Gleb Savchenko and Elena Samodanova seemingly made a perfect match, but ultimately, they weren’t able to last forever.
The Dancing With the Stars pro and Samodanova wed in July 2006 and went on to welcome two daughters, Olivia and Zlata. They split in November 2020.
“It is with a heavy heart that I tell you my wife and I are parting ways after 14 years of marriage,” Savchenko told Us Weekly in a statement. “We still intend to coparent our wonderful children together who we love so dearly, and we will strive to continue to be the best parents that we can to them. We ask that you respect our family’s need for privacy and healing during this time.”
Nearly one year after announcing their split, Savchenko and Samodanova finalized their divorce in October 2021. Samodanova and the now-exes’ daughters later moved to Hong Kong in 2023, with Savchenko often flying to visit from his home base of Los Angeles.
In July 2026, the exes were back in the news as they battled over where their daughters should live as they get older.
Scroll down to relive Savchenko and Samodanova’s relationship timeline:
July 2006
The Russian dancers exchanged vows in July 2006.
November 2010
Four years after tying the knot, the dancers welcomed their first child together, daughter Olivia.
July 2013
The duo struck a pose on the ballroom floor after spending time at a local dance competition in July 2013.
December 2014
“Family above everything,” the reality TV personality captioned a sunny selfie with Samodanova and their eldest daughter.
December 2015
During the 2015 holiday season, Savchenko and Samodanova hit the dance floor together for a performance in Florida.
June 2016
The professional dancers enjoyed some extra family time with daughter Olivia by the beach in June 2016.
May 2017
“All because two people fell in. L❤️V👶!!!” Samodanova teased via Instagram in May 2017 as she clutched her baby bump next to a shirtless Savchenko.
August 2017
Us exclusively confirmed in August 2017 that Samodanova had given birth to her second child, daughter Zlata. “Mother and baby are doing great and sister Olivia couldn’t be happier!” a rep told Us at the time. “Gleb was released from the Dancing with the Stars tour so he could join his family for this monumental occasion.”
October 2017
Having another baby didn’t keep the pair from lighting a fire in their love life — but Samodanova wasn’t worried about Savchenko’s chemistry with his DWTS partners. “We’ve danced together for more than 10 years and we’ve been married more than 10 years, so we learn how to separate work and home,” Savchenko told Entertainment Tonight. “That’s the secret, I think. And it’s been really successful so far.”
July 2018
Shortly after celebrating 12 years of marriage, the twosome opened their own dance studio in California, Pro Dance L.A. “My present, from him to me,” Samodanova told Entertainment Tonight in July 2018. At the time, Savchenko hinted that he was ready to continue expanding their family. “I want more! I want a boy,” he told the outlet.
November 2018
Samodanova shared a sweet selfie with her two daughters ahead of Thanksgiving 2018, reminding her Instagram followers to cherish every moment with their loved ones.
January 2019
The duo participated in the viral #10YearChallenge, sharing side by side photos of their transformations from 2009 to 2019. “Time really flies!” Samodanova teased via Instagram.
February 2019
After more than a decade together, the pair still only had eyes for each other. “Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone 💝 from our mini vacation with my hubby @glebsavchenkoofficial 💋! @rubythecreature such a cute little doggie 🐶,” the mother of two wrote via Instagram alongside a snap of her and Savchenko posing poolside with their pooch.
January 2020
“Happy New Year 🍾from #savchenkofamily to yours! 🙏 May this 2020 be filled with lots of love and happiness. 💋🥂,” Samodanova captioned a celebratory selfie as she rang in 2020 with the model.
July 2020
The twosome celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary in July 2020 by sharing throwback photos from their special day. “Two souls but with a single thought, two hearts that beat as one. Happy 14th Anniversary my love ❤️ @elenasamodanova,” Savchenko gushed via Instagram at the time. Samodanova, for her part, posted a montage of her favorite moments from the last 14 years. “Real Love stories never have endings,” she wrote.
October 2020
“Happy Birthday to my wife, my best friend, best mother to my kids, brains behind the operation and just simple love of my life ❤️,” Savchenko gushed via Instagram in October 2020 alongside a family photo. “Thank you for being you! We wish you lots love and happiness, I hope you’ll have an amazing day, we all love you very much ❤️.
