FROM Siberia to Clacton but countless glamorous destinations inbetween, Strictly Come Dacing’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 here in Essex when the couple arrive at Clacton’s West Cliff Theatre next 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.

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 suptuous 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 member Kimberley Walsh. Last year he was paired with Essex’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, so far, Pasha says Strictly has been one of the best things to happen to him.

He says: “Strictly is something that everyone involved feels priviliged 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 fanstastic 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 was that enthusiastic to find out everything she could about dancing and do the best job she could. 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 from the audience and even on-the-spot training for lucky audience members who could be invited up on the stage – features which have become a popular part of the couple’s shows.

He says: “It’s great to have some interaction with the audience sometimes – 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.

Things turned for him in 2001 when he moved from Russia to the USA, along with his partner on and off the dance floor 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 USversion of Strictly.

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

He says: “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 dance and although it’s wonderful to see them dancing their hearts out, most 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 says: “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 that I’ve had and I’m not complaining.”

He’s shared the floor with some of the most famous women on the planet in his TV show stints but who would he most like to get into his dance frame?

He says: “That’s a hard one but if 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. Plus, she looks as though she’s be so much fun to dance with.”

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

“Oh yeah definitely,” Pasha admits. “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, 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, and he’s obviously looking forward to making a return.

He says: “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. It’s lovely.”

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

He says: “I don’t know what I’d do. I’ve never really looked at it from that perspective.

“I’m quite interested in computers. I have a bit of a scientific mind, so I’d probably be doing something techy, maybe building websites! It’s hard to think of dancing not being a part of my life, at least not for a long time.”

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

“Of course we’d both love to go back,” he admits, “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. It’s nice because it means they watched me dance on Strictly and enjoyed it. That’s all I can ask for.”

Pasha and Katya West Cliff Theatre, Tower Road, Clacton.

May 17. 7.30pm.

£26.50/£24.50. 01255 433344 www.westcliffclacton.co.uk