Pavel "Pasha"Kovalev (Russian:Па́вел "Па́ша" Ковалёв; born 19 January 1980) is a Russian professionalLatin andballroom dancer.

Kovalev started dancing at the age of eight, and in 2000, moved to the United States with his professional dance partnerAnya Garnis.^[1] In 2007, the couple competed on thethird season of the American version ofSo You Think You Can Dance,^[2] and they have since participated in the eight subsequent seasons as either choreographers or All-Star partners to the contestants.

Between 2011 and 2012 Kovalev moved to theUnited Kingdom to take part in theBBC'sStrictly Come Dancing as a professional dancer.^[3] After finishing runner-up on both theninth andtenth series with celebrity partnersChelsee Healey andKimberley Walsh,^[4][5] he went on to win seriestwelve with his partnerCaroline Flack.^[6] Despite facing backlash over her past dance experience and landing in the bottom two three times, he and his celebrity partner,Ashley Roberts, eventually finished as runners-up on thesixteenth series, even becoming the highest scorers in the show’s history – with an average of 36.9 – and holding the record until thetwenty-second series, when they were topped byTasha Ghouri andAljaž Škorjanec, who achieved an average of 37.3; they also broke the record for the most perfect scores – with a total of five – which they still hold. Kovalev announced that it was his final series on the show as he had decided to "go to the west end" after " 7 series ".^[7]

Kovalev began dancing at the age of eight. Until 2000, he competed with partnerAnya Garnis in the Amateur Latin category inRussia.^[1]

After moving to the US, Kovalev and Garnis turned professional, and from 2002 started competing in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. Their competitive achievements include being finalists in the US Open from 2002 to 2006.^[2][8]

In 2007, Kovalev and Garnis auditioned forseason 3 of the US reality showSo You Think You Can Dance.^[9] Garnis made it to the Top 12 stage, whereas Kovalev made it all the way to the Semi-Finals. The pair have since participated in all following seasons as either choreographers or as All-Stars.

Although originally he only attended the audition to supportAnya Garnis, he was asked to audition as well and together with Garnis became one of the 20 contestants chosen to compete in the show'sthird season from June to August 2007.^[2]

After making it all the way to the Top 6, Kovalev was eliminated on 13 August, in the last round before the final, losing out to the two remaining male contestants,contemporary contestantsDanny Tidwell andNeil Haskell.Sabra Johnson, the remaining female contemporary contestant, went on to win the competition. Kovalev and Garnis both later took part in theSo You Think You Can Dance Tour.

OnSeason 4, Kovalev assistedMia Michaels on aContemporary routine, and he and his partnerAnya Garnis choreographed aCha-Cha routine performed byCourtney Galiano andGev Manoukian.

OnSeason 5, Kovalev and Garnis choreographed aSamba forEvan Kasprzak andRandi Evans.

OnSeason 6, he and Garnis returned toSo You Think You Can Dance to lead the choreography rounds during the auditions, and later that season choreographed aJive forRussell Ferguson andMollee Gray.

Kovalev was announced as an "All-Star" for bothSeason 7 andSeason 8 of the show, performing all theLatin andBallroom dances with the female contestants, including winnersLauren Froderman andMelanie Moore.

ForSeason 9, the following year, he returned to choreograph aCha-cha routine for contestantsJanelle Issis andDareian Kujawa on the third week of live shows.

Finally, on 16 July 2014, Kovalev returned with Garnis to choreograph a new Jive routine for contestantsBridget Whitman andEmilio Dosal duringSeason 11.

In September 2011, Kovalev joined BBC'sStrictly Come Dancing as the new professional dancer of itsninth series,^[3] replacingJared Murillo who had left after only one series with the BBC programme. He has since reached the finals three out of five series, finishing runner-up on his first and second series, and winning on his fourth.

Kovalev was the secondStrictly professional dancer to reach the finals four times (afterKevin Clifton) as the winner ofSeries 12 and the runner-up ofSeries 9,Series 10 andSeries 16.

Along with his Series 12 partner, the lateCaroline Flack, and Series 16 partnerAshley Roberts, Kovalev holds the record for the longest consecutive run of perfect scores, after scoring a 40 for each of their last four dances. Flack and Kovalev were also the first to receive a perfect score for all three of their dances in the final.With Roberts, Kovalev holds the record for most maximum scores of 40, by any couple, with five. Kovalev also holds the record for most perfect scores, with a total of 13.

