Valentin Chmerkovskiy

Valentin Aleksandrovich "Val" Chmerkovskiy (born March 24, 1986) is a Ukrainian and American professional Latin and ballroom dancer and choreographer. Born in Odesa and raised in Brooklyn, he started appearing on the ABC competition series Dancing with the Stars during its second season.

Chmerkovskiy was promoted to a pro on the series in 2011. He won the twentieth season with actress Rumer Willis, the twenty-third season with Olympic artistic gymnast Laurie Hernandez, and the thirty-second season with actress Xochitl Gomez. Chmerkovskiy received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for his work with his wife, Jenna Johnson, on the series. He is also the author of the book, "I'll Never Change My Name: An Immigrant's American Dream from Ukraine to the U.S.A. to Dancing with the Stars."

Early life Valentin Aleksandrovich Chmerkovskiy was born on March 24, 1986, in Odesa, Ukrainian SSR (present-day Ukraine). Larisa Chmerkovskaya, is a Christian engineer. He has an older brother, Maksim, who is also a professional ballroom dancer.

Chmerkovskiy learned about the principles of dance through his brother. He started taking classical violin lessons when he was five years old and began dance training when he was seven, before he and his family immigrated to Brooklyn, New York in 1994. Additionally, he is a 14-time U.S. National Latin champion (Junior, U21/Youth, Adult Amateur), a Blackpool Open U21 winner, and an amateur Latin finalist at the Blackpool Dance Festival, UK Open Championships, and the International Championships.

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 (Week 4) 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 in 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. Despite receiving high scores, including the season's first perfect score, they were unexpectedly eliminated in week 9, finishing in sixth place.

For season 18, he paired with actress and author Danica McKellar. They were eliminated in 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. 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 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 in week 6 and finished in ninth place.

For season 29, he was paired with cheerleading coach and reality television star Monica Aldama. They were eliminated in Week 7 and finished in seventh place.

For season 30, he was partnered with influencer Olivia Jade. They were eliminated in Week 8 and finished in eighth place.

For season 31, he was partnered with The Bachelorette star Gabby Windey. They made it to the finals and finished in second place behind Charli D'Amelio and Mark Ballas.

For season 32, he was partnered with actress Xochitl Gomez. On December 5, Gomez and Chmerkovskiy won the title, giving Chmerkovskiy his 3rd mirrorball.

For season 33, he was partnered with reality television personality Phaedra Parks. They reached week 5 of competition and finished in 8th place.

For season 34, he was partnered with social media influencer and model Alix Earle. They finished as the runners-up behind Robert Irwin and Witney Carson.

Season Partner Place Average 13 Elisabetta Canalis 11th 18.0 14 Sherri Shepherd 10th 22.8 15 Kelly Monaco 3rd 26.8 16 Zendaya 2nd 27.3 17 Elizabeth Berkley Lauren 6th 26.5 18 Danica McKellar 26.3 19 Janel Parrish 3rd 27.4 20 Rumer Willis 1st 27.8 21 Tamar Braxton 5th 25.4 22 Ginger Zee 3rd 26.3 23 Laurie Hernandez 1st 27.7 24 Normani 3rd 27.5 25 Victoria Arlen 5th 24.9 27 Nancy McKeon 11th 20.4 28 Sailor Brinkley-Cook 9th 22.2 29 Monica Aldama 10th 22.1 30 Olivia Jade 8th 25.0 31 Gabby Windey 2nd 27.5 32 Xochitl Gomez 1st 27.2 33 Phaedra Parks 8th 22.0 34 Alix Earle 2nd 27.0 Season 13

with Elisabetta Canalis Season 14

with Sherri Shepherd Season 15

with Kelly Monaco

Season 16

with Zendaya Season 17

with Elizabeth Berkley Lauren

Season 18

with Danica McKellar Season 19

with Janel Parrish Season 20

with Rumer Willis Season 21

with Tamar Braxton Season 22

with Ginger Zee Season 23

with Laurie Hernandez Season 24

with Normani Season 25

with Victoria Arlen Season 27

with Nancy McKeon Season 28

with Sailor Brinkley-Cook Season 29

with Monica Aldama Season 30

with Olivia Jade Season 31

with Gabby Windey Season 32

with Xochitl Gomez Season 33

with Phaedra Parks Season 34

with Alix Earle

Other Reality Television Appearances In 2019, Chermovskiy appeared on an episode 'Say Yes to The Dress' with his now-wife, Jenna Johnson.

In April 2025, Chermkovskiy appeared in the Hulu series 'Got to Get Out'. He remained 'inside' until the end of the show.

In December 2025, it was announced Chmerkovskiy would appear on season 30 of the Food Network show Worst Cooks in America.

Personal life Chmerkovskiy owns nine social dance studios in the New York metropolitan area, Texas and Nevada with his brother.

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. On July 15, 2022, Chmerkovskiy and Johnson announced that they were pregnant with their first child, due in January 2023. Their son, Rome Valentin Chmerkovskiy, was born on January 10, 2023.