Elena Grinenko

Elena Grinenko is a professional National & World ballroom dance champion, choreographer, and instructor. She is the owner of Grinya Talent. Grinenko finished her competitive dancing career with Tony Dovolani. Together they are undefeated National and World champions in the American Rhythm Category. They recently retired from dance sport competitions and continued their careers as coaches and adjudicators all over the country. Elena Grinenko was born in Moscow, Russia, USSR, where she began ballroom dancing at the age of seven. In 1994, she emerged as the Latin Division winner at both the Moscow and National Championships. She graduated from high school in 1995, and from there went on to study various kinds of dances at the Art Academy of Russia. In 1998, Elena received the O-1 Visa for extraordinary people and immigrated to the United States of America. Two years later she received a Green Card. Elena became a United States Citizen in 2008. Her claim to fame is her role on ABC's hit "Dancing with the Stars."