Key

  Winner of the series

  Runner-up of the series

  Non finalist

  First elimination of the series

  Participating

Kovalev has received the highest score in the history ofStrictly Come Dancing for nine of the show's eighteen dance styles - eight of which except for theRumba achieved perfect scores - and was the firstStrictly professional dancer to receive a perfect score for thePaso Doble and also for theTango. Furthermore, he has received a ten from at least one of the judges for all of the show's dance styles, except theWaltz.

The dance styles for which he holds the record for the highest score ever awarded are the Paso Doble and theRumba, with Series 9 partnerChelsee Healey; theCharleston and theTango, with Series 10 partnerKimberley Walsh; theSalsa, theCha Cha Cha, the Charleston and theShowdance, with Series 12 partnerCaroline Flack; and theJive, theAmerican Smooth, the Salsa, the Showdance and the Charleston with Series 16 partnerAshley Roberts. Kovalev and Walsh also received the only perfect score for the Series 10 Fusion dance, dancing to a mashup of the Cha Cha Cha and the Tango.

Highest and lowest scoring performances per dance

• Scores earned on Christmas or any other specials are not included;
• Green andRed numbers indicate the scores that were the best and worst per dance in Strictly history;
• Kovalev received an additional perfect score (40) for a Fusion dance of theCha Cha Cha andTango with Series 10 partnerKimberley Walsh.

Number of tens received per dance between series 9 and 16

• 10s earned on Christmas or any other specials are not included;
• Kovalev received 4 additional 10s for a Fusion dance of theCha Cha Cha andTango with Series 10 partnerKimberley Walsh.

All marks received per dance between series 9 and 16

• Marks earned on Christmas or any other specials are not included;
• *This style of dance was introduced for one series only and was performed as a mashup of theCha Cha Cha andTango on Week 10 ofSeries 10, receiving a perfect score from the judges.

In theninth series, his first, Kovalev was partnered withWaterloo Road actress,Chelsee Healey.^[10]

The couple received the-then only perfect score ever awarded for thePaso Doble and made it all the way to the finals, finishing as runners-up toHarry Judd and his partnerAliona Vilani.^[4]

• Green number indicates Chelsee & Pasha were at the top of the leaderboard.
• Red number indicates Chelsee & Pasha were at the bottom of the leaderboard.

For thetenth series it was revealed that he would be dancing withGirls Aloud singerKimberley Walsh.^[11]

The couple received the first perfect score ever awarded for theTango and made it all the way to the finals, finishing as the runners-up to Olympic gymnastLouis Smith and his partnerFlavia Cacace.^[5]

By coming second, Pasha became the first male professional dancer to reach two consecutiveStrictly finals, and the third professional dancer to do so overall afterLilia Kopylova andAliona Vilani.

• Green number indicates Kimberley & Pasha were at the top of the leaderboard

For theeleventh series, Kovalev was partnered withCountdown &The Gadget Show co-presenter, and future wife,Rachel Riley.^[12]

During their time at the competition, the couple were never at the top or bottom of the leaderboard, and on Week 6, despite receiving their highest score of the series, they were eliminated after losing out in the dance-off toAbbey Clancy andAljaž Skorjanec.^[13]

For thetwelfth series of the show in 2014, it was announced that Kovalev would partner formerThe Xtra Factor presenter, the lateCaroline Flack.^[14]

The couple earned the first perfect 40 of the series for their salsa in the semi-finals, followed by an additional 3 in the finals giving them a perfect total of 120 points, a feat unmatched in the history of the competition. On 20 December 2014, the couple were crowned the champions of the series.^[6]

As the reigning Strictly champions, The couple performed their Salsa routine a second time during the launch show ofSeries 13.^[15]

• Green number indicates Caroline & Pasha were at the top of the leaderboard

For theThirteenth series of the show in 2015, Kovalev returned as the reigning Strictly champion, and was paired up withBBC Breakfast weather presenterCarol Kirkwood.^[16]

Although the couple regularly landed at the bottom of the leaderboard, they successfully made it seven weeks without ever being in the bottom two. Kirkwood also set a record for joint lowest scoring Rumba on the show, tied with previous contestantFiona Phillips, with just thirteen points out of a possible forty. On their seventh and final week, they were eliminated byEastEnders'sKellie Bright andKevin Clifton in the dance off.^[17]

• Red number indicates Carol & Pasha were at the bottom of the leaderboard

Forseries fourteen Kovalev was partnered with BBCnews presenterNaga Munchetty. They were eliminated in week 4 againstAnastacia andBrendan Cole in unanimous decision by the judges.

