October 2002 - Alena Korosteleva

Home: Rego Park, NY (USA)
Age: 15 years old
Years Dancing: 7 years
Specialties: Ballroom, Latin, Ballet, Jazz

I have been doing ballroom dancing for about 8 years and my love for it will never die. These eight years have been great, even through all of the ups and downs including competitions, studio changes, trainers, partners and other changes.

I have trained with so many wonderful people, who have encouraged me through these years, including Victor Kanevksy, Eugene Katsevman, Maria Manusova and Spencer Nyemchek. I know deep inside that I will never give up, even now at a time when I am searching for a partner, which is very difficult and hard on me, because I'm missing out on competitions and all the joys a partnership brings.

I can't live without ballroom dancing in my life and I love the determination and perseverance it takes. Whenever the day has taken a bad turn in school or at home, I come home, put on my dance tapes and just start dancing. It makes me so happy and I know it is my ultimate passion, which is at times hard to find, but I'm thrilled I have found mine. I also manage and teach a pretty successful dance club at my school. It has been a blast and so much thrill knowing that my teaching makes people happy.

Without dancing, my heart would have a hole. Hopefully, in the future, ballroom dancing will play a big part in my life.