How the 11-year-old son of Russian immigrants became the world champion and the USA in ballroom dancing

Daniel Novikov is the 11-year-old world and US champion in ballroom dancing. Mom Daniel owns a dance studio in the USA and trains her son herself. According to her, despite recognition and success, Daniel remains a child, loves to have fun and enjoys spending time with friends.

Photo: video frame VOA

“Everyone says, 'Of course you'll win again,' but I don't think so. When you have won once, it is much more difficult to continue winning,” Daniel is quoted as saying Voice of America.

“You need to keep learning and never give up,” the 11-year-old is convinced. “That's exactly what I did to become a champion.”

Daniel speaks good Russian, although he gave part of the interview in English.

The young man invites you into his room and shows you the most important cup - awarded for winning the World Ballroom Dancing Championships in 2018. In the room, the walls and cabinets are literally strewn with various awards, almost all of them for first places in competitions and competitions.

Photo: video frame VOA

“I dance a lot every week, about two hours a day, sometimes I skip a day and then double the time the next,” says Daniel. — When preparing for competitions, we train a lot. My friends have more free time than me. They have more time for homework: if I have half an hour or an hour, then they have the whole day. They go to parties, participate in school events. And I dance more. I don’t have much time for all this, but I’m happy because I really like it.”

According to Daniel, at school he is often addressed: “Hello, ballerina!” and laugh at him, but the boy is not embarrassed.

Photo: video frame VOA

“I know that I am one of the best dancers in America and in the world,” Daniel says. “No matter what others say, I won the title. I am a great dancer. My real friends treat me well and support me.”

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Photo: video frame VOA

The young champion also likes public school; he is in sixth grade. I like both the study itself and the opportunity to see friends. Favorite subject is mathematics. He also plays music: he plays the saxophone.

Photo: video frame VOA

“I don’t know what I’ll be when I grow up. There is still a lot to learn, but we will see,” admits Daniel. - I like the way I live. I am happy with my success in dancing and everything else. I don’t wish for a better life.”

Voice of America journalists took the first part of the interview when the young man was preparing for the Hollywood Dancesport tournament, which was to take place the next day. We'll tell you how the tournament ended below.

For the 4 year, Daniel has been dancing with partner Michelle Vishnevsky, who also speaks Russian. Both Daniel and Michell were born in America.

Photo: video frame VOA

Daniel has two dance trainers - Alla and Alex.

“Also known as my mom and dad,” the boy jokes. “I became a champion thanks to them and the care and work that they put into my classes.”

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Photo: video frame VOA

Alla Novikova says about herself: “In the morning I am a mother, at home I am a mother. But as soon as I walk into the studio, I am a coach and a teacher. I am strict, serious, demanding."

With her future husband, Alexander Alla met in Russian Saratov, in a dance studio. Since then, the couple has been inseparable. Alexander really wanted to show his beloved woman California. According to Alla, her husband convinced her every day, but she was fine in Russia too: she had a dance studio, her own team, she received a judicial category ...

To buy one-way tickets, they sold a car. They arrived, taking nothing with them, except for enthusiasm. Alla missed the dance studio very much and the couple decided to look into the studio in California to understand how the local dance world lives. They were accepted and invited to work.

Photo: video frame VOA

“We came here with only two suitcases and I didn’t speak English at all,” Alla admits. — We came to the studio and were told that tomorrow we needed to start teaching. But I didn’t know how to say “go right” or “left.” I literally had to learn everything in one day. I don’t know how, but everyone liked me. I taught them dancing, and they taught me language. That's how I learned English."

“Now we live here, we have a house, a family, children were born in America. Daniel is the oldest, he's 11. Then Michael, he's six. And Angelina, she’s 4 years old.”

Photo: video frame VOA

Alla gets up at 4: 15-4: 30 in the morning, picks up the children and takes her to school, and then goes to the studio. Own dance studio has always been her dream: she wanted to raise couples that would represent her name. And the dream came true with the support of the spouse.

After 5 years of work in America, the couple saved the right amount of money and decided to open a dance business. At first, the studio consisted of two teachers, then they began to hire others. Alexander admits that he always wanted to prove to himself whether he could achieve something in another country. Now in the studio the load is such that sometimes there is not enough space for everyone.

“I was always afraid that my children wouldn’t want to dance, and I’m incredibly happy that Daniel really likes it,” says Alla. “When I was pregnant, I taught until the last day, and he started pushing when the music started or stopped. At that moment I felt his special connection with music.”

Photo: video frame VOA

The boy admits that he doesn’t feel like his parents are forcing him to dance. He likes it because dancing is interesting.

“It’s the best sport,” Daniel says.

Before the competition you have to get up very early. The dancer is given a hairstyle so that the hair does not get out during the performance, everyone dresses smartly and the whole family goes to the competition.

“We have to perform well and show everyone that we are still worthy of this title,” says Daniel.

Together, Daniel and Michella have already won the World Championship - the first American couple to do so.

Photo: video frame VOA

At the Hollywood Dancesport, the couple passed another test and again won first place.

Photo: video frame VOA

“Obviously, we do this to compete and win. But these are all small victories. The main victory is all of us, that we have each other and love each other,” says Alla.

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