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The Daily Insight

Are Maks and Val Russian?

Author

James Stevens

Updated on February 27, 2026

Chmerkovskiy was born January 17, 1980, in Odessa, Ukrainian SSR to parents Aleksandr “Sasha” Chmerkovskiy and Larisa Chmerkovskaya. He has a younger brother, Valentin Chmerkovskiy (born 1986), who is also a professional dancer. His father is Jewish, and his mother is Christian, and he has described himself as Jewish.

Is Valentin Chmerkovskiy Russian?

Valentin Aleksandrovich “Val” Chmerkovskiy (Ukrainian: Валентин Олександрович “Вал” Чмерковський; born March 24, 1986) is a Ukrainian-American professional dancer, best known for his appearances on the U.S. version of Dancing with the Stars, which he won twice. …

Who is the Russian gypsy kid?

Val Chmerkovskiy
Video Val Chmerkovskiy opens up about ‘being the Russian kid’ – ABC News.

What nationality is Peta Murgatroyd?

American
AustralianNew Zealand
Peta Murgatroyd/Nationality

How old is the little Russian kid?

Don’t be fooled by the baby-face, Hasbulla is actually 18 years old but suffers from dwarfism, giving him a child-like appearance and voice due to his stunted growth.

What language does Chmerkovskiy speak?

Chmerkovskiy is a Russian speaker, but understands the Ukrainian language. Chmerkovskiy did not speak English when he moved to the United States. He says he learned English from reading street signs in Brooklyn. Chmerkovskiy lