This is a love story. She was 19 years old, petite but not dainty. He was slightly older, tall and confident, and already an accomplished dancer.

She passed him in the hallway of a dance school and smiled. Something made her turn and look back. He looked back, too.

Thus was the beginning of a life-long love affair not only with each other but, as a couple, with dance. It’s what they do. It’s who they are. 

Polina Pilipenchuk did the unthinkable. She quit dancing after the fifth grade because her partner was too short. And in Belarus — an Eastern European country that was part of the former USSR — quitting dance is not something you generally do. Dance is not a hobby in Belarus, it’s a way of life. It’s part of the culture, not just a pastime.

“There’s probably not a kid in Belarus who doesn’t dance,” Polina, now 43, says.

And one of those kids, who was a little better than the rest, was Igor Pilipenchuk. At 15, he was 6 feet 3 inches tall and played basketball for his high school. His lean build was made for sports, but his heart was made for the dance floor.

“I just wanted to dance,” Igor, 44, says. “Mostly to be around girls and be cool with a few friends.”

“He became one of the top dancers and the champion of the Republic of Belarus. He was very, very good,” said Polina, who went to several of Igor’s dance competitions in Minsk. “I thought he was so handsome. I never thought I would be able to dance with him.”

But Igor was looking for a partner and was willing to take on the challenge of a fifth-grade quitter.

“First we fell in love, but we didn’t dance with each other,” Polina says. “Then we danced together because we wanted to be together.”

Now it was Polina who was coming up short.

“I actually stretched myself about an inch and a half,” she says. “I worked on posture and elongated my spine. Because he’s so tall, I had to match him. He was always correcting my posture with a hand on my back.”

The couple practiced rigorously three times a day, followed by running and swimming.

“I was a beginner, he was a champion,” Polina says. “We had to practice twice as hard.”

No minute was spared. Even after practice, they were incorporating dance into everyday activities.

“We could never let ourselves relax,” Polina says.

Polina would place technique books that she had been studying on her head to work on balance. Igor carried a glass of water for hours at a time with his elbows raised high to perfect his posture. Thirty minutes every day, Polina would jump rope, just to “get her feet right.”

“We didn’t have a vacation for 15 years,” she says.

But in the end, practice goes only so far.

“Our success was that we had chemistry,” Polina says. “We understand each other. You need that magic connection, that important link.”

For them, it was Igor’s elegance and Polina’s femininity with a touch of fire.

They made great dancing look easy. 

The 10-Dance competition — a major one for all serious ballroom competitors — involves five Latin American dances and five standard ballroom dances. Competitors can’t choose their music. Judges want to see dancers think on their feet — literally.

“Ballroom dancing is all about how to use your feet and body weight in connection with the floor,” Polina says.

The pressure of competition never broke them, but Igor and Polina found that world recognition only forced them to work harder.

“Once we became champions, we didn’t want to lose,” she says. “We represented the United States, so we had to be good. We couldn’t let anybody beat us.”

It all added up to two U.S. National 10-Dance championships, four North American 10-Dance championships and a spot in the world 10-Dance finals. The many competitions and trophies have blurred over the years. Titles won have escaped their memories. But the drive to dance has never faded.

“Through it all, we just wanted to feel good about our dancing,” Polina says.

The couple married in 1985, the same year their son, Nikolai, was born. “In those days, we lived out of a suitcase,” Polina says. “Our family really helped us; they are very supportive.”

Nikolai, now 21, also has made dancing his career. His partner, Natalia Skorikova, 21, a dark-haired beauty with a shining presence, came from Belarus just to dance with him. They are now full-time competitors.

“They just need to practice more,” Igor says with a scolding tone.

No doubt the drive of a national-champion father will be an inspiration.

“Igor is very dedicated. Nothing in the world could stop him from dancing,” Polina says.

Igor and Polina haven’t stopped dancing together, but three years ago, they slowed it down a bit.

“We felt there were so many younger couples who needed a chance,” Polina says as she sits in the office of the Atlantic Ballroom, a Towson dance studio that she and Igor now own.

The studio once belonged to world-champion dancer Glennis Dee, who saw Igor and Polina dance in a 1992 competition in Utah and asked them to come to the United States to teach at her Towson dance school. Seven years ago, Dee turned the dance school over to Igor and Polina.

Suddenly, the couple from Belarus were business partners in America.

On any given night, the Atlantic Ballroom is a mix of old and young, most of whom have signed up for either private lessons or one of the many group lessons. Professionals and amateurs — whether alone or with partners — go over their moves under the critical eyes of the Pilipenchuks or one of their handful of top-notch instructors. Two left feet? It doesn’t matter. Polina will tell you that everybody can learn to dance. It’s a social soiree for singles and a pacifier for those with wedding-dance jitters.

