It's rare to see Ekaterina Leonova (39) this emotional. At the award ceremony for the Deichmann initiative Germany's Fittest Elementary School in Hagelstadt, Bavaria, the Let's Dance professional dancer had to hold back her feelings several times. As patron, she presented the local elementary school with the title - and revealed afterwards why the event touched her so deeply.
She was overwhelmed by the atmosphere the moment she entered the school. "I didn't expect tears to come to my eyes," Leonova said. The enthusiasm of the students reminded her of her own childhood. "I noticed how much effort the children put in and how many genuine emotions were in the room. It was indescribably beautiful."
Ekaterina Leonova dances with the children - and partner Ilya joins in
For Leonova, it was a given that she wouldn't just stand on stage, but would actively participate with the children. She danced along to the routine the elementary school students had practiced - and her partner Ilya Viarmenich also got caught up in the atmosphere.
"He doesn't like being in the spotlight," she said with a laugh. Nevertheless, in the end, nobody could sit still: "All the parents stood up too, even the mayor danced along."
The boys in particular were enthusiastic about Viarmenich's hip-hop moves. "All the girls were with me, all the boys with Ilya," Leonova recounted. Male role models in particular could show boys that dancing is "cool."
That's why she took on the patronage for the Deichmann initiative, "because it's an important message we should convey to all adults: Children can't do this alone. Only together with adults can we ensure that children get enough physical activity and have the freedom to discover something different in themselves - whether athletic, creative, or in completely different directions."
"I was a wild child"
The four-time Let's Dance winner also revealed that as a child, she was by no means the disciplined model student she is often perceived as today. "I had a lot of energy," she recalled. Instead of sitting still, she preferred climbing walls or playing with other children.
Her ambition only developed later. While she finished elementary school with a grade point average of about 2.0, from seventh grade onwards she consistently achieved top grades, according to her own account.
Her dance career was also far from straightforward: At seven years old, she was kicked out of dance class after only three months. It wasn't until she was ten that she found her way back to the dance floor - laying the foundation for her later career.
House construction becomes a test of patience
Privately, Leonova is currently dealing with completely different construction sites - in the most literal sense. She's building a house together with her partner. However, the original timeline is long gone.
"Everything costs much more and takes much longer than planned," she said openly. Originally, the couple, who made their relationship public in February 2025, wanted to move in during the summer. Now she's hoping for October, but considers a move-in in December more realistic. "We're only at the ground floor," she joked.
In August, the couple first has a joint professional project coming up: Leonova and Viarmenich will offer a dance course for teenagers between twelve and 17 years old on a trip. While she teaches salsa, her partner takes on the hip-hop part.
