Valentin Chmerkovskiy
Updated: 5/20/2026, 7:07:45 PM Wikipedia source
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 . to Dancing with the Stars."
Infobox
Born
(1986-03-24) March 24, 1986 Odesa, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union (now Ukraine)
Other name
VC
Citizenship
Ukraine United States
Occupations
Dancer choreographer television personality rapper
Television
Dancing with the Stars
Spouse
Jenna Johnson (m. 2019)
Children
1
Relatives
Maksim Chmerkovskiy (brother) Peta Murgatroyd (sister-in-law)
Tables
· Career › <i>Dancing with the Stars</i>
13
13
Season
13
Partner
Elisabetta Canalis
Place
11th
Average
18
14
14
Season
14
Partner
Sherri Shepherd
Place
10th
Average
22
15
15
Season
15
Partner
Kelly Monaco
Place
3rd
Average
26
16
16
Season
16
Partner
Zendaya
Place
2nd
Average
27
17
17
Season
17
Partner
Elizabeth Berkley Lauren
Place
6th
Average
26
18
18
Season
18
Partner
Danica McKellar
Place
26
19
19
Season
19
Partner
Janel Parrish
Place
3rd
Average
27
20
20
Season
20
Partner
Rumer Willis
Place
1st
Average
27
21
21
Season
21
Partner
Tamar Braxton
Place
5th
Average
25
22
22
Season
22
Partner
Ginger Zee
Place
3rd
Average
26
23
23
Season
23
Partner
Laurie Hernandez
Place
1st
Average
27
24
24
Season
24
Partner
Normani
Place
3rd
Average
27
25
25
Season
25
Partner
Victoria Arlen
Place
5th
Average
24
27
27
Season
27
Partner
Nancy McKeon
Place
11th
Average
20
28
28
Season
28
Partner
Sailor Brinkley-Cook
Place
9th
Average
22
29
29
Season
29
Partner
Monica Aldama
Place
10th
Average
22
30
30
Season
30
Partner
Olivia Jade
Place
8th
Average
25
31
31
Season
31
Partner
Gabby Windey
Place
2nd
Average
27
32
32
Season
32
Partner
Xochitl Gomez
Place
1st
Average
27
33
33
Season
33
Partner
Phaedra Parks
Place
8th
Average
22
34
34
Season
34
Partner
Alix Earle
Place
2nd
Average
27
| Season | Partner | Place | Average |
| 13 | Elisabetta Canalis | 11th | 18 |
| 14 | Sherri Shepherd | 10th | 22 |
| 15 | Kelly Monaco | 3rd | 26 |
| 16 | Zendaya | 2nd | 27 |
| 17 | Elizabeth Berkley Lauren | 6th | 26 |
| 18 | Danica McKellar | 26 | |
| 19 | Janel Parrish | 3rd | 27 |
| 20 | Rumer Willis | 1st | 27 |
| 21 | Tamar Braxton | 5th | 25 |
| 22 | Ginger Zee | 3rd | 26 |
| 23 | Laurie Hernandez | 1st | 27 |
| 24 | Normani | 3rd | 27 |
| 25 | Victoria Arlen | 5th | 24 |
| 27 | Nancy McKeon | 11th | 20 |
| 28 | Sailor Brinkley-Cook | 9th | 22 |
| 29 | Monica Aldama | 10th | 22 |
| 30 | Olivia Jade | 8th | 25 |
| 31 | Gabby Windey | 2nd | 27 |
| 32 | Xochitl Gomez | 1st | 27 |
| 33 | Phaedra Parks | 8th | 22 |
| 34 | Alix Earle | 2nd | 27 |
· Career › <i>Dancing with the Stars</i>
Inaba
Inaba
Week
Inaba
Dance
Goodman
Music
Tonioli
1
1
Week
1
Dance
Cha-cha-cha
Music
"Last Friday Night (T .)" — Katy Perry
Judges' score
5
Judges' score
5
Judges' score
5
Total Score
15
Result
Safe
2
2
Week
2
Dance
Quickstep
Music
"Don't Get Me Wrong" — The Pretenders
Judges' score
7
Judges' score
7
Judges' score
7
Total Score
21
Result
Eliminated
| Week | Dance | Music | Judges' score | Total Score | Result | ||
| Inaba | Goodman | Tonioli | |||||
| 1 | Cha-cha-cha | "Last Friday Night (T .)" — Katy Perry | 5 | 5 | 5 | 15 | Safe |
| 2 | Quickstep | "Don't Get Me Wrong" — The Pretenders | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 | Eliminated |
· Career › <i>Dancing with the Stars</i>
Inaba
Inaba
Week
Inaba
Dance
Goodman
Music
Tonioli
1
1
Week
1
Dance
Foxtrot
Music
"Sherry" — Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
Judges' score
8