An older woman floats by in the arms of a younger man, tilting her head back and letting him carry her through the steps. Her eyes are somewhere else. She looks as if she’s danced a thousand foxtrots, and her worn high-heeled dance shoes give her away.

Her partner is an instructor — tall, handsome, younger by decades. His name is Alexander Senko, a 2004 U.S. National Amateur 10-Dance champion.

The couple twirl in complex circles, gliding past other dancers, all the while maintaining the lines of perfect posture.

Every student learns from a dance-champion instructor. The key, however, is practice. Dancing doesn’t stop in the studio.

“I always wanted to be a dancer; I want my girls to dance,” Marina Gilkis says as she watches her 6-year-old twin daughters learn the salsa.

Her daughters excel in the small group and can stay in step with the instructor.

“We watch dancing on TV and practice every day,” Renata Gilkis says. “I like to dance fast.”

The patience of instructor Olga Chekhova, 24, is undeniable, as she struggles to keep the attention of seven girls and one distracted boy in a weekly dance lesson for children ages 3 to 6.

“The hardest part is teaching ballroom dancing, because we need more boys,” says Chekhova, who came to the United States from Belarus four years ago and is a U.S. National Amateur 10 Dance champion. “But I enjoy teaching the kids, because they love it, and they have smiling faces.”

Galina Tucker’s 4-year-old twins started taking lessons in July. It’s clear that Alina has a passion for dance; her brother, Alan, sometimes struggles to keep up.

“But every time music comes on, they move with it. It’s great exercise,” Tucker says.

A lot of the children come from Ukrainian families, and the cultural emphasis on dance has not escaped them.

“Dance was very popular where I grew up in Ukraine,” says Yuliya Klopouh, who has two daughters taking dance lessons at the studio. “It really didn’t get popular here until all of those TV dance shows. My dream was that if I had girls, they would become ballroom dancers.”

Out on the floor, the children are learning the basics, striving toward a complete dance. The faint sound of their voices can be heard above the music. They are counting out each step, speaking the numbers in Ukrainian. From the other side of the dance floor, Igor Pilipenchuk keeps a watchful eye.

cpeirce@baltimoreexaminer.com

Comments from Examiner Readers

7:10 PM MST on Sun., May. 4, 2008 re: "Prostitution: Worth police enforcement?"

the only one really seeing?? said:
How about the police going after the pimps and johns who are oppressing these women!! They are women before being labeled as prostitutes, and human beings above all!! I can't believe people; legalize prostitution?? Make this even easier for pimps and johns to continue to demoralize, abuse, torture, rape, and kill the women of OUR society?? These are our sisters, our daughters, our mothers;they're not aliens. Change the thought process and use the precious tax dollars for programs such as transitional housing and rehabilitation for the WOMEN, John schools for the 'johns', and harsher punnishments for the pimps. And please stop using the word PIMP in everyday language and descriptions! Do you know what a pimp does? Restructure the police force and actually "train" them on the realities of this IMMENSE wrong-doing of humanity in order to allow for correct policing. Help these women who are the victims of this vicious cycle! Break the cycle!! Address the actual problem, and OPEN YOUR E

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10:25 AM MST on Tue., Apr. 29, 2008 re: "Ranting & raving for the whole world to see"

Examiner Reader said:
Am I alone on this how many agree that REv Wright need to go back into the hole he was in before the primary elections and not give the impression that he is here to represent the Blacks of America and the Black Church of America. His views are only for him and the 500 people that attend his church. He is hurting everything that we have worked toward in the last 40+ years to be seen/heard and appreciated as part of the American dream. You are hurting US can you just be quiet. Concerned.

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9:06 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 10, 2008 re: "Ranting & raving for the whole world to see"

Examiner Reader said:
What does it mean when my boyfriend tells me that we fight every weekend (which I don't keep tabs on but we've been together since 11/07 till now, 4/08 and we've broken up seven times), and he only wants me for the week and to keep his weekends "open"??!

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8:49 PM MST on Mon., Dec. 31, 2007 re: "Fairfax chairman�s work is family enterprise"

Examiner Reader said:
Connolly is a typical irish catholic democrat who immigrated from Caambridge Massachusetts.He sells the typical Bostn irsh rethoric like the Kennedy's. We can all be persuaaded without thinking of what he is selling to the citizens of Fairfax County????

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2:30 AM MST on Thu., Dec. 13, 2007 re: "Sex, lies & a Ph.D."

Examiner Reader said:
I suppose Howard County Sheriff have nothing better to do than raid alleged prostitutes. The woman that reported her should feel awful. I wonder if she divorced her husband. I doubt it. I would also bet she thinks everything is ok now and her husband hasn't found someone else.

