Anna Demidova (dancer)
Encyclopedia
Anna Demidova (born April 23, 1988) is a Russia
n-American
professional ballroom dancer. She is the winner of the professional dancer competition of Dancing with the Stars, Season 8
, which guaranteed her a spot as a professional dancer in Season 9
. Anna is the sister of World Ballroom Dance Champion Katusha Demidova
.
, Russian SFSR
, Soviet Union
. She started dancing when she was just 6 years old in an after school program at the local community center, following in the footsteps of her older sister, world champion Katusha Demidova
. At the age of fifteen Demidova won the British Open Junior Ballroom Championship and the Ireland Open Championship.
After finishing high school in Moscow, Demidova moved to New York to live with her sister and pursue her dancing career. She began dancing with Andrei Begunov. After becoming the United States Youth Champions in 2005 and 2006, they represented the U.S. at the World Championships where they made the finals. They also placed 1st at the Ohio Star Ball, Kings Ball, Tri State Challenge, BYU Championship and many more competitions in the youth category.
After her partnership with Andrey ended, Demidova started dancing with Igor Mikushov, with whom she won many competitions such as the Ohio Star Ball, Emerald Ball, Manhattan DanceSport Championship, Tri State Championship, and San Francisco Open. They were also Blackpool Dance Festival
Under 21 ballroom finalists, United Kingdom Open finalists, and International Championship grand finalists.
Practicing and teaching takes up most of Demidova's time, but in her spare time she has also taken up modeling, which she has been doing since she moved to New York 4 years ago
She was partnered with Michael Irvin
for Season 9 of Dancing With the Stars
. They were eliminated in the seventh week of the competition.
Demidova has since returned to competition, reuniting with Andrei Begunov, premiering at the Manhattan Dancesport Championships, debuting as professionals, placing second in Rising Star International Standard.[www.annademidova.com]
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n-American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional ballroom dancer. She is the winner of the professional dancer competition of Dancing with the Stars, Season 8
Dancing with the Stars (U.S. season 8)
The eighth season of Dancing with the Stars premiered on Monday, March 9, 2009, as part of ABC's spring line-up. The show generally followed the format of previous seasons, with 13 couples, although there were some changes, including two new dances , and an occasional dance-off between the bottom...
, which guaranteed her a spot as a professional dancer in Season 9
Dancing with the Stars (U.S. season 9)
Dancing with the Stars returned for a ninth season on September 21, 2009, on a three-night premiere. Executive producer Conrad Green confirmed to Entertainment Tonight that the 9th season would start off with 16 celebrities, with 3 double-eliminations halfway through the season...
. Anna is the sister of World Ballroom Dance Champion Katusha Demidova
Katusha Demidova
Katusha Demidova is a Russian professional ballroom dancer and instructor, now residing in the USA. She is the 2009 & 2010 Professional World Ballroom Dance Champion, and also the International Professional, and British Open, Ballroom Champion...
.
Background
Demidova was born in MoscowMoscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, Russian SFSR
Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic
The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic , commonly referred to as Soviet Russia, Bolshevik Russia, or simply Russia, was the largest, most populous and economically developed republic in the former Soviet Union....
, Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. She started dancing when she was just 6 years old in an after school program at the local community center, following in the footsteps of her older sister, world champion Katusha Demidova
Katusha Demidova
Katusha Demidova is a Russian professional ballroom dancer and instructor, now residing in the USA. She is the 2009 & 2010 Professional World Ballroom Dance Champion, and also the International Professional, and British Open, Ballroom Champion...
. At the age of fifteen Demidova won the British Open Junior Ballroom Championship and the Ireland Open Championship.
After finishing high school in Moscow, Demidova moved to New York to live with her sister and pursue her dancing career. She began dancing with Andrei Begunov. After becoming the United States Youth Champions in 2005 and 2006, they represented the U.S. at the World Championships where they made the finals. They also placed 1st at the Ohio Star Ball, Kings Ball, Tri State Challenge, BYU Championship and many more competitions in the youth category.
After her partnership with Andrey ended, Demidova started dancing with Igor Mikushov, with whom she won many competitions such as the Ohio Star Ball, Emerald Ball, Manhattan DanceSport Championship, Tri State Championship, and San Francisco Open. They were also Blackpool Dance Festival
Blackpool Dance Festival
The 8-day Blackpool Dance Festival is the world's first and most famous annual ballroom dance competition of international significance, held in the Empress Ballroom at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool, England since 1920. It is also the largest ballroom competition: in 2003, 1539 couples from 54...
Under 21 ballroom finalists, United Kingdom Open finalists, and International Championship grand finalists.
Practicing and teaching takes up most of Demidova's time, but in her spare time she has also taken up modeling, which she has been doing since she moved to New York 4 years ago
She was partnered with Michael Irvin
Michael Irvin
Michael Jerome Irvin is a former American football player for the Dallas Cowboys, and actor. He is also a former broadcaster for ESPN's NFL Countdown and currently an analyst for NFL Network. Irvin was self-nicknamed "The Playmaker" due to his penchant for making big plays in big games during his...
for Season 9 of Dancing With the Stars
Dancing with the Stars (U.S. season 9)
Dancing with the Stars returned for a ninth season on September 21, 2009, on a three-night premiere. Executive producer Conrad Green confirmed to Entertainment Tonight that the 9th season would start off with 16 celebrities, with 3 double-eliminations halfway through the season...
. They were eliminated in the seventh week of the competition.
Demidova has since returned to competition, reuniting with Andrei Begunov, premiering at the Manhattan Dancesport Championships, debuting as professionals, placing second in Rising Star International Standard.[www.annademidova.com]
Achievements
- International Grand Ball 10 Dance Champion
- USA Dance National Standard Champion
- 2 Time U.S. Youth International Standard Champion