Alexei Silde & Anna Firstova turn professional

Alexei and Anna at the German Open in 2010

Photo Credit: Jure Makovec

Top IDFS Latin pair, Alexei Silde and Anna Firstova announced that they would be joining the professional ranks.

The thing that is great about this pair in the enthusiasm that Alexei brings onto the dance floor. He always looks like he is having a great time.

Alexei is known for this video, where he is having too much fun on the dance floor  when he swaps partners with Andrey Gusev and improvises with Elizaveta Cherevichnaya.

My guess is that we won't him goofing off like this in the professional ranks. Here is a video of them dancing in various places in Miami.

Anyone else notice that Anna really actually has short, curly hair? I think she wears extensions for competition. Anna reminds me a bit of a younger Karina Smirnoff. Good luck to this pair in the future.

Underrated, nearly forgotten...but really amazing: Dmitry Timokhin and Anna Bezikova

I was on Youtube, like always. I am a Youtube, ballroom dancer stalker.

But I came across videos of Dmitry Timokhin and Anna Bezikova, who are just phenomenal. Even though the videos are from 2001, even compared to dancers today, their choreography is fresh and very current. I love Anna especially with her cha cha flicks and her samba rolls. Anna retired in 2005 and Dmitry danced with Karina Smirnoff and Natalia Petrova. He retired last year.

I feel as when they were at the top amateur wise, they always overshadowed by Andrej Skufca and Katarina Venturini. When they were the professional, Karina and Slavik got most of the attention.

Nonetheless, I think they are amazing. Even looking at their routine ten years ago, I think it could beat  most amateurs right now. Her cha cha leg actions are wow!