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8:14 AM MST on Thu., Oct. 18, 2007 re: "Cold cases bring broken hearts"

Examiner Reader said:
my mother was murder 23 year ago.What our the step to opening her cases

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8:38 PM MST on Thu., Sep. 20, 2007 re: "Dixon: Police must be trusted"

Examiner Reader said:
YOU say we must trust Dixon, how can we trust her when she does things like having her sister in her campagne which I know you will say is legal, I would think that with the very suggestion of having her sister have any part in the city gov is a mockery to all honest people of Baltimore, is dixon still being investigate for her so called lack of memory on the company's that got city work that should have been bid on. Or are the dem going to just push lthis under the rug. John

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7:45 AM MST on Tue., Jul. 31, 2007 re: "Korean community driven by success"

Examiner Reader said:
It's a very good article to understand Korean-American in this region.

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7:19 AM MST on Tue., Jul. 31, 2007 re: "Young Korean-Americans moving up and on"

An Examiner Reader said:
To Erica Simons on 5/8/07 your comments should read as follows: "Thanks. This helped my project a lot." Please note that there is no such word as "alot." It is "a lot." To The Examiner Reader on 5/3/07 your comments should read as follows: "On May 3, 1983, Willie Clark was killed during a holdup in his grocery store at 3202 Chelsea Terrace. His killer was never found. Please help." Neither one of you know your nouns, grammar, punctuation, or spelling. Go back to school.

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6:02 AM MST on Tue., May. 29, 2007 re: "NAACP's �Doc� is always on call"

Mr. Mirth Alert said:
The question is not whether the NAACP is relevant to young African Americans but whether it's relevant @all; however, as most natl. orgs. & institutions know, relevance varies among local chapters. If one can argue whether the natl. NAACP is relevant, Doc Cheatham ensures that there's no question about the Balto. chapter. He seems to've struck a fine balance betw. charismatic leader & entrenched worker, a balance lost in the likes of Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, & too many "natl." characters.

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4:57 AM MST on Tue., May. 29, 2007 re: "This �Doc� is always in"

Examiner Reader said:
Is the NAACP still relevant in the lives of young African Americans?

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6:16 AM MST on Mon., May. 28, 2007 re: "Making the grade: Teachers face pressure to meet much tighter education requirements"

Examiner Reader said:
It is senseless that someone who has been successfully teaching in any subject area for several years has to succomb to NCLB. As a Special Educator it is unrealistic for President Bush or anyone else to believe that all of our special ed students will meet the grade. It simply is not true! I am an older adult and career changer who decided to become a part of the Special Education mission in Maryland. I have not received help with my education or quest to become "highly qualified" as a Special Educator. I hold a MAT, in the past I have been teaching, going to school at night, trying to meet the many demands of my principal, and attempting to muddle through the mounds of paper work that is involved in teaching. I just recently graduated. Shouldn't there be a window of time for me to study and prepare for Praxis exams before being terminated? Why should career changers who have had to return to school to meet the educational requirements feet be held to the same fire?

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11:21 AM MST on Wed., May. 23, 2007 re: "Commuters give weeks to the ride"

Examiner Reader said:
Thats precisely why I'll do the minimum time fiishing my career after the BRAC and then will retire and move on to my next career. I dont deal with long commutes now and it wont become a way of life.

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6:31 PM MST on Tue., May. 22, 2007 re: "Growth taxing local water supplies"

Examiner Reader said:
Other than new constuction, baltimore water treatment operators make $10-$15,000 less than the operators surrounding the stae of maryland

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3:40 PM MST on Wed., May. 16, 2007 re: "Dixon: Police must be trusted"

Examiner Reader said:
As long as there are restrictions on firearms which denies everyone in Maryland the right to self defense there will be murders. People in Maryland should be fed up with the Mayor's nonsense. More guns-less crime.

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11:26 AM MST on Fri., May. 11, 2007 re: "Cold cases bring broken hearts"

Examiner Reader said:
My hearts goes to the parents who lost their love ones. Where I reside at my neighbor has not been out the house since her grandson was murdered and burn. It a shame that our culture is divided, we are the only one. Frank COnway stated it to a golden rule. No more do unto others before it is done unto you. From the Policitians, local officials cut out many resources which may have helped our young children out. All they were concern about was the Inner Harbor which took all of Public school money Ck it out we don't have books. Half of these joung adult can not read or write. It's terrible. Today a police officer killed a young man in the rear of 27 hundrend blk of North ave. U can bet they will paint the picture of him being a terrible young man. In my neighborhood along we had 5-6 killings none solved. The dirt bikes slow ride them you are bound to catch. U cell them, they buy them, everything is made out of this city or country we buy. Corner stor ckic wings, ffs, subs etc

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9:29 PM MST on Tue., May. 8, 2007 re: "Dixon: Police must be trusted"

Examiner Reader said:
I understand that they don't know what to do about dirt bikes in city. If they see these people riding in a certain area dress a cop up in there clothes have him ride with them follow them back to where they gather an arrest them.