Judges' score
7
Judges' score
8
Total Score
23
Result
No Elimination
2
2
Week
2
Dance
Jive
Music
"Proud Mary" — Ike & Tina Turner
Judges' score
8
Judges' score
7
Judges' score
8
Total Score
23
Result
Safe
3
3
Week
3
Dance
Rumba
Music
"If I Could" — Regina Belle
Judges' score
8
Judges' score
8
Judges' score
8
Total Score
24
Result
Safe
4
4
Week
4
Dance
Tango
Music
"Cum On Feel the Noize" — Quiet Riot
Judges' score
7
Judges' score
7
Judges' score
7
Total Score
21
Result
Eliminated
| Week | Dance | Music | Judges' score | Total Score | Result | ||
| Inaba | Goodman | Tonioli | |||||
| 1 | Foxtrot | "Sherry" — Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons | 8 | 7 | 8 | 23 | No Elimination |
| 2 | Jive | "Proud Mary" — Ike & Tina Turner | 8 | 7 | 8 | 23 | Safe |
| 3 | Rumba | "If I Could" — Regina Belle | 8 | 8 | 8 | 24 | Safe |
| 4 | Tango | "Cum On Feel the Noize" — Quiet Riot | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 | Eliminated |
· Career › <i>Dancing with the Stars</i>
Inaba
Inaba
Week
Inaba
Dance
Goodman
Music
Tonioli
1
1
Week
1
Dance
Cha-cha-cha
Music
"Bang Bang" — David Sanborn
Judges' score
7
Judges' score
7
Judges' score
7
Total Score
21
Result
Safe
2
2
Week
2
Dance
Quickstep
Music
"Who Says" — Selena Gomez & the Scene
Judges' score
7
Judges' score
7
Judges' score
7
Total Score
22
Result
Safe
3
3
Week
3
Dance
Paso doble
Music
"España cañí" — Erich Kunzel
Judges' score
9
Judges' score
9
Judges' score
9
Total Score
27
Result
Safe
4
4
Week
4
Dance
Contemporary
Music
"Fix You" — Coldplay
Judges' score
9
Judges' score
9
Judges' score
9
Total Score
37
Result
Safe
5
5
Week
5
Dance
Samba
Music
"Want U Back" — Cher Lloyd
Judges' score
8
Judges' score
8
Judges' score
8
Total Score
24
Result
No Elimination
Team Freestyle
Team Freestyle
Week
Team Freestyle
Dance
"Gangnam Style" — Psy
Music
9
Judges' score
9
Judges' score
9
Judges' score
27
6
6
Week
6
Dance
Tango
Music
"Good Girl" — Carrie Underwood
Judges' score
9
Judges' score
9
Judges' score
9
Total Score
27
Result
Safe
7
7
Week
7
Dance
Cha-cha-cha & Foxtrot Fusion
Music
"Don't Stop" — Gin Wigmore
Judges' score
9
Judges' score
9
Judges' score
9
Total Score
27
Result
No Elimination
Swing Marathon
Swing Marathon
Week
Swing Marathon
Dance
"Do Your Thing" — Basement Jaxx
Music
+9
Judges' score
9
8
8
Week
8
Dance
Viennese waltz
Music
"I'll Be" — Edwin McCain
Judges' score
9
Judges' score
9
Judges' score
9
Total Score
28
Result
Safe
Jive
Jive
Week
Jive
Dance
"Animal" — Neon Trees
Music
9
Judges' score
9
Judges' score
9
Judges' score
28
9
9
Week
9
Dance
"Surfer" Flamenco
Music
"Malagueña" — Brian Setzer
Judges' score
8
Judges' score
9
Judges' score
8
Total Score
25
Result
Safe
Rumba
Rumba
Week
Rumba
Dance
"I Just Can't Stop Loving You" — Michael Jackson
Music
9
Judges' score
9
Judges' score
9
Judges' score
28
10
10
Week
10
Dance
Paso doble
Music
"España cañí" — Erich Kunzel
Judges' score
9
Judges' score
10
Judges' score
10
Total Score
29
Result
No Elimination
Freestyle
Freestyle
Week
Freestyle
Dance
"(I've Had) The Time of My Life" — Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes
Music
10
Judges' score
9
Judges' score
10
Judges' score
29
Jive
Jive
Week
Jive
Dance
"Cat and Mouse" — Nikki & Rich
Music
9
Judges' score
9
Judges' score
9
Judges' score
28
Total Score
Third Place
| Week | Dance | Music | Judges' score | Total Score | Result | ||
| Inaba | Goodman | Tonioli | |||||
| 1 | Cha-cha-cha | "Bang Bang" — David Sanborn | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 | Safe |
