Pasha

From Moscow to New York to L.A. to London—the professional dancer's extraordinary journey to the glitzy world of ballroom With his slick moves, calm demeanor, and brooding good looks, Pasha Kovalev has become a senation as a popular dancer. His talent and determination have taken him around the world, but as he shares here, it was the stark, grey landscape of his Siberian hometown, still reeling from the Communist regime, which provided the unlikely inspiration for his early love of ballroom dancing. With a strong desire to succeed, he moved to the U.S. in 2001 with his professional dance partner Anya Garnis and settled in Fort Lee, New Jersey. He auditioned for season three of So You Think You Can Dance in 2007, moved to L.A. in 2008, and he has since participated in all following seasons as either a choreographer or an All Star. From 2009-2011 he joined the cast of Jason Gilkison's Production Burn the Floor , one of the leading ballroom based shows in the world, during its stint on Broadway. In September 2011, Pasha joined the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing as the new professional dancer of the ninth season, being partnered in the 10th season with Girls Aloud star Kimberley Walsh. He speaks candidly in this heartwarming autobiography, on topics from romance to body image to the illness that nearly killed him. Most of all, he gives readers a glimpse behind the scenes of the flashy world of ballroom, and what really goes on beneath the veneer of sparkles and glamour.