Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Pasha is teaching our girls to dance
Rachel says daughters Maven and Noa are learning Strictly routines
RACHEL Riley says her young daughters are following in Mummy’s footsteps – by getting Daddy to teach them to dance.
The Countdown star, 38, has two girls with pro dancer Pasha Kovalev, who was her partner on Strictly in 2013. They went on to marry and he is now showing Maven, four, and Noa, two, some moves. Rachel said: “Both the girls love to dance. My husband is teaching them and obviously has that covered. “I played netball growing up and am a bit more sporty so I am hoping when my girls get a bit bigger they also get into sports so I can watch.” Yesterday Rachel was supporting The Big Help
Out’s nationwide weekend of volunteering. The math’s wiz helped coach netball at a school in West London and brought her daughters along. Rachel said: “I’m in a privileged position and I try to instil in the girls that it’s important to be kind and help people when you can. I try to lead by example and show them actions speak louder than words.
“Volunteering can really give you a big sense of purpose. You help others but you also gain a lot knowing you have done something worthwhile.”
Rachel and Russian Pasha, 44, have been housing four Ukrainian refugees at their home in the capital for two years. And she told how Sasha Borysenko, 29, her son Mykyta, nine, mother Luba, 60, and her aunt Gayla were now officially part of the family.
“When my daughters are asked if they have brothers and sisters they say they have a big brother now because that’s how they see Mykyta.
“They all play together which is really sweet. Sometimes we pick him up from school, sometimes they will pick our kids up. It is like having a big extended family living with you.”
With Pasha’s mum also staying, Rachel joked her husband was outnumbered by seven women.
She added: “As a dancer he is used to being surrounded by women. He is a real gentleman though, so loves it. He is always carrying things and opening things for us all.”
Volunteering can really give you a big sense of purpose