| 2 | Quickstep | "Who Says" — Selena Gomez & the Scene | 7 | 7 | 7 | 22 | Safe |
| 3 | Paso doble | "España cañí" — Erich Kunzel | 9 | 9 | 9 | 27 | Safe |
| 4 | Contemporary | "Fix You" — Coldplay | 9 | 9 | 9 | 37 | Safe |
| 5 | Samba | "Want U Back" — Cher Lloyd | 8 | 8 | 8 | 24 | No Elimination |
| Team Freestyle | "Gangnam Style" — Psy | 9 | 9 | 9 | 27 | ||
| 6 | Tango | "Good Girl" — Carrie Underwood | 9 | 9 | 9 | 27 | Safe |
| 7 | Cha-cha-cha & Foxtrot Fusion | "Don't Stop" — Gin Wigmore | 9 | 9 | 9 | 27 | No Elimination |
| Swing Marathon | "Do Your Thing" — Basement Jaxx | +9 | 9 | ||||
| 8 | Viennese waltz | "I'll Be" — Edwin McCain | 9 | 9 | 9 | 28 | Safe |
| Jive | "Animal" — Neon Trees | 9 | 9 | 9 | 28 | ||
| 9 | "Surfer" Flamenco | "Malagueña" — Brian Setzer | 8 | 9 | 8 | 25 | Safe |
| Rumba | "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" — Michael Jackson | 9 | 9 | 9 | 28 | ||
| 10 | Paso doble | "España cañí" — Erich Kunzel | 9 | 10 | 10 | 29 | No Elimination |
| Freestyle | "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" — Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes | 10 | 9 | 10 | 29 | ||
| Jive | "Cat and Mouse" — Nikki & Rich | 9 | 9 | 9 | 28 | Third Place | |
· Career › <i>Dancing with the Stars</i>
Inaba
Inaba
Week
Inaba
Dance
Goodman
Music
Tonioli
1
1
Week
1
Dance
Contemporary
Music
"Feel Again" — OneRepublic
Judges' score
8
Judges' score
8
Judges' score
8
Total Score
24
Result
No Elimination
2
2
Week
2
Dance
Jive
Music
"This Head I Hold" — Electric Guest
Judges' score
9
Judges' score
8
Judges' score
9
Total Score
26
Result
Safe
3
3
Week
3
Dance
Viennese waltz
Music
"Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)" — Doris Day
Judges' score
8
Judges' score
8
Judges' score
8
Total Score
24
Result
Safe
Group Freestyle
Group Freestyle
Week
Group Freestyle
Dance
"The Rockafeller Skank" — Fatboy Slim
Music
+2
Judges' score
2
4
4
Week
4
Dance
Samba
Music
"Love On Top" — Beyoncé
Judges' score
9
Judges' score
8
Judges' score
9
Total Score
26
Result
Safe
5
5
Week
5
Dance
Argentine tango
Music
"Discombobulate" — Hans Zimmer
Judges' score
10
Judges' score
9
Judges' score
10
Total Score
29
Result
Safe
6
6
Week
6
Dance
Cha-cha-cha
Music
"Do I Do" — Stevie Wonder
Judges' score
10
Judges' score
9
Judges' score
10
Total Score
29
Result
Safe
Team Paso doble
Team Paso doble
Week
Team Paso doble
Dance
"Higher Ground" — Stevie Wonder
Music
7
Judges' score
8
Judges' score
7
Judges' score
22
7
7
Week
7
Dance
Paso doble
Music
"Buster Voodoo" — Rodrigo y Gabriela
Judges' score
9
Judges' score
9
Judges' score
9
Total Score
27
Result
Safe
Jive Dance-off
Jive Dance-off
Week
Jive Dance-off
Dance
"Good Golly Miss Molly" — Little Richard
Music
Winner
Judges' score
3
8
8
Week
8
Dance
Foxtrot
Music
"Don't Worry, Be Happy" — Bobby McFerrin
Judges' score
9
Judges' score
10
Judges' score
9
Total Score
28
Result
Safe
Salsa
Salsa
Week
Salsa
Dance
"Dança Molengo" — Bonde do Rolê, feat. Rizzle Kicks
Music
10
Judges' score
10
Judges' score
10
Judges' score
30
9
9
Week
9
Dance
Quickstep
Music
"Don't Give Up" — Noisettes
Judges' score
8
Judges' score
8
Judges' score
9
Total Score
25
Result
Safe
Hip-hop
Hip-hop
Week
Hip-hop
Dance
"Fine China" — Chris Brown
Music
10
Judges' score
10
Judges' score
10
Judges' score
30
10
10
Week
10
Dance
Samba
Music
"Yerbatero" — Juanes
Judges' score
10
Judges' score
10
Judges' score
10
Total Score
30
Result
Safe
Freestyle
Freestyle
Week
Freestyle
Dance
