Ekaterina Leonova (23 April 1987, Age: 50 years old), also known as Ekat or Katya, is a Russian dancer who specializes in standard and Latin dances. She is best known for being a professional dancer on the German version of the TV show Let’s Dance, where she won three consecutive seasons from 2017 to 2019. She is also the partner of former German footballer Michael Ballack.
Early Life and Education
Ekaterina was born on 23 April 1987 in Volgograd, Russia. She grew up with her older sister, who is 13 years older than her. She started dancing at the age of 10, taking ballet lessons for seven years. She also developed an interest in folk dances, especially the Russian squat work and the split jumps.
She attended the State Institute of Arts and Culture of Volgograd, where she obtained a degree in dance pedagogy in 2007 and a social pedagogy qualification in 2008. She also participated in various dance competitions, winning the title of South Russian Youth Champion.
In 2008, she was crowned Miss Volgograd, which opened up new opportunities for her. She decided to move to Cologne, Germany, where she learned German and enrolled in a bachelor’s program in business administration at the University of Cologne. She graduated in 2014 and continued her studies at the Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, where she earned a master’s degree in 2018.
Ekaterina Leonova Wiki/Bio
| Name | Ekaterina Leonova |
| Nickname | Ekat |
| Date of birth | April 23, 1987 |
| Place of birth | Volgograd, Russia |
| Nationality | German |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Height | 1.74 m |
| Weight | 58 kg |
| Profession | Dancer |
| Partner | Michael Ballack |
| Awards | Let’s Dance winner (2017, 2018, 2019), Let’s Dance Profi-Challenge winner (2019), Miss Volgograd (2008), EU Cup winner (2012), World Cup winner (2012) |
| ekatleonova | |
| Website | ekaterinaleonova.de |
| Homepage | newsunzip.com |
Career and Achievements
Leonova began her professional dance career in 2004 when she partnered with Vladimir Shelomitsky. They competed in various national and international tournaments, reaching the finals of the DM S standard (2010-2012) and winning the WDC AL World Cup in 2013.
In 2008, she changed her partner to Paul Lorenz, with whom she represented Germany in the amateur category. They achieved remarkable results, such as second place in the GOC Rising Stars Standard 2010 the EU Cup, and the World Cup in 2012.
In 2013, she made her debut on the RTL show Let’s Dance, the German version of Dancing with the Stars. She was paired with Paul Janke, a former Bachelor contestant, and they finished third.
In the following seasons, she danced with different celebrities, such as Patrice Bouédibéla, Matthias Steiner, Julius Brink, Gil Ofarim, Ingolf Lück, Pascal Hens, Bastian Bielendorfer, and Timon Krause. She won the show three times in a row, with Gil Ofarim in 2017, Ingolf Lück in 2018, and Pascal Hens in 2019. She also won the special competition for professional dancers in 2019, with Massimo Sinató as her partner.
Ekaterina Leonova is widely regarded as one of the most successful and popular dancers in Germany. She has also appeared in other TV shows, such as Das Supertalent, Die Ultimative Chartshow, and Die 25. She has also performed in various dance shows and events, such as Let’s Dance Live Tour, Dance Masters, and Dance Deluxe.
Parents and Siblings
Ekaterina was born in Volgograd, Russia, on April 23, 1987. Her mother’s name is Vera and her sister’s name is Maria. They are shown visiting her often on her Instagram. There is no information available about her father or any other siblings. She grew up with a passion for dancing and won the title of South Russian Champion of Youth and Miss Volgograd in 2008.
Physical Stats
Leonova is a tall and slim dancer with an attractive appearance. Her height is 5 feet 8½ inches or 174 cm and her weight is 58 kg or 128 lbs. Her body measurements are 32-22-35 inches and her bra size is 32A. She has blonde hair and green eyes. She also has a spot on her right cheek and thick eyebrows as her distinctive features.
Nationality, Ethnicity and Religion
Ekaterina is a Russian national who moved to Germany in 2008. She learned German and became a German citizen in 2014. She represents Germany in the amateur category of ballroom dancing and also in the TV show Let’s Dance. She is of white ethnicity and has a mixed ancestry of Russian and German. There is no information available about her religious beliefs or practices.
Controversies
Ekaterina has faced some controversies in her career and personal life. In 2013, she was accused of having an affair with her dance partner Paul Janke, who was engaged to another woman at the time. They denied the rumors and said they were just friends. In 2019, she was rumored to be dating her dance partner Timon Krause, who was also in a relationship with another woman.
They also denied the allegations and said they were just colleagues. In 2021, she gave a tearful interview to RTL about her private life and the public speculation about her love life. However, some sources claimed that the interview was fake and planned by her to generate more attention and sympathy.
Personal life & Relationships
Leonova is in a relationship with Michael Ballack, a former German footballer who played for clubs such as Bayern Munich and Chelsea FC. They met in 2013 and have been dating since then. However, the current relationship status is not confirmed yet.
Net worth
She is active on social media, especially on Instagram, where she has over 300,000 followers. She often posts photos and videos of her dance routines, travels, and personal life. She also has a website, where she shares more information about her biography, projects, and contact details.
According to some sources, Ekaterina Leonova has an estimated net worth of $10 million, as of 2023. She earns most of her income from her dance career, TV appearances, and endorsements.
Ekaterina is a Russian dancer who specializes in standard and Latin dances. She is best known for being a professional dancer on the German version of the TV show Let’s Dance, where she won three consecutive seasons from 2017 to 2019. She is also the partner of former German footballer Michael Ballack. She has a degree in dance pedagogy and a master’s degree in business administration. She has competed in various national and international dance tournaments, winning several titles and awards. She is active on social media and has a website, where she shares more information about her life and career. She has an estimated net worth of $10 million, as of 2023.
