Misha SmaginMisha is a Ukrainian dance champion in the Youth Latin category. He was also a ballroom finalist on the hit Ukrainian TV show "So You Think You Can Dance," which had over 8000 competitors. Three years later, Misha returned to the show as a choreographer - the first choreographer in the history of the show that was a former participant. He left Ukraine and came to the United States in 2010. Misha has won numerous dance competitions all over the world. He also spends part of his time teaching his students. Misha and his partner Maria started dancing one year ago and had immediate success. They were finalists in the United States Rising Star Latin Category and finalists in the Rising Star Latin category in the 2012 World Championships.
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Maria LebedevaMaria Lebedeva was born in St. Petersburg, Russia. In 2008 Maria decided to end her professional dancing career in favor of getting married, starting a family, university, and working. Maria successfully finished St. Petersburg University majoring in International Relations, completed diplomatic training in United States, studied American History at Virginia Commonwealth University, and worked for the Russian government. She also has 3 years experience as a fitness instructor and 7 years as a dance-sport instructor and choreographer. After a 4 year hiatus from dancing, Maria decided to make a major life change – divorced, immigrated to the US, and returned to ballroom dancing. Besides dance, Maria enjoys diving, horseback riding, cross-country and alpine skiing, traveling, reading, psychology, and is writing a book about dance. Currently she lives and works in New York, dances competitively representing the United States with her partner Michael Smagin as one of the top Latin couples.
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