Aliona Vilani

**Aliona Vilani** was a professional dancer on *Strictly*.

## Biography

*Retrieved from bbc.co.uk*

Aliona first appeared on Strictly in 2009 when she was paired with Rav Wilding. The couple left the competition in week three with Aliona commenting that *Rav was such a lovely guy; it was such a shame to go out so early*.

"*I am the pussycat of the Ballroom world!*"
— Aliona Vilani
In 2010, Aliona was partnered with The One Show presenter Matt Baker. The pair danced together to the final, however came second as they lost out to Kara Tointon and Artem Chigvintsev.

In 2011, Aliona saw success as she won series nine with Harry Judd. When Aliona first joined Strictly she thought the judges were shocked by some of her more modern, risqué choreography. But with her success of winning with Harry, it seems the judges had warmed to her innovative ideas.

Alas, for the next three series, Aliona's winning streak did not continue. In 2012, while teamed with veteran TV Presenter Johnny Ball, Aliona picked up a hairline fracture during training and bowed out early, only for Johnny to be voted out in week one. The following year’s competition was not much better for Aliona. In 2013, she and professional golfer Tony Jacklinwere sent to the clubhouse in week two after their golf-themed Charleston scored joint bottom with Julien Macdonald and Janette Manrara. Sadly 2014 wasn’t Alioni’s year either as she and her partner, Masterchef presenter Gregg Wallace, were the first couple to leave the Strictly dancefloor.

That was all to change, in 2015 Aliona and partner Jay McGuiness became the 13th Champions to lift the Glitterball Trophy after a thrilling Final in the Strictly Ballroom. Wowing the Judges with three amazing dances: Their Quickstep (for their Judge’s pick) to ‘My Generation’, which scored them 36; their Showdance to ‘Can’t Feel my Face’ which scored them 35 points; and their Paso Doble to ‘It’s My Life’ as their Favourite Pick, for which they scored 39 points, and a comment from Darcey that: “You are number one in my book!”

### Background

At the age of five, Aliona was enrolled in the arts gymnasium for classical ballet and performing arts. She started ballroom dancing in Russia when she turned 11 years old. Soon after this she began making the finals in Eastern European competitions.
In 1997, Aliona was invited to go to the United States to be a member of the Kaiser Dance Academy in Brooklyn, New York. It was here that she started learning Salsa, Hip Hop and Jazz in the prestigious Broadway Dance Center in New York.
In 2001, Aliona was selected by the National Dance Congress to be a part of the US team in the Ballroom category that competed against the World Teams and won the Amateur Ballroom category for the US.
Aliona moved to Los Angeles in 2006 and has continued competing, dancing in shows and teaching there since.

On 22 December 2015, Vilani announced that she would not be returning to *Strictly Come Dancing* in 2016 after her second win, stating that she "decided that no matter what would happen, it will be my last one."

## Strictly Career

### Series 7

Vilani first participated in Series 7 in 2009, where she was partnered with Rav Wilding: they were eliminated in Week 3 following a dance-off with actress Lynda Bellingham and her dance partner Darren Bennett.

### Series 8

Vilani again participated in Series 8, where she was runner-up with her television presenter partner, Matt Baker.

### Series 9

She returned in 2011 for the series 9 of the show, where she and partner Harry Judd of pop-rock band McFly went on to win the competition, for which Vilani received her highest scores to date in the competition, beating Chelsee Healey in the public vote, but also in the eyes of the judges.

### Series 10

Vilani returned for the 2012 series of *Strictly Come Dancing*, where she was paired with television presenter Johnny Ball. A training accident in the three-week interval resulted in torn ligaments for Vilani, causing her to retire at least temporarily from the show. She was replaced by Iveta Lukosiute who, with Ball, went on to be eliminated in the first week. Vilani did however return in the final group dance alongside Ball, and later took part in the 2012 Christmas Special, partnering Fabrice Muamba.

### Series 11

On 1 June, 2013, it was announced that Vilani would not be competing in series 11. However, she reportedly reacted angrily, stating that it was "not her decision to leave, and I had planned to be on the show and now I have to make new plans". However, on 2 September, 2013 it was further reported that professional dancer Natalie Lowe received a foot injury and that she would be replaced by Vilani. Her partner for series 11 therefore was championship golfer, Tony Jacklin but the couple were the first to be eliminated in Week 2.

Vilani appeared in a short special edition of *Strictly Come Dancing* featuring Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean filmed in support of the BBC Children in Need charity and shown on 15 November, 2013. She also appeared on the 2013 Christmas Special, partnering Matt Goss; they scored 35 for their American Smooth.

### Series 12

Vilani returned for the show's twelfth series in 2014 and with her celebrity chef partner, Gregg Wallace, was again the first couple to be voted off in Week 2.

### Series 13

 File:Jay McGuiness & Aliona Vilani Jive to 'Misirlou' - Strictly Come Dancing 2015
In September 2015, Vilani returned for the thirteenth series of the show and partnered Jay McGuiness from British boy band, *The Wanted*. They scored their first 10 in Movie Week (Week 3) for their Jive, the earliest a perfect 10 has been awarded in *Strictly Come Dancing* history, with Bruno Tonioli calling it the "best dance ever". After consistently impressing the judges and the viewing public, the couple reached the final where they were crowned series champions; the second time Vilani has won the competition. McGuiness and Vilani became the first couple to win and not be in the dance-off during the competition since Louis Smith in 2012. They also became the first couple since Kara Tointon in 2010 to win the show without ever receiving a perfect 40 from the judges.

## Gallery

Aliona and Rav's publicity photoAliona and Matt's publicity photoAliona and Harry are crowned the winners of Series 9Aliona and Tony's publicity photoAliona and Gregg's publicity photoAliona and Jay's publicity photoAliona and Jay are crowned the winners of Series 13
## Trivia

* Vilani was the only professional to win the competition twice, after winning in 2011 with Harry Judd, and in 2015 with Jay McGuiness (now sharing the achievement with Oti Mabuse).
* Her win of the 2014 Christmas Special with former champion Louis Smith, made Vilani the most celebrated professional ever on *Strictly* overall.