Aliona Vilani (born 1984) is a Russian professional dancer. She describes herself as the "pussycat" of the dancing world.She participated in series 7 of BBC One television show Strictly Come Dancing, where she was partnered with Rav Wilding. Aliona's twitter account is @AlionaVilani. Aliona started dancing ballet when she was five years old and started ballroom dancing at age 11. In 1997, aged 13, she joined the Kaiser Dance Academy in Brooklyn, New York and in 2001 she was part of the US Ballroom team for the National Dance Congress that won the Amateur Ballroom category. She then turned professional and remains the youngest dancer in the US to have done so.

Since 2006, she has lived in Los Angeles where she competes, performs and teaches. She is 5'5" / 163 cm tall and is on Facebook.


Strictly Come Dancing

Aliona 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.

In 2010 Aliona appeared for the first time on the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour where she partnered actor Ricky Groves. They danced the American Smooth and the Paso Doble. She also partnered Matthew Cutler in the professional dances.

In April 2010 rehearsals started for the Strictly come dancing professionals tour. Aliona partners Matthew Cutler & 2 weeks later the opening night starts the 12 week spectacular. The show went to Brighton, Birmingham, Dublin, Wales, Leicester, South Hampton, Plymouth, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Bristol, Milton Keynes, Hammersmith & Bournemouth.

Aliona will appear in the 2010 series of Strictly Come Dancing, partnering Matt Baker