Maksim Chmerkovskiy
A fiery and charismatic Latin ballroom champion who brought raw intensity and Ukrainian passion to mainstream American television on Dancing with the Stars.
Born 1980 (age 46)·Ukrainian-American dancer·Birthday: January 17·Generation X
Biography
Maksim Chmerkovskiy didn't just dance on television; he brought a storm of intensity to the ballroom. Emigrating from Ukraine as a teenager, he carried the rigorous discipline of a competitive dance champion into the glittering world of 'Dancing with the Stars.' As a professional on the show for 17 seasons, Maks was known for his demanding teaching style, fierce protectiveness of his celebrity partners, and breathtaking choreography that often pushed boundaries. His long-awaited mirrorball trophy win with ice dancer Meryl Davis in 2014 felt like a coronation. Beyond the show, he co-founded the Dance With Me dance studio chain, appeared on Broadway in 'Burn the Floor,' and became a judge on Ukraine's version of 'Strictly Come Dancing.' Maks transformed from a competitive dancer into a household name, embodying the passion and drama of ballroom for millions.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Maksim was born in 1980, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Maksim Was Born
The biggest hits of 1980
#1 Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
Best Picture
Ordinary People
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Maksim's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1980Born
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Started school
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1993Became a teenager
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Could drive
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Could vote
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Turned 21
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2010Turned 30
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 40
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 46 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the mirrorball trophy on season 18 of 'Dancing with the Stars' with partner Meryl Davis.
- Co-founded the national Dance With Me dance studio franchise with his brother Val.
- Was a finalist on 'Dancing with the Stars' five times across 17 seasons as a competing pro.
- Starred in the Broadway production 'Burn the Floor' as a principal dancer.
- Served as a judge on the Ukrainian version of 'Dancing with the Stars,' 'Tantsi z zirkamy.'
Did You Know?
He is a former Ukrainian National Latin Dance Champion.
His younger brother, Valentin 'Val' Chmerkovskiy, is also a professional dancer on 'Dancing with the Stars.'
He became a U.S. citizen in 2015.
He proposed to his now-wife, fellow dancer Peta Murgatroyd, live on the 'Dancing with the Stars' stage after a performance.
“I'm not here to make friends. I'm here to make good dancers.”
