SINCE Katya Virshilas and Pasha Kovalev teamed up as a professional dance couple on the hit BBC television show Strictly Come Dancing in 2011, they have wowed audiences with their Ballroom routines and Latin dances.

After two years of sell-out shows in Swindon, the duo have returned to the Wyvern for three nights from yesterday until tomorrow night.

Ahead of their opening performance in Swindon yesterday, Pasha and Katya relaxed in the theatre’s brand-new Pantomime Suite - a private space available for patrons to hire before any performance at the Wyvern.

The pair are joined on stage by host Mike Newman, along with dancers Ryan Hammond, Marcella Solimeo, James Wilson and Jasmine Takacs.

Pasha started dancing at the age of eight. In September 2011, she joined the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing as the new professional dancer of its ninth series. In his first series he was partnered with Waterloo Road actress Chelsee Healey. The two made it all the way to the finals, finishing as runners-up to Harry Judd and his partner Aliona Vilani. In 2012, Pasha was partnered with Girls Aloud star Kimberley Walsh. The pair were the series runners up. In 2013, Pasha partnered Countdown’s Rachel Riley.

Katya has been dancing since she was old enough to walk and began training in Modern Dance, Ballet and Tap whilst living in Israel. At the age of 16, Katya became the youngest ever British Columbian Latin Dance Champion and also won many competitions in Canada. In 2006, she won the Canadian Latin Championship. Katya choreographed moves in the movie Shall We Dance? (2003) and is featured in the movie itself - she also trained Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez on how to dance.

In 2006, Katya danced an iconic tango scene in the hit film Take The Lead with Antonio Banderas which became the signature image of the whole film. Katya has appeared in the last three series of Strictly Come Dancing on the BBC, being partnered with Sportsmen Phil Tuffnell, Gavin Henson and most recently Daniel Lobb. An Evening with the Stars of Strictly, starring Pasha Kovalev and Katya Virshilas, will run at the Wyvern Theatre until tomorrow. Book tickets today at http://swindontheatres.co.uk or call the Ticket Office on 01793 524 481.