"Beauty and a Beat" — Justin Bieber, feat. Nicki Minaj
Music
10
Judges' score
10
Judges' score
10
Judges' score
30
Cha-cha-cha Relay
Cha-cha-cha Relay
Week
Cha-cha-cha Relay
Dance
"Treasure" — Bruno Mars
Music
+5
Judges' score
5
Jive
Jive
Week
Jive
Dance
"Rockin' Robin" — Michael Jackson
Music
10
Judges' score
10
Judges' score
10
Judges' score
30
Total Score
Runners-up
| Week | Dance | Music | Judges' score | Total Score | Result | ||
| Inaba | Goodman | Tonioli | |||||
| 1 | Contemporary | "Feel Again" — OneRepublic | 8 | 8 | 8 | 24 | No Elimination |
| 2 | Jive | "This Head I Hold" — Electric Guest | 9 | 8 | 9 | 26 | Safe |
| 3 | Viennese waltz | "Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)" — Doris Day | 8 | 8 | 8 | 24 | Safe |
| Group Freestyle | "The Rockafeller Skank" — Fatboy Slim | +2 | 2 | ||||
| 4 | Samba | "Love On Top" — Beyoncé | 9 | 8 | 9 | 26 | Safe |
| 5 | Argentine tango | "Discombobulate" — Hans Zimmer | 10 | 9 | 10 | 29 | Safe |
| 6 | Cha-cha-cha | "Do I Do" — Stevie Wonder | 10 | 9 | 10 | 29 | Safe |
| Team Paso doble | "Higher Ground" — Stevie Wonder | 7 | 8 | 7 | 22 | ||
| 7 | Paso doble | "Buster Voodoo" — Rodrigo y Gabriela | 9 | 9 | 9 | 27 | Safe |
| Jive Dance-off | "Good Golly Miss Molly" — Little Richard | Winner | 3 | ||||
| 8 | Foxtrot | "Don't Worry, Be Happy" — Bobby McFerrin | 9 | 10 | 9 | 28 | Safe |
| Salsa | "Dança Molengo" — Bonde do Rolê, feat. Rizzle Kicks | 10 | 10 | 10 | 30 | ||
| 9 | Quickstep | "Don't Give Up" — Noisettes | 8 | 8 | 9 | 25 | Safe |
| Hip-hop | "Fine China" — Chris Brown | 10 | 10 | 10 | 30 | ||
| 10 | Samba | "Yerbatero" — Juanes | 10 | 10 | 10 | 30 | Safe |
| Freestyle | "Beauty and a Beat" — Justin Bieber, feat. Nicki Minaj | 10 | 10 | 10 | 30 | ||
| Cha-cha-cha Relay | "Treasure" — Bruno Mars | +5 | 5 | ||||
| Jive | "Rockin' Robin" — Michael Jackson | 10 | 10 | 10 | 30 | Runners-up | |
References
- Ukrainian: Валентин Олександрович Чмерковський, romanized: Valentyn Oleksandrovych Chmerkovskyi
- Kelly and Val also received a score of 9 from guest judge Paula Abdul.
- Kelly and Val received 9 bonus points from the swing marathon.
- Zendaya and Val received 2 bonus points from the group freestyle.
- Zendaya and Val received 3 bonus points for winning the dance-off.
- Zendaya and Val received 5 bonus points from the relay.
- Elizabeth and Val received 2 bonus points from the megamix.
- Elizabeth and Val did not receive any bonus points for losing the dance-off.
- Danica and Val also received a score of 9 from guest judge Robin Roberts.
- Week 4 was switch up week. Danica danced a jive with Val's brother Maks, while Val danced an Argentine tango with Maks'
- Danica and Maks also received a score of 8 from guest judge Julianne Hough.
- Meryl and Val also received a score of 10 from guest judge Julianne Hough.
- Danica and Val also received a score of 10 from guest judge Donny Osmond.
- Danica and Val also received a score of 9 from guest judge Redfoo.
- Danica and Val also received a score of 9 from guest judge Ricky Martin.
- The team dance also received a score of 9 from guest judge Ricky Martin.
- Danica and Val also received a score of 9 from guest judge Abby Lee Miller.
- The team-up samba also received a score of 8 from guest judge Abby Lee Miller.
- Kevin Hart filled in as a guest judge in Len's spot. Janel and Val also received a score of 10 from him.
- Due to Len Goodman's absence, America was able to score each couple from 1-10. Janel and Val received a score of 9 from