Slavik Kryklyvyy is a professional ballroom dancer specializing in International Latin. Born and raised in Ukraine, he is currently residing in New York, USA. He and Joanna Leunis were amateur world champions in International Latin. In 2000 the couple took first place in the IDSF World Amateur Championship, the British Open, the ARD Masters Gala, and the IDSF European Latin Championship. After becoming a professional dancer, he won a number of competitions with various partners. His longest and therefore most successful partnership was with Karina Smirnoff, whom he split with in 2005. Kryklyvyy and then partner Smirnoff were featured in the film Shall We Dance?. Slavik was credited as the current Blackpool partner of Paulina and as dance instructor. Following the partnership with Karina, he paired with Elena Khvorova. They won second place in the 2006 and 2007 World Championships. He next had a short-lived partnership with Hanna Karttunen. In 2009-2010, Slavik Kryklyvyy partnered with Anna Melnikova, then amateur Latin champion, representing Russia in the international arena. Slavik and Anna were guest competitors as Show Performers. [More at Wikipedia]

January 1st, 1976 in Kiev (Age 48)