Yuliya Samoylenko
UkraineEarly Life and Childhood
Born on May 27, 1992, in the small town of Chervonopartyzansk (now Voznesenivka after the 2016 renaming), Ukraine, Yulia Samoylenko's early life remains largely unknown. Her family moved frequently, with her stepfather joining the family when she was five. Despite the constant relocations, her parents provided their daughter with a loving home and worked hard to give her the best.
Education and Teenage Years
At 14, Samoylenko moved to Sverdlovsk, where she excelled academically and became an avid participant in extracurricular activities, including basketball, drawing, and dancing. Her passion for dance led her to join a dance group, setting the stage for her future career.
Dance Career
After graduating high school, Samoylenko moved to Kyiv and enrolled in the Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts as a choreographer. She quickly gained recognition as a talented dancer, performing in the show ballets of popular Ukrainian and Russian celebrities.
In 2014, Samoylenko's career took a significant turn when she participated in the first season of the popular dance show "Dances" on TNT. Her exceptional talent, stage presence, and fiery red hair made an unforgettable impression on the judges and audience, earning her a spot on Miguel's team. Although she left the show after the seventh competition, her performances left a lasting impact on viewers.
Personal Life
Despite the attention she received from the show, Samoylenko kept her personal life private. However, in 2016, she announced her marriage to Denis Kostenkov, a dancer in Egor Druzhinin and Igor Rudnik's show ballet. Unfortunately, their relationship ended in 2018.
Current Endeavors
Samoylenko continues to pursue her passion for dance, teaching and choreographing. Additionally, she has showcased her creativity through painting and fashion design, collaborating with her mother, an experienced seamstress, to create her own clothing line. Together with like-minded friends, she founded "Nit-Yu", a creative and dance hub in Moscow, offering workshops and rentals for various artistic pursuits.
