www.DanceLegends.com Interview with Slavik Kryklyvyy & Karina Smirnoff at Dance Legends on April 11 & 12, 2014 in New York City. Video credit: WM Productions
2014 was the year when Slavik met Karina again after 4 years of wandering....Karina should explain why she decided to marry an American in 2004 and left Slavik alone who then came to wander thru one partner and another until 2010 the year he finally retired...
I think that in competitions there are a set of judging criteria as well as subjective opinions towards couples. Slavik is such as talented and passionate dancer, and together with Karina they've created a great chemistry. They partnered up, they split up, they danced again. People are intrigued and touched by their stories, and I think that's what make them dance legends.
Bellabana . This is a fair and reasonable question. Legend status is not reserved only for those who have won world titles. Slavik and Karina have had major success in other ways. They are considered legends because of the influence, impact and affect they have had on the world of Dancesport over 2 decades or more. Which includes.1. The extraordinary artistic quality of show performances which Slavik together with Karina and other partners are regarded as among the very best that have ever been seen on a dance floor. Not one or two, but several of them which they still perform now some 15 years later to sell out venues.2 They were ranked No3 in the world.3. Slavik holds the all time record for the fastest rise to the top of the professional field in the history of dancesport. A feat that is reveared in Dancesport and i doubt will ever be matched.11 years i believe and that's about half the average of what is normal. This fact alone is testament to his prodigious natural dance talents.4. Karina has achieved enormous success not only in competitions but on DWTS.. 5. Karina has danced on Broadway theatre and has appeared on the Ellen de Generous show. She has earned celebrity status in the USA. 6. They are listed in the top 10 most memorable dance couple of all time in all dance styles by independent sources. Which includes the likes of Fred Astair and ginger Rodgers.7. Slavik with Anna Melnikova had a full length movie made depicting his dance journey to the top.I could go on but I hope these few fact show how when it come to achieving legend status, world titles are not the be all and end all. Cheers.
