Aliona Valeriya Kavanagh, known by her stage name Aliona Vilani, is a Russian-Kazakh TV personality and was a professional dancer in the BBC series of Strictly Come Dancing.
16 Facts About Aliona Vilani
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Aliona Vilani moved to Russia with her parents at age 9 and started ballroom dancing at age 11, continuing ballet.
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Aliona Vilani's speciality is 10 Dance, she is skilled in Salsa, Hip Hop and Jazz.
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In 2014 Aliona Vilani was featured in theatre show Licence to Thrill as the lead female dancer.
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In June 2017 Aliona Vilani gave birth to a daughter named Bella.
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Aliona Vilani first participated in series 7 in 2009, where she partnered Rav Wilding: they were eliminated in week 3 following a dance-off with actress Lynda Bellingham and her dance partner Darren Bennett.
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Aliona Vilani was runner up in the 2010 series of Strictly Come Dancing, partnered with Matt Baker.
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Aliona Vilani returned in 2011 for the 9th series of the show, where she and partner Harry Judd of pop-rock band McFly went on to win the competition, beating Chelsee Healey in the public vote and coming top in the final judges leader-board.
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Aliona Vilani returned for the 2012 series of Strictly Come Dancing, where she was paired with television presenter Johnny Ball.
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Aliona Vilani was replaced by Iveta Lukosiute who, with Ball, went on to be eliminated in the first week.
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Aliona Vilani did however return in the final group dance alongside Ball, and later took part in the 2012 Christmas Special, partnering Fabrice Muamba.
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Aliona 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 in November 2013.
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Aliona Vilani appeared on the 2013 Christmas Special, partnering Matt Goss; they scored 35 for their American Smooth.
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Aliona Vilani returned for the 12th series of Strictly in 2014; she and her partner Gregg Wallace were voted off in round two, making Aliona Vilani the first dancer to be voted off first in two consecutive years.
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In December 2014, Aliona Vilani won the Christmas Special partnering Louis Smith.
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In September 2015, Aliona Vilani returned for the thirteenth series of the show and partnered singer from The Wanted, Jay McGuiness.