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 has won three times. 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 Odesa, 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.
His career dancesport accomplishments include: Two-Time IDSF World Latin Dance Champion, 14-Time US National Latin Champion, Blackpool Open U21 Winner - Latin 2005, Amateur Latin Blackpool Dance Festival Finalist, Amateur Latin UK Open Championships Finalist and Amateur Latin The International Championships Finalist.
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.

Television

''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 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 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. 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 on 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	6th	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

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.