Akhtem Seitablayev inspired Alena Shoptenko to start an acting career. Akhtem, how do you manage to combine work with dancing?

Star couple updated project Dancing with Stars (1+1) Alena Shoptenko and Akhtem Seitablayev revealed behind-the-scenes secrets.

Press service 1+1

On Sunday, October 15, on the TV channel 1+1 The quarterfinals of the legendary updated project will take place Dance with stars.

With each broadcast, the tension on the floor and in the dance halls grows: everything celebrity couples project they want to receive the title of the best dancers of Ukraine. Thus, Akhtem Seitablayev and Alena Shoptenko said that they spend 6-8 hours a day in training, and also admitted who is the boss in their pair:

“It is a great honor for me to go on the floor with such a professional person as Alena. To be honest, I was even afraid to dance with her: what could I give to the two-time world champion in ballroom dancing. I admit that at first there was fear, but Alena is a very sociable person. Interestingly, the question of who is in charge in our couple did not arise. It was immediately clear that Alena. “We have a matriarchy,” joked Akhtem Seitablayev.

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In turn, Alena Shoptenko said that she is learning acting from her partner and is even thinking about a film career:

“I’m less strict with Akhtem than with anyone else. It's simple: I don't need to be very strict with him, because Akhtem does everything I ask him to do. He doesn’t need to be persuaded or asked several times, he comes to the gym and works hard. I think it's very masculine. In turn, I also study at Akhtema, especially when it comes to acting and building dramaturgy in our performances,” said Alena.

Alena also admitted that, as in the first season Dances with stars, confidently goes to the finals:

“I was 18 years old back then and I wasn’t thinking about winning, I was just doing my job and enjoying the world of choreography and communicating with my partner. After 10 years, I still love dance, I want to create performances on top level and give emotions to the audience. After all, the process is victory,” the dancer admitted.

It’s interesting that Akhtem and Alena still address each other as “you”:

“It's natural for me. I very often address people whom I respect very much as “you”. We feel so comfortable, and this is the most important thing,” admitted Alena Shoptenko.

Note that this Sunday all participants will perform two dances: ballroom and modern choreography. In turn, in one of his performances in the quarterfinals, Akhtem Seitablayev will turn into Alexei Vronsky from the novel by Leo Tolstoy, and his partner Elena Shoptenko will play Anna Karenina.

See photos with Alena Shoptenko and Akhtem Seitablayev:

Let us remind you that Sergei and Snezhana Babkin, Dmitry Komarov and Alexandra Kucherenko, as well as Yuri Tkach and Ilona Gvozdeva. After performing the “dance for life” by the couple Yuri Tkach and Sergei Babkin, the judges had to decide the fate of the participants. Thus, MONATIK and Vlad Yama cast their votes for the Babkins, Ekaterina Kukhar - for Yuri Tkach. Thus, Yuri Tkach and Ilona Gvozdeva should have left the project, but Dmitry Komarov noble deed changed this result, giving way to Yuri Tkach in the show.

Almost always silent on the floor, in the editorial office of "KP" in Ukraine, Akhtem Seitablayev and Alena Shoptenko allowed themselves to relax a little and talk heart-to-heart with readers and TV viewers. For example, the couple admitted that the hours spent together on dance project channel "1+1" are very valuable to them. Akhtem and Alena answered many questions with humor. In general, as they say, we are always for a sincere and lively conversation.

- Akhtem, how do you manage to combine work with dancing?

Akhtem Seitablayev.- Once the famous director Nikolai Akimov said that creative person there are two states. One thing is when no one needs you. The second is when you are fully loaded. The second one is better. And a schedule is not the most difficult thing that can happen in life. I like it, I discover a lot of new things.

- How much time do you spend on training?

Alena Shoptenko:- Training lasts from 3 to 6 hours. Depends on the day. Today, for example, we will work all day, but at two sites. First in the hall for 4 hours, then 2-3 hours in the pavilion.

- How are your classes with Alena going?

Seitablayev.- Differently.

Shoptenko.- Just don't tell the whole truth, please. Don't say I'm hitting you (laughs).

Seitablaev:- When people ask me how I dance, I always tell an old joke about flying elephants in the circus. Firstly, it is a great honor for me, my coach is a two-time world champion, European champion. She's a professional. It was a challenge, I was even afraid to train, I thought, what can I give to a two-time world champion in dancing? But Alena is a very sociable person, so we had no questions about who was in charge here. It was clear right away. We have a matriarchy.

- Alena, are you a strict teacher in general?

Shoptenko.– I’m less strict with Akhtem than with others.

Seitablaev:- I’m just older (laughs).

