Biography
A lucky coincidence
Alex and Lisa began dancing together in 2001, having already had amazing dancing carreers of their own. In the summer of 2001, Alex decided to go on holiday to England, to see the famous London dance studios. One day, he went to Cheam to see the famous studio there, and happened upon David and Denise Sicamore locking up. They started talking, and Denise suggested that Alex should try out with Lisa. Though not having planned to have a try out, Alex and Lisa met that summer, and have been dancing together ever since.
A successful career
Since then, not so long ago after all, Alex and Lisa have had a lucrative career. Their results speak for themselves, and they ended up being ranked 1st in the Amateur 10 dance, 2nd in Amateur Latin, and representing England in both the World Championships and the European Championships for several years.
Alex and Lisa's results on DancesportInfo.net
Shows and Demonstrations
But 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, which can include their 5 Dance Latin Display and their show numbers: "Chicago", "Gladiator" and "Carmen".
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.