Valentin Chmerkovskiy


Valentin Aleksandrovich "Val" Chmerkovskiy is a Ukrainian-American professional dancer, best known for his appearances on the U.S. version of Dancing with the Stars, which he won twice. Chmerkovskiy is a two-time World Latin Dance Champion and a 14-time U.S. National Latin Dance champion.

Early life and career

Chmerkovskiy was born in the Ukrainian city of Odessa, in what was then the Soviet Union. His parents are Aleksandr "Sasha" Chmerkovskiy and Larisa Chmerkovskaya. His older brother, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, is also a professional dancer who appears on
Dancing with the Stars. His father is Jewish and his mother is Christian.
The family moved to the United States in 1994. In 1996, Maksim and Sasha opened a youth-oriented dance studio in New Jersey, and Valentin was one of the students. In 2001, Valentin and partner Diana Olonetskaya, 15, became the first American dance team to win a world junior championship title.
Chmerkovskiy is a co-owner of nine social dance studios under the brand "Dance With Me". Six are in the New York metropolitan area. The three other studios are located in Southlake, Texas, The Woodlands, Texas, and Summerlin, Nevada. Previously one was in Sherman Oaks, California, but has since changed ownership.

Personal life

In 2015, Chmerkovskiy began an on and off relationship with fellow DWTS dancer Jenna Johnson. In 2017, he confirmed that he and Johnson were dating again. On June 15, 2018, the couple shared their engagement on Instagram. They were married on April 13, 2019.

''Dancing with the Stars''

Chmerkovskiy first appeared on season 2, February 10, 2006, as a student of his brother during Week 6. The students were: Valentin & Valeriya Kozharinova, Sergei Onik & Michelle Glazarov and Boris Leokumovich & Nicole Volynets. The couples performed two numbers.
Chmerkovskiy then appeared once again on season 4 results show on May 8, 2007. He starred in a dance off against his brother, Maksim Chmerkovskiy.
Chmerkovskiy appeared on the season 10 results show on April 6, 2010. He did a country western themed routine with his brother Maksim, Edyta Śliwińska and Snejana Petrova.
He appeared on the season 11 results show on October 5, 2010, performing a music and dance duel against Mark Ballas. While performing to the song "Toxic" by Britney Spears, Val played the violin and danced with Lacey Schwimmer.
In season 13, Chmerkovskiy was partnered with model and actress Elisabetta Canalis. They were eliminated second, finishing in 11th place.
In season 14, Chmerkovskiy was partnered with comedian and talk show host Sherri Shepherd. On Rock Week of Dancing with the Stars, they were the third couple to be eliminated, finishing in 10th place.
Chmerkovskiy danced as a professional partner in season 15 with season 1 winner, Kelly Monaco. They finished in third place on the season finale.
For season 16, Chmerkovskiy was partnered with Disney Channel's Shake It Up star, Zendaya. On May 21, Zendaya and Val came in second place behind Derek Hough and Kellie Pickler.
For season 17, he paired with film and television actress Elizabeth Berkley Lauren. Despite receiving high scores, they were eliminated on week 9, finishing in sixth place.
For season 18, he paired with actress and author Danica McKellar. They were eliminated on Week 8 and ended in sixth place.
For season 19, he was paired with Pretty Little Liars actress Janel Parrish. They made it to the finals and finished in third place.
For season 20, he was paired with actress and singer Rumer Willis. On May 19, 2015, Willis and Chmerkovskiy were crowned the winners marking Chmerkovskiy's first win.
For season 21, he was partnered with R&B singer and reality television star, Tamar Braxton. On November 11, 2015, Braxton revealed that she had to withdraw from the competition due to health issues.
For season 22, he was partnered with meteorologist Ginger Zee. The couple made it to the finals but ultimately ended in third place.
For season 23, he was partnered with Olympic artistic gymnast Laurie Hernandez. On November 22, Hernandez and Chmerkovskiy won the title, giving Chmerkovskiy his 2nd mirrorball.
For season 24, he was partnered with Fifth Harmony singer Normani Kordei. They made it to the finals and finished in third place.
For season 25, he was partnered with former Paralympic swimmer Victoria Arlen. They made it to the semi-finals in week 9, but were then eliminated, finishing in fifth place.
Chmerkovskiy did not return for season 26, but he was revealed to be back for season 27 where he was paired with actress Nancy McKeon. They were the third couple to be eliminated, finishing in 11th place.
For season 28, he returned again where he was originally paired with model and actress Christie Brinkley. However, five days before the premiere, she withdrew from the competition due to a broken arm sustained in rehearsals. As a result, Brinkley's daughter and model Sailor Brinkley-Cook stepped in as a replacement. Despite consistently earning high scores, the couple was surprisingly eliminated on week 6 and finished in ninth place.
SeasonPartnerPlaceAverage
13Elisabetta Canalis11th18.0
14Sherri Shepherd10th22.8
15Kelly Monaco3rd26.8
16Zendaya2nd27.3
17Elizabeth Berkley Lauren6th26.5
18Danica McKellar6th26.3
19Janel Parrish3rd27.3
20Rumer Willis1st27.7
21Tamar Braxton5th25.4
22Ginger Zee3rd26.3
23Laurie Hernandez1st27.6
24Normani Kordei3rd27.4
25Victoria Arlen5th24.9
27Nancy McKeon11th20.4
28Sailor Brinkley-Cook9th22.2

With celebrity partner [Sherri Shepherd] (Average: 22.8)

With celebrity partner [Kelly Monaco] (Average: 26.8)

With celebrity partner [Zendaya] (Average: 27.3)

With celebrity partner Elizabeth Berkley Lauren">Elizabeth Berkley">Elizabeth Berkley Lauren (Average: 26.5)

1Additional score of Week 3 was given by Robin Roberts
2For this week only, as part of the "Partner Switch-Up", Danica McKellar did not perform with Chmerkovskiy and instead performed with Maksim Chmerkovskiy; Chmerkovskiy performed Argentine Tango with Meryl Davis and received scores of 10/9/10/10
3Additional score of Week 4 was given by Julianne Hough
4Additional score of Week 5 was given by Donny Osmond
5Additional score of Week 6 was given by Redfoo
6Additional score of Week 7 was given by Ricky Martin
7Additional score of Week 8 was given by Abby Lee Miller

With celebrity partner [Janel Parrish] (Average: 36.5)

1 Score given by guest judge Kevin Hart in place of Goodman.
2The American public scored the dance in place of Goodman with the averaged score being counted alongside the three other judges.
3This week only, for "Partner Switch-Up" week, Parrish performed with Artem Chigvintsev instead of Chmerkovskiy. Chmerkovskiy performed with Lea Thompson.
4 Score given by guest judge Jessie J in place of Goodman.
5Score given by guest judge Pitbull in place of Goodman.

With celebrity partner [Rumer Willis] (Average: 37.0)

With celebrity partner [Tamar Braxton] (Average: 25.4)

1Score given by guest judge Alfonso Ribeiro
2This week only, for "Partner Switch-Up" week, Braxton performed with Louis van Amstel instead of Chmerkovskiy. Chmerkovskiy performed with Bindi Irwin.
3Score given by guest judge Maksim Chmerkovskiy
4Score given by guest judge Olivia Newton-John.
5Braxton and Chmerkovskiy's scores for this dance were based on dress rehearsal footage, due to Braxton being in the emergency room and not arriving at the show in time to perform it.

With celebrity partner [Ginger Zee] (Average: 26.3)

1 Score given by guest judge Zendaya.
2 For this week only, as part of "America's Switch Up", Zee performed with Mark Ballas instead of Chmerkovskiy. Chmerkovskiy performed with Jodie Sweetin, and they received scores of 9, 8/9, 9.
3 Score given by guest judge Maksim Chmerkovskiy.
4 Due to Goodman being the judge coaching Zee's team during the team-up dance, the viewers scored the dance in his place with the averaged score being counted alongside the remaining judges.

With celebrity partner [Laurie Hernandez] (Average: 36.9)

1Score given by guest judge Pitbull
2Score given by guest judge Idina Menzel

With celebrity partner Normani Kordei">Normani">Normani Kordei (Average: 36.6)

1 Score given by guest judge Nick Carter
2 Score given by guest judge Mandy Moore

With celebrity partner [Victoria Arlen] (Average: 24.9)

1 Score given by guest judge Shania Twain.

With celebrity partner [Nancy McKeon] (Average: 20.4)

With celebrity partner Sailor Brinkley-Cook">Sailor Brinkley Cook">Sailor Brinkley-Cook (Average: 22.2)

1 Score given by guest judge Leah Remini.