Vitals: Katya Virshilas Age: 27 From: Canada Job: Actor/Dancer Height: 5ft 6in Weight: 8 stone
Why were so many of you tuning in on a Saturday night to watch Auntie’s primetime competition, Strictly Come Dancing? Nothing to do with a large part of the show involving beauties like December’s cover star Kara Tointon and the wonderful Katya Virshilas, wearing what look like rhinestone-covered tea towels, is it? Must be, because it can’t be for the dancing, everybody knows, mortal men should never, ever dance…
Visit anywhere with a dancefloor on a Saturday night and you’ll see it. Flocks of men lurking in the shadows, hoping they can get away without entering the gladiatorial arena. And then there are the poor lost souls who’ve found themselves in the thick of it. Shuffling about like recently re-animated zombies. Dancing always goes wrong somehow, and sometimes in spectacular fashion, like the time FHM high kicked an alco-pop into a girl’s face while recreating David Bowie’s moves from the Dancing In The Street video. We shouldn’t do it.
Lucky then that 27-year-old Katya, who’s of Russian, Lithuanian and Israeli heritage, but calls herself a Canadian, is on hand to give us a crash course.
“If you want to impress a girl, keep it simple. I think the best dance move is to take a women in your arms, add a nice dip, a Hollywood dip and a turn. Just show you’re trying.”
After partnering Phil Tufnell last year, Virshilas has landed teak-coloured celebrity rugby player Gavin Henson this time. And faced with the fullback’s formidable feet, Katya has had to break his bad habits like he was a hair-gelled horse.
“Yeah, you have to break them,” she tells FHM. “I get very annoying, shouting ‘shoulders up, head forwards, hips back…’. With Gavin, one of the most difficult things was getting him to show his emotions. On the rugby pitch, you’re not allowed to show them but they’re important for dancing.”
Having begun dancing at three putting on shows for her parents, Katya is now a highly skilled dancer who’s appeared in films and TV shows such as Take The Lead, and Supernatural. Despite her vast experience, there are still some moves that she would never attempt.
“In the movie White Nights, a dancer called Mikhail Baryshnikov does 11 pirouettes in a row, on one leg. I couldn’t even try that.”
Dancing is difficult, but the rewards can be vast. For sportsmen like Henson, dancing exercises parts of the body that usual training won’t reach.
“Gavin’s been with a rugby fitness coach recently, and he’s amazed with his new skills. His balance has improved, he’s quicker on his feet, there’s a huge amount of things he can take with him back to the pitch.”
Things we’re sure the front row of the Welsh squad will be happy to critique. Though according to Katya, dancing is just as physical as a game of rugby.
“I’ve broken my dance partners’ noses – accidents happen, especially with dances like the tango which is so feisty. But you’ve got to work with it, if you fall, you have to get on with it.”
And what of the outfits? Fairly revealing. Do they help or hinder a performance?
“We dance in three-inch heels, my toes are the ugliest part of my body now. But the most embarrassing thing to happen is underwear going up my bum, or something slipping on my dress. You have to watch out for anything popping out.”
Dancing a decent rumba might be beyond us, but that, we can definitely do.