PASHA Kovalev and his partner Anya Garnis were back by popular demand with not one but two nights in Christchurch, well into an intensive 60-date tour and they showed no signs of flagging.

There have been various Strictly spin-off live shows, but this was a far more intimate affair featuring six professional dancers in total, and while there was no live orchestra or flashy sets the dancing was exquisite and the choreography superb.

Pasha won Strictly Come Dancing with Caroline Flack in 2014 and has scored more 10s than any other professional dancer since the series began and it was easy to see how.

Russia-themed songs such as Robbie Williams’ Party Like a Russian’ took us back to Pasha’s and Anya’s childhoods and there was a traditional Russian dance with National costume . Pre-recorded video clips featured the pair talking about how they left their families to follow their dream, both arriving in New York in 2001.

Some fascinating TV clips charted their discovery and success on American TV; their journey to Vegas and temporary separation when Pasha was invited to the UK to do Strictly, only for Anya to follow him onto the show two years later. Also punctuating the show were modern dance routines by the local First Position School of Dance– fledgling dance stars of the future.

One of my favourite parts of the evening was when Pasha got all the audience up dancing and then hand-picked three ladies to get up close and personal with him on stage! It was highly amusing.