains top secret, even to professional dancers who don’t know if they are to be asked back until weeks before.

Pasha said: “We’d both love to go back, but it all depends on the producers and which celebrities they pick and who they feel they should be paired up with.

“Strictly has changed my life. I get recognised a lot now, not by everyone all the time, but it’s nice because it means they must have watched me dance on Strictly and enjoyed it. That’s all I can ask for.”

BEST OF STRICTLY: A KALEIDOSCOPE OF DANCE
Towngate Theatre, Basildon.
Wednesday, March 26, 7.30pm.
Tickets, £25 (£23
concessions), from
01268 465465 or visit towngatetheatre.co.uk