It’s always awww-inducing when we get to see the celebs we know and love onscreen being completely awesome off-screen. Especially when we’re also able to catch a glimpse of their home and family life. Which is why this latest news gave us the warm fuzzies.
“Dancing With The Stars” cast member Gleb Savchenko is now a dad to two little girls. Savchenko and his wife, Elena Samodanova, were already parents to Olivia, 6. Then, on Aug. 1, in Sydney, Australia, Samodanova gave birth to a baby girl, Zlata, who came into the world at nearly 8 pounds.
Savchenko shared the happy news with the world via a tweet:
. @ElenaSamodanova & I are so pleased to welcome our new baby girl Zlata into the world born at 10:26pm on 1st August weighing 3.6kg 👶🏼🎀🍼🏩
— GLEB SAVCHENKO (@Gleb_Savchenko) August 2, 2017
“Mother and baby are doing great and sister Olivia couldn’t be happier!” Savchenko’s rep told Us Weekly in a statement. “Gleb was released from the Dancing with the Stars tour so he could join his family for this monumental occasion.”
Indeed, the professional dancer decided to take a break from TV last year in order to devote more time to his family. “I didn’t want to miss out on so much and I made this decision to be with my family. I think family is more important than fame. My wife needs to feel loved and I want to see my daughter grow up,” he told The Sun in 2016.
Savchenko says a second child has been in the couples’ plans for some time. “We were planning. We wanted to have another child. It’s the time. Olivia is already 6, so she can help a little. She wanted to have a little sister, so we were like, ‘That’s a great chance. That’s a great opportunity for us.’ We’re in L.A. now settled and everything’s great, so it’s fun,” he told People back in March.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWZzY7plKOL/?hl=en&taken-by=glebsavchenkoofficial
Samodanova, who is also a professional dancer, met her now-husband at a dance studio. The two were professional dance partners for about a decade. The couple’s passion for dance has already rubbed off on their first daughter. Savchenko says he would allow Olivia to one day perform on “Dancing With The Stars,” provided he is the one to choreograph the number.
Exclusive photos of the happy family will appear in the next issue of Us Weekly. Congrats!