Tony Dovolani Biography:
Driton “Tony” Dovolani was born on July 17, 1973 in Kosovo. His first encounter with the art of dance was when he studied to become a folk dancer at the tender age of 3. His whole family relocated to the United States when he was 15 years old, and Dovolani jumped at the chance to enroll and study at the Fred Astaire Dance Academy, and has since then, gone on to win numerous championships, such as the 2005 Ohio Star Ball American Rhythm Championships, the 2005 World Rhythm Championships, the 2006 PBS American Ballroom Challenge Rhythm Championships and the 2006 Emerald Ball Open Professional American Rhythm Championships. He made his film debut in the popular romantic comedy, Shall We Dance?, and served as a dancing coach for singer and actress Jennifer Lopez.
Although he is the current world and undefeated US champion, Dovolani has only had little time to shine in the ABC reality series Dancing with the Stars. For the show’s second season, he was partnered with actress
Stacy Keibler , and they came short of becoming part of the Final 2. Dovolani’s second attempt to win the competition during the show’s third season was halted when his partner, country singer,
Sara Evans , left the show in order to take care of her divorce proceedings. On the show's fourth season, he was been paired with radio and television personality,
Leeza Gibbons , but they were the third pair eliminated. For the fifth season, he was paired with actress
Jane Seymour , and they were the seventh pair eliminated. On season six, Dovolani is paired with
Marissa Jaret Winokur .
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Dancing with the Stars Season 6 Results Exclusive Interview: Tony Dovolani of Dancing with the Stars (Photos courtesy of ABC)