BACKGROUND
Born in Odessa, Ukraine, Valentin immigrated with his family to Brooklyn at eight years old. He fell in love with dancing after his father and older brother opened a youth oriented dance studio in New Jersey.
He joined the cast of professional dancers on “Dancing with the Stars” in 2011. The 14-time US National Champion and two-time World Dance Champion quickly rose to stardom becoming one of the show’s fan-favorites for impeccable performances that showcased not only immense talent and creativity, but an undeniable charisma to match.
Since his TV debut, the Ukrainian-born dance champion continues to steal the hearts of fans—both on and off the dance floor. Val has expanded upon his talents as a dancer, choreographer and instructor to create an empire that inspires others through the art of dance. Valentin co-founded Dance with Me Studios, one of the nation’s leading Latin and Ballroom dance studios, where he also lends his expertise as the venue’s Art Director. The success of the first studio ignited a passion for teaching his craft, leading him to pursue his latest endeavor Dance with Me Juniors, a program he proudly designed to keep kids healthy, focused and active. Val is also a classically trained Violinist, having performed in Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center as a concertmaster of the ISO Youth Orchestra.
Val, alongside his brother Maks Chmerkovskiy, headlined their first solo tour in 2016 titled “Maks & Val Live On Tour: Our Way” performing in 45 cities across the U.S. In season 23 of “Dancing with the Stars”, Val partnered with Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez. The pair won the coveted Mirrorball trophy, making it Val’s second win during his tenure on the show.
In 2018, he released his first memoir, “I’ll Never Change My Name: An Immigrant’s American Dream from Ukraine to the USA to Dancing with the Stars”, allowing fans to share in his formative experiences, both his failures and successes.
Outside of dance, Val has a love for fashion and music. He also supports numerous children’s and educational charities including Children’s Hospital and Pencils of Promise. Val is fluent in both Russian and English.
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