Valentin Chmerkovskiy - Dancer
Age: 39
Country: Ukraine Occupations:
Dancer
Valentin "Val" Chmerkovskiy is a Ukrainian-American professional ballroom dancer, choreographer, and television personality, best known for his long-standing role as a professional partner on Dancing with the Stars.
Professional Career
Championships: He is a 14-time U.S. National Latin Dance Champion and a two-time World Dance Champion. He was the first American to win the IDSF World Championship.
Dancing with the Stars: Val has won the Mirrorball Trophy three times, with partners Rumer Willis (Season 20), Laurie Hernandez (Season 23), and Xochitl Gomez (Season 32). He has also finished as a runner-up with partners like Zendaya and Gabby Windey.
Business: He is the co-founder and creative director of Dance With Me, a chain of social dance studios he operates alongside his brother, Maksim Chmerkovskiy.
Personal Background
Early Life: Born in Odesa, Ukraine, he immigrated to Brooklyn, New York, at the age of eight. He began dancing at a young age after his family opened a youth-oriented dance studio in New Jersey.
Other Talents: In addition to dancing, he is a classically trained violinist who has performed at venues such as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. He is also a published author, having released his memoir, I’ll Never Change My Name, in 2018.
Family: He is married to fellow professional dancer Jenna Johnson, with whom he has one son.
Philanthropy
Val is involved in several charitable efforts, including co-founding Baranova 27, a humanitarian organization created in 2022 to provide aid to Ukraine. He also supports organizations like St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Pencils of Promise.