Roman Zinovyev was born in Samara, Russia and studied dance at the Samara Choreographic School. He graduated from the Perm State Choreographic College. For the years1992 to 1996, he danced with the Samara Academic Theater Opera and Ballet. From 1996-2002, he was a principal dancer with the Grigorovich Ballet Theater.

Among the roles he has danced are Tibalt in Romeo and Juliet, Crassus in Spartacus, Espada in Don Quixote, Hans in Giselle and Abderakhman in Raymonda. This is his fourth season with the Sarasota Ballet. Notable roles include the Bullfighter in Carmen, Dr. Drosselmeyer in The Nutcracker, the German captain in Anne Frank, Flo Ziegfeld in Ca d’Zan and the Baron in Camille. Roman has been a guest teachers at many prestigious ballet schools, the Kingsport Ballet TN, The Russian Academy of Ballet CO, and The Wichita Ballet, KA. After touring professional around the world, Roman now resides in Sarasota with his wife, dancer Tatiana Liabina and son Daniel.