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9:36 AM MST on Tue., May. 8, 2007 re: "Cold cases bring broken hearts"

Erica Simons said:
thanks this helped my project alot

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8:54 AM MST on Thu., May. 3, 2007 re: "Cold cases bring broken hearts"

Examiner Reader said:
may 3,1983, willie clark,was killed in a holdup in his grouceystore,on 3202 chelsea terr,his killer,was never caught.please help

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5:32 PM MST on Wed., May. 2, 2007 re: "Cold cases bring broken hearts"

Penny Baltimore said:
I read this article and I could feel these Parents pain. I have a similar pain! My son was shot on August 31,2006 which left his paralazed from his neck down as well as blind from the bullet that severed his spinal cord. I feel the pain of those parents because of the fact their children were killed! I get the joy and pleasure of watching my son every day struggle with being cleaned and changed. I get to watch MY son being feed threw a tube and I even get the chance to watch him CRY. I used to say that if he had died the police would have locked up the monster that did this, but, now I no that would never happen, even though they no who did it. I AM SO ANGRY AT WHAT IS HAPPENING TO GOOD KIDS AS WELL AS " BAD KIDS". I pray and wish for miracle for my son and the others SONS that are murdered, jailed or just left to perish by senseless acts of violence. Thanks for letting my let it out!

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7:56 AM MST on Wed., May. 2, 2007 re: "Dixon unveils plan to help stem violence"

Karl Chue said:
Where is the "innovation"? Why will people come forward when they know that criminals will simply be back on the street in a few hours, days, or months AND will know exactly who "snitched"? Why will "youths" turn away from the drug trade when is it the only financially lucrative path they see? How will getting illegal guns off the street make any difference when these thugs are perfectly happy to stab & bludgeon innocent people? If Dixon where really going to make a difference, she'd propose that all seized drugs be given away free to junkies. If junkies can get their fix for free, it would cripple the drug trade financially (which is the only reason it exists). Of course, that would lead to even more poverty in some areas of the city, but that is a better problem to have than thugs running free.

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1:32 AM MST on Wed., May. 2, 2007 re: "Dixon unveils plan to help stem violence"

Examiner Reader said:
Mayor Dixon has all the best intentions in the world, however Baltimore City does not need another weak save the children program. The youth have already proven they are unwilling to listen. What the the youth of baltimore understand now is violence, which is clearly reflected in the surge of gang violence. If Baltimore is to survive, it's time to stop dancing for the public and get dirty. Mayor Dixon needs to no longer spare the rod and release the unchained fury of the Baltimore police department to take back the City. The number of homicides would fall by hundreds if police were allowed to police. Sometimes a strong hand is best for reproving, not the sit down can we discuss your problem.

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9:44 AM MST on Tue., May. 1, 2007 re: "Cold cases bring broken hearts"

Karl Chue said:
The National Academy of Sciences and the Centers for Disease Control under the Clinton Administration studied 20 YEARS of scientific literature, research studies/ reports and academic books written on gun control laws. Their conclusion, based completely on FACT, not conjecture was that gun control laws could not be shown to have any affect on crime rates. As for "More guns not reducing violence": Switzerland has the highest rate of gun ownership in the world with 75% of people owning them, including a fully automatic military rifle plus 300 rounds of ammunition in every home. Their violent crime rates is equivalent to Japan's where private gun ownership does not exist. We don't punish criminal behavior in this country and thus reap what we sow.

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9:27 AM MST on Tue., May. 1, 2007 re: "Dixon unveils plan to help stem violence"

King said:
Karl Chue needs to go back to school and base his comments on reality, not RNC talking points. Fact: More guns do not reduce violence, EVER.

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8:39 AM MST on Tue., May. 1, 2007 re: "Cold cases bring broken hearts"

Karl Chue said:
This is completely logical given the lack of resolve in crime fighting from the City Council. They can't jail felons for long periods, they won't execute repeat violent offenders, they won't let officers chase reckless suspects, they won't let people defend themselves with firearms (i.e. carry permits), etc. This is the logical result of 60 years of coddling criminals.

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6:42 AM MST on Tue., May. 1, 2007 re: "Cold cases bring broken hearts"

Examiner Reader said:
Why do children have to kill children in Baltimore?

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