November 2020
After 14 years of marriage, Savchenko announced “with a heavy heart” that he and his wife were going their separate ways. “We still intend to coparent our wonderful children together who we love so dearly, and we will strive to continue to be the best parents that we can to them. We ask that you respect our family’s need for privacy and healing during this time,” he told Us in November 2020.
December 2020
Samodanova officially filed for divorce one month after the duo announced their split. Earlier that month, she told her Instagram followers that she was “passed” at Savchenko when he was spotted on a romantic getaway with then-girlfriend Cassie Scerbo.
March 2021
Savchenko asked for joint legal and physical custody of the pair’s two kids, later requesting that he receive spousal support from Samodanova. He also asked for his estranged wife to pay his legal fees.
April 2021
The pair put on a united front while on a family vacation with their daughters in Mexico. One month prior, Savchenko told ET that he and the dancer were on “great terms.”
June 2021
“We tried to make it work. There were several times we broke up, we lived separately for a little bit,” Savchenko reflected during an episode of Jana Kramer’s “Whine Down” podcast, adding that he has “huge respect” for his former spouse. “I tried my best to make it work, she tried her best to make it work. … You have to communicate. … When [the split’s] in its early stage, it’s hard to do because you can’t stand each other. You’re like, ‘I don’t want to see your ass at all.'”
August 2021
Samodanova updated fans on the divorce process during an Instagram Story Q&A, noting at the time that the paperwork would be finalized “very soon.” She also noted that she and her estranged husband have become “more gentle” with each other while coparenting. “He is [the] father of my kids, I wish him all the best,” she wrote.
October 2021
The pair finalized their divorce nearly one year after announcing their split, agreeing to share joint legal and physical custody of their daughters.
January 2022
After Samodanova requested a change in the pair’s visitation and child support agreements — and asked her ex to pay more of her attorney’s fees — in December 2021 court docs, Savchenko alleged in a statement to Us that there was “misinformation being spread” about him and his time on the DWTS tour.
“While I was [hoping] to keep our divorce amicable and private for the sake of my children, I feel I must now respond to set the record straight,” he said. “To clarify, my DWTS tour schedule runs from January 3 to March 27, and I have one day off each week. Due to our 50/50 custody split, that means there are five weeks where I would have allocated time with my children. I will be flying home one day each week to be with my kids.”
The dancer also denied rumors about him traveling to Mexico or Sweden for career opportunities, adding that he hired a previously vetted and “respected” nanny who “has been living at my residence and supporting with childcare since our divorce was finalized.” Savchenko also clarified that his ex-wife received multiple properties as part of their settlement.
He concluded, “I have and will continue to put the best interests of my children first. I would ask for privacy and respect for my children, as we continue to navigate this post-divorce litigation as a family.”
February 2022
In court docs obtained by Us, Samodanava requested primary custody of the pair’s children, claiming her former spouse “refused to amend the schedule amicably” and “was not available to take care of our daughters” due to his “long work hours and travels.” Samodanava asked that Olivia and Zlata stay with her on all weekdays and every other weekend when Savchenko is in town. “I have facilitated visits when [Savchenko] is in Los Angeles and has the time to see our children as his schedule allows. I will continue to do so,” she claimed in the docs.
A hearing is scheduled for March 21, 2022, shortly before Savchenko concludes his run on the DWTS tour.
July 2024
Savchenko spoke to Us about Samodanova’s move to Hong Kong with Olivia and Zlata.
“It’s really, really hard to stay connected because of the time difference. But I try my best,” he said. “I visited them during Christmas. I took them to Thailand for three weeks. … I think my ex-wife [is] a great mom and she loves her girls,” he told Us. “She does so much for them.”
August 2025
Samodanova announced that she is pregnant with her third baby, her first with boyfriend Vlad Kvartin. Savchenko celebrated the news in the comments of her Instagram post.
“Congratulations 🎉,” he wrote. “I’m so happy for you guys ❤️❤️❤️❤️.”
July 2026
According to court documents obtained by Us Weekly on July 14, Savchenko’s legal team filed an ex parte application for emergency orders to modify his existing child custody and visitation orders with Samodanova.
The DWTS pro requested the court rule that his oldest daughter, Olivia, remain in California and enroll in high school in Los Angeles.
Samodanova said she would fight the request, telling Us, “Olivia is thriving in Hong Kong — she attends a top school and is an elite ballroom dancer. Gleb’s actions directly jeopardize her future, her education and her athletic progress.”
A hearing is scheduled for August 2026.
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