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Pasha Kovalev is a professional Latin and ballroom dancer known for his appearances on the famous dancing competitions, So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing with the Stars and of course, Strictly Come Dancing.
 
Born in Siberia, in the then Soviet Union, Pasha started dancing at the age of eight, competing in amateur competitions in Latin dancing around Russia.

At the age of 21, Pasha moved to the United States and started competing professionally around the world, becoming a finalist in the US Open from 2002 to 2006. In 2007, Pasha and his then partner, Anya Garnis, auditioned for Season 3 of So You Think You Can Dance hosted by Cat Deeley, with Pasha himself making it all the way to the Semi-Finals!  Over the next 7 seasons, Pasha choreographed and danced as an All-Star becoming a household name in America, and performing in the finals of Season 7 and 8.

In August 2009, Pasha joined the production of Burn the Floor and made his Broadway debut in one of the leading ballroom-based shows in the world, before taking up the opportunity in the summer of 2011 to join the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in its ninth season.

Since joining Strictly, Pasha holds the record for the most tens ever awarded, the record for most perfect scores, the record for the longest consecutive run of perfect scores and was the first dancer ever to reach the finals three times.
 
This prolific success includes his victory with the late Caroline Flack in season 12 and meeting his, now wife Rachel Riley in season 11. 

Since stepping away from Strictly in 2018, Pasha has become the proud father of Maven – who’s bath time we disturbed with when interviewed proud mummy Rachel Riley on JLGB virtual just a few weeks ago.
 
So, before we accidentally wake up baby Maven, without further ado.... Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome tonight’s special guest, Pasha Kovalev!