Biography
A lucky coincidence
Alex and Lisa are the Current Uk Closed Professional Latin American Champions. They started dancing together in 2001, having already had amazing dancing carreers of their own.
The story of how they met began in the summer of 2001 when Alex went to visit one of the famous London dance studios - DANCE OPTIONS Cheam in South London.
He accidently bumped into Denise Weavers whom was locking up the studio, and after a brief conversation, Denise suggested that Alex should have a try out with Lisa. Although this was not planned, Alex and Lisa met for a trial and enjoyed dancing with each other, so much so they decided to dance together.
A successful career
Since December 2001, Alex and Lisa have had a successful compettitive career together. Their results speak for themselves, During their Amateur Career they ended up being ranked 1st in England in the Amateur 10 dance, 3 x English Latin Champions, 3 x UK Closed Latin Champions and were representing England in both the World and European Championships and all major international tournaments all over the world.
They turned professional in January 2006.
Since turning professional, the results didnt stop, in their first Open British Rising Star Competition in 2006 they finished 6th in the final Open to the World, and then in the July of 2006 became the UK Closed Professional Latin Champions.
In 2007, they retained their title to become UK Closed Professional Latin Champions for a second time, finished 7th at European Professional Latin Championships in KIev, Ukraine. In the november they became the British National South American Show Dance Champions and finished 8th at the World South Americain Show Dance Championships held in Holland in December 2007.
2008 - Alex and Lisa started the year 2008 off to a good start finishing 15th at the UK Open to The World Professional LAtin Championship, 14th at the Asian Open CHampionships in the February.
In April they went to Moscow for the European Championships and finished in the Semi Finals once again.
In July they became the UK Closed Professional Latin Champions for the 3rd consecutive year!
In may, they won the English Professional Latin Championship, and were members of the British Team in the Invitational Team Match at Blackpool and for the first time broke into the semi Final in the British Open Professional Latin Championship finishing 8th in the Jive.
For Alex and Lisa's full results look on
Alex and Lisa's results on DancesportInfo.net
Shows and Demonstrations
They have not restricted themselves to the competitive circuit. In 2004, they were involved in dancing for George Michael for his single "Round Here". They also took part in the famous "World Stars Cabaret night" in Cheam, and danced at the Universal Cabaret Evening organized by Michael Stylianos. Overseas, they have done demonstrations in France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, Gibraltar, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Russia, Ukraine, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, China, Canada, and as far as Australia. They also do demonstrations around Great Britain for dance studios and corporate events which can include their 5 Dance Latin Display and their show numbers: "Chicago", "Gladiator" "techno"and "Carmen". They can cater for the individual.
Taking the next step
Their partnership has been so successful that they even became romantically involved, and got married in August 2003. Then, on 15 Jan 2006, they turned professional, and began a new stage in their already remarkable dance career
Earlier Days
Alex Ivanets
Dedication from the beginning
Alex Ivanets was born in February 1979 in the southern Ukrainian city of Simferopol. At the age of 5, his dancing career had already begun when he took part in a dance class at his local pre-school. Two years later, he enrolled in the Simferopol Ballet School to begin his dance education.
There, he studied a wide variety of dance style, from classical ballet all the way through to traditional Russian folk dance. Representing his school, Alex travelled all over the Ukraine doing shows as part of their dance group, often taking the leading role.
Starting Ballroom and Latin
He began to dance the Ballroom and Latin-American dances at the age of 12. From the first class he took part in, Alex knew that he wanted to continue it seriously and joined the competitive circuit – and already at the age of 14, he and his then-partner Olesia won the Crimean Closed Championships.
Moving out
Alex left his parents house at the young age of 15 to continue his dance career in the city of Poltava with a different partner. In the same year, he and his partner won the Ukrainian 10 dance, and reached the 2nd place in Latin - unfortunately, the partnership had to end when Olga moved away.
A Beginning Amateur in Poland
Unable to find a partner in the local area, Alex one day received a phone call from one of his first teachers, who had immigrated to Poland. He offered Alex the opportunity to dance in Poland, and Alex moved the Warsaw at the age of 16. He lived there for 6 years, and with his partner Kasia, became the vice-champions of Poland in Youth Latin and the Latin-American champion of Warsaw. In the meantime, he graduated from a special 2 year dance course to become a dance instructor. Alex and Kasia split in 2001 , and after that, he began to dance with Lisa.
Lisa Bellinger
An Early Start
Lisa started dancing at the very early age of 3, doing ballet, tap and jazz. As her parents Robert and Linda Bellinger were, and still are, dance teachers, she was brought up in the dance world. When she was 8, she also worked with Bobby Davro in his Christmas special "Alice in Wonderland". Then, at the age of 9, she starred in the pantomime "Babes in the Wood" at the Mayflower Theatre, alongside Cannon and Ball, and the following year in "Alladin" alongside Stephan Dennis (who currently plays Paul Robinson in the famous show "Neighbours").
Her parents enlisted her into all types of dancing – even gymnastics – before she started to learn Ballroom and Latin-American dancing. Nevertheless, she had already begun learning at the age of 4 in her parents’ dance studio in Eastleigh. Like most people, she took her medals, and at the age of 7 found her first dance partner.
The competitive circuit
They started to partake in competitions around the country, as well as taking their medals. Unfortunately, they split due to a height difference. However, unimpeded by this, she moved on to another partner, with whom they became the Open British Juvenile Champions in Ballroom and Latin in 1992, in an event open to the world.
As she got older, Lisa had to move up to Junior. With her next partner, they became the Closed British Junior Latin-American Champions – unfortunately, once again due to a height difference, they had to split. Nevertheless, with her next partner, Paul, they were placed 3rd in the Open British Junior Latin Championship (open to the world), having been placed 1st in the Jive.
Moving up to Youth
Lisa and Paul then both moved on to Youth, where they became the Open British Youth Latin Champions in 2000, which was once again open to the world. After a very successful partnership, they went our separate ways, which is when she started to dance with Alex.