Shoptenko:- Try to force you to do something (laughs). In fact, from the point of view of my profession, it is very correct to constantly adapt to the person with whom you work. It should be. The same methods cannot be applied to different people. I don’t need to be strict with Akhtem, because he does everything anyway. No need for extra words, no need to persuade you to study. He comes to the hall, is silent and does what is asked. And it's masculine.

I don’t agree that we have a matriarchy. We often change roles. This is also correct, because there must be harmony in the couple. In any case, my task is to work for Akhtem. I need to pull out all its dance qualities, wrap it up beautifully, bring it to the viewer’s judgment and make it so that they like it. I think everything is working out so far. This is the result general work and general aspiration. And, of course, colossal hard work and efficiency.

-Have you ever swore at rehearsals?

Seitablaev:- I tried to create some conflict situations(laughs). Dance is a different genre than theater or cinema. And sometimes it is not clear where a dance or a movie begins or ends. But then I understand that in most cases I am wrong when I see the dance as a whole - with music, scenery, emotions.

- Alena, can you shout at Akhtem? Or, for example, hit your stiff knees?

Shoptenko:– As a rule, I don’t engage in assault and don’t see the point (laughs). After all, Akhtem is an accomplished, adult man; this would be very wrong. And Akhtem’s knees bend well. There have never been any problems with them. How can I allow myself to shout at Akhtem? It seems to me that this is impossible and should not be so. I have no desire to dominate. As Akhtem said, we do argue sometimes, but this is a very correct creative argument. I also learn a lot from Akhtem in terms of dramaturgy. The hours spent with Akhtem in the hall are very valuable to me.

- You know what’s interesting: do you still address each other as you?

Seitablaev: This does not prevent you from respecting a person and addressing you. Alena, am I not offending you by this?

Shoptenko: No. It's natural for me. I often address many people to you, this is normal for me. We are comfortable.

On October 15 at 21:00 on the 1+1 TV channel the quarter-finals of the legendary updated project will take place.

There are only a few days left before the grand finale of “Dancing with Stars,” so with each broadcast the tension on the floor and in the dance halls is growing: all the star couples of the project are striving to receive the title of the best dancers of Ukraine. Thus, Akhtem Seitablayev and Alena Shoptenko said that they spend 6-8 hours a day in training, and also admitted who is the boss in their pair:

“It is a great honor for me to go on the floor with such a professional person as Alena. To be honest, I was even afraid to dance with her: what can I give to a two-time world champion in ballroom dancing. I admit that at first there was fear, but Alena is a very sociable person. It’s interesting that the question of who is in charge in our couple did not arise. It was immediately clear that Alena is a matriarchy,” joked Akhtem Seitablayev on the online newspaper “KP in Ukraine.”

In turn, Alena Shoptenko said that she was learning acting from her partner and would even think about a film career:

“I’m less strict with Akhtem than with anyone else. It’s simple: I don’t need to be very strict with him, because Akhtem does everything I ask him to do. He doesn’t need to be persuaded or asked several times, he comes into the hall and works hard. I think it’s very masculine. In turn, I also learn from Akhtem, especially when it comes to acting and building drama in our performances,” said Alena.

Alena also admitted that, as in the first season of “Dancing with Stars,” she is confidently heading towards the finals:

“Then I was 18 years old, and I didn’t think about winning, but just did my job and enjoyed the world of choreography and communication with my partner. After 10 years, I also love dance, I strive to create performances at the highest level and give emotions to the audience . After all, the process is victory,” the dancer admitted.

It’s interesting that Akhtem and Alena still address each other as “you”:

“For me, this is natural. I very often address people whom I respect very much as “You”. We feel so comfortable, and this is the most important thing,” admitted Alena Shoptenko.

Note that this Sunday all participants will perform two dances: ballroom and modern choreography. In turn, in one of his performances in the quarterfinals, his partner Alena Shoptenko will play Anna Karenina.

Let us remind you that in the last issue the lowest number of points based on the total result of both broadcasts and the weekly audience voting received Sergei and Snezhana Babkin, Dmitry Komarov and Alexandra Kucherenko, as well as Yuri Tkach and Ilona Gvozdeva. After the “dance for life” was performed by the couple Yuri Tkach and Sergei Babkin, the judges had to decide the fate of the participants. Thus, MONATIK and Vlad Yama cast their votes for the Babkins, Ekaterina Kukhar - for Yuri Tkach. Thus, Yuri Tkach and Ilona Gvozdeva had to leave the project, but gave way to Yuri Tkach in the show.

Watch the quarterfinals of the updated “Dancing with Stars” on October 15 at 21:00 on the “1+1” TV channel, and also vote for your favorites.