Elena Lev, born in Moscow, Russia in 1981, began her training to become a rhythmic gymnast at an early age, assisted and coached by her mother, Elena Lev Sr. She developed a signature hula hoop act incorporating gymnastics and contortion. Her big breakthrough came when she was invited to join the Alegría touring troupe of Cirque du Soleil, of which she was a member from 1994 through 2000. She also performed briefly with the Quidam troupe in 2002. Elena performed with Cirque du Soleil's Wintuk at the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.Elena is currently performing and touring in Spiegelworld's new production, "Empire". She performs both her signature hula hoop act and her new contortion act inside an aerial sphere.Elena resided in Las Vegas, where her father Andrei is a trapeze coach for the Mystère troupe.She is married to Remi Bakkar who is also a performer, and has a daughter named Varvara. While touring, she trains her, now eight years old, child.
Living and performing in Las Vegas, Nevada [March 2003]
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Has left the show "Quidam" to return home to Las Vegas and perform in various galas there. Later on, she returned to performing in circus with Cirque du Soleil's new venue production, "Wintuk", for the couple of years it performed in New York. Now, she is no longer with Cirque du Soleil.
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Her father and boyfriend are both involved in Mystère, a resident Cirque du Soleil show in Las Vegas. Elena's father is the creator of a trapeze act in the show, and her borfriend is a flyer in that act.
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Elena performed in the Cirque du Soleil show "Alegría" for eleven years.
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During the 74th Annual Academy Awards, Elena opened up the appearance by Cirque du Soleil with her brief hula hoops act.
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Her mother, Elena Lev Sr., is her coach.
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Can spin endless numbers of hula hoops on every concievable part of her body.
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Began performing in Cirque du Soleil in the "Manipulation" act with hula hoops when she was twelve years old.