Forseries fifteen Kovalev was paired with British actressChizzy Akudolu. They were the first couple eliminated after losing toBrian Conley andAmy Dowden in the first dance-off of the series, on 1 October 2017.^[18]

For Series 16, Kovalev was partnered with formerThe Pussycat Dolls singer,Ashley Roberts. The couple went on to become the highest scoring couple of all time.

The pair matched Kovalev's previous record, set in 2014 with his former partnerSeries 12 winner the lateCaroline Flack, of scoring perfect 40s for all three dances in the final. They also set the records of achieving the most 40s during a series, with five, as well as the-then highest average score in the history of the series with 36.94.

They finished as joint runners-ups to winnersStacey Dooley andKevin Clifton.

• Score awarded by guest judgeAlfonso Ribeiro *

• Green number indicates Ashley & Pasha were at the top of the leaderboard

In 2008, Kovalev and Garnis appeared on thesixth season ofDancing with the Stars in a results show performance, dancing to "Come On Over" byJessica Simpson.

In early 2009 he again performed with Garnis on the international dance showSuperstars of Dance, representing Russia in the duet category, but they were then replaced by another couple in the 19 January episode.

In early 2010, the pair guest-choreographed forthe third season ofSo You Think You Can Dance Australia.

On 4 January 2013, Kovalev guest starred in the music video of "One Day I'll Fly Away", the lead single ofCentre Stage, his series 10 partnerKimberley Walsh's first solo album. Filming occurred on 4 January 2013 at Pinewood Studios, and the music video premiered on 17 January 2013. It features Walsh performing the song in different settings, until she is joined by Kovalev and they perform a ballet number.^[19]

In March 2013, ahead ofComic Relief'sRed Nose Day 2013, comedianMiranda Hart took part in aStrictly Extravaganza, where she attempted to dance ballroom with Kovalev, as one of her fiveMiranda's Mad March challenges.^[20]

On 18 November 2011, Kovalev took part in aStrictly BBC Newsreaders programme benefitingChildren in Need, where he partnered with newsreaderEmily Maitlis for a group dance.^[21]

In 2016, Kovalev was partnered with Olympic champion rowerHelen Glover for theStrictly Come DancingChildren in Need Strictly Special, taking place on 18 November.^[22][23]

Key

  Winner of the special

  Non winner

  Participating

On 23 March 2012, Kovalev and hisStrictly Series 9 partnerChelsee Healey took part in theSport Relief 2012Strictly Come Dancing Underwater special, in aid ofSport Relief, competing against winnersHarry Judd andAliona Vilani. After receiving even scores from the judges, the pair won the show due to head judgeLen Goodman breaking the tie in their favour.^[24]

In 2014, during aParalympian special forSport Relief 2014, Kovalev was partnered with Paralympic gold medalistHannah Cockroft. After performing a group dance with the other contestants, the couple was declared the winners by the judges.^[25]

Key

  Winner of the special

  Non winner

  Participating

In December 2012, Kovalev and Healey were partnered again for a Strictly Allstar group dance during the2012 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special.^[26]

In December 2013, Kovalev was partnered withWest End starElaine Paige during the2013 Strictly Christmas Special.^[27] The couple received a total of 39 points for theirCha-Cha, the highest score of the night, with only judgeLen Goodman giving them a 9. They ultimately lost to comedianRufus Hound after a vote by the studio audience.^[28]

In December 2015, the full lineup of the2015 Christmas special featured six returning contestants, including four former champions, in a change to recent tradition.^[29] Kovalev was partnered with television and radio presenterLisa Snowdon, who finished in third place in thesixth series of the show.^[30] The pair earned 37 points from the judges for aQuickstep to "Let It Snow!", but eventually lost toseries 9 winnerHarry Judd.^[31]

The celebrity lineup of the2016 Christmas special, which like the previous year, featured six returning contestants, was announced on 7 November 2016.^[32] Kovalev was partnered with New Zealand writer and actressPamela Stephenson, and danced theCha-Cha to "Jump" from the "Love Actually" soundtrack.^[33] The pair earned 39 points from the judges but lost to comedianMelvin Odoom.^[34]

The full line-up of the2017 Christmas special, which features six returning contestants and their professional partners, was announced on 6 November 2017.^[35] Kovalev was partnered with ex-partner and Series 10 runner-upKimberley Walsh and danced theJive to "Run Rudolph Run". The pair earned 39 points from the judges, the highest score of the night, but lost to newscasterKatie Derham.^[36]

Key

  Winner of the special

  Non winner

  Participating

Performances and judges' scores

• Green number indicates the couple was at the top of the judges' leaderboard.

In August 2009, Kovalev and his partner Garnis joined the cast ofJason Gilkison's productionBurn the Floor, one of the leading ballroom based shows in the world, during its stint onBroadway.^[37] The pair succeed departingDancing with the Stars performersMaksim Chmerkovskiy andKarina Smirnoff.^[38]

Later in 2010, the pair joined the touring company of the show from 7 September to 28 November.^[39] Kovalev left the show in the summer of 2011 to join theBBC'sStrictly Come Dancing.^[40]

Kovalev and professional partnerAnya Garnis started dating as teenagers after meeting in dance class inSiberia.^[41] In 2000, the couple moved to the United States together.^[1]

Kovalev started dating his formerStrictly partnerRachel Riley in 2013, and the couple now live together .^[42] In May 2019, Riley and Kovalev announced via social media that they were expecting their first child in December. The couple subsequently married inLas Vegas on 28 June 2019.^[43][44] Their daughter was born on 15 December 2019.^[45] They welcomed their second daughter on 5 November 2021.^[46]

In 2007, Kovalev headlined theSo You Think You Can Dance Season 3 Live Tour, along with the other Top 10 contestants, visiting 50 cities in theUnited States.^[47]

Although eliminated in the Top 12 stage of the competition, his professional partnerAnya Garnis was invited to take part as an alternate performer. The pair were able to perform together on the tour due to dancerLacey Schwimmer needing a replacement in some of her routines because of an injury to hermeniscus.

Kovalev took part in theStrictly Come Dancing Live! 2012 Tour with his celebrity partnerChelsee Healey from 20 January to 26 February, and was partnered with Series 10 finalistDani Harmer on the2013 Tour,^[48][49] starting 18 January 2013.^[50]

He didn't take part in the2014 Tour with partnerRachel Riley, and the following year, he opted to focus on his own tour, withTristan MacManus stepping in to partner with the lateCaroline Flack during the2015 Tour.

Kovalev formed a new professional partnership with fellow Strictly professionalKatya Virshilas. With their showAn evening with Katya and Pasha they toured the UK from 27 March to 6 May 2012.^[51]

The couple reprised the tour in 2013,^[2] and finally in 2014.^[52]

Beginning March 2015, Kovalev performed throughout Britain, with original partnerAnya Garnis as his special guest, on hisLife Through Dance Tour.^[53]

Kovalev announced his 2016It's All About You tour, including 74 shows from 18 March to 12 June.^[54] Professional partnerAnya Garnis guest starred once again.

Kovalev announced his appearance at Dancing With The Stars Weekend^[55] Friday 24th – Sunday 26 April 2020 at Celtic Manor Resort Hotel.

• Pasha Kovalev atIMDb
• Official Website

• 1980 births
• Living people
• Russian male dancers
• Russian ballroom dancers
• So You Think You Can Dance choreographers
• So You Think You Can Dance (American TV series) contestants
• Strictly Come Dancing winners
• People from Komsomolsk-on-Amur
• Russian expatriates in the United Kingdom
• Russian expatriates in the United States
• 21st-century American dancers
• 21st-century Russian dancers

• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
• Use dmy dates from April 2020
• Articles with hCards
• Articles containing Russian-language text