A little video from 2009 which shows how well Aliona and Rav were getting along. Unfortunately it didn't stay that way, and Aliona has adjusted the way she sets up the teacher/student relationship to try to prevent it happening again - so far so good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yB2_LEGUyyA

Michael and Aliona's Tango from the BBC in very high definition.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXRHLhjZQHI

They seemed to get along right up until they got voted off then Rav took it really badly. On the last ITT he mentions Aliona's choreography and she actually rolls her eyes which I don't blame her for because she's put a lot of work into the routine and it was a fun dance and certainly was'nt the worst. They were probably in the bottom two because he was'nt well known and Aliona was new and did'nt have a lot of British fans either. It was a shame they went so early I enjoyed their partnership, I still remember the line "I feel like a sqizzed lemon"

Yes well done to Cassidy and Natalie unfortunetly I missed the results show but their dance was fanastic. Feel a bit sorry for Anna her dance was great too.

Loved Aliona and Matt's Tango, there are not many dances of Aliona's I don't like. Maybe I'm biased but I always felt that the judges were being picky through Matt and Harry's series but it back-fired as far as I am concerned because it made me vote for them even more.

Yes, Rav did seem to put a lot of weight on what the judges said - which is understandable.

At times I have seen the judges talking before the dances and Alesha and Bruno seemed to me to be swayable by what Len thought, based on the rehearsals. So Aliona may have been up against Craig's opinion and 3 versions of Len's opinion.

There was no dance-off in those two series, so the judges couldn't influence things as much through that. It may be that the producer used them a bit to tweak the scoreboard, or it may be that Matt and Harry were considered safe enough to mess about a bit to make things look more competitive.

It must be rewarding for Michael after 16 years of campaigning to see 2 vaccines being approved and now about to be used to protect children from meningitis B and W.

http://www.itv.com/news/border/updat...vaccine-plans/

The vaccine for meningitis C has been used since 1999 and has reduced cases to a handful a year.

There are also strains A, X and Y so there is still work to do, but the major killers and maimers of children are now being brought under control.

I did predict that it would last - way back when they were courting.

Vincent and Aliona's first wedding anniversary.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CCGAim4WIAA7PLE.jpg

I'd like to see Aliona choreograph a Jive to You're a Good girl.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogVAUl6q8Ww

It would probably have to be a pro dance, or for a celeb who can dance.

A final? reminder of Michael and Aliona.

https://mtc.cdn.vine.co/r/videos/0B7...HmZHRV9qFK1qaD

Hope we hear soon that Aliona's coming back to Strictly, the suspense is killing me!

Just seen the article on the other thread, she's back

She IIISSSSSS!

Welcome back Aliona - mwaaah!

It's brilliant news is'nt it, I had a horrible feeling she would'nt be.
Looking forward to Strictly now bring it on Aliona

Thrilled to see the lovely/firecracker Aliona back as well

She's back yay!

Now give her someone with some potential for a change!

Hopefully Aliona will be dancing at Victory in Europe Day.

A tweet from Aliona about the DWTS Tour 2009.

The photo of Aliona on the forklift - WoW! - unfortunately just a small photo.

https://twitter.com/AlionaVilani/sta...15529202917377

Aliona's last day as a 30 year-old.

Nothing to worry about when you look this old at 30.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B7zUFpvIgAAXRzW.jpg

She does look very young.

Happy Birthday Aliona

I'll second that - Happy Birthday Aliona.

A BBC video of Episode 4 - the Training, Tango with Michael and the judging.

http://aliona-media.org/video/the-pe.../episode-four/

Kavanagh good time in Athens.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CEMHAT9W0AEvlO0.jpg

A tweet by Aliona of an interview with Michael about his time on The People's Strictly.

https://twitter.com/AlionaVilani/sta...64826445230080

The pages.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CFX9bnJWMAABFiJ.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CFX9bn-WoAI_pbO.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CFX9bpTWgAAyIGu.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CFX9bqJW8AAtY8n.jpg

Quoting one paragraph where Michael is talking about Aliona.

Michael was often frustrated at his progress but loved working with Aliona, and the pair became such good friends. “I love her to bits. She is so warm and genuine.” that she spent a lot of time socialising him and Patsy and their friends when she came to Dumfries for training. He was thrilled that Aliona took the time to visit the Alexandra Unit and Ward 15 at Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary with him – and that she was so impressed with Dumfries that she brought her husband Vincent Kavanagh for a visit, too.

totally agree with Michael on that statement, loveliest lady ever!

Yes Olive, we have known that for a long time.

I can understand some people being surprised by how well Aliona and Michael got on, because most of the early editing showed Aliona only in taskmaster training mode and it contrasted with the training of some of the other 'People'.

Aliona has explained why it was tough training and Michael understood that and saw the results being achieved. It was touch and go and they only just made it to an excellent outcome - which showed that all the hard work was necessary.

I love that Michael has quite a bit of fulfilment now - not just the dance turning out well, but since then two more meningitis vaccines have now been started on the process of being used to save children from death or maiming.
And all Michael's work being associated with his son Dave, means that Dave also goes down in history as contributing to saving those children.

I think it came across in the interview on BBC Breakfast time how much Michael thought of Aliona, I think he could see his time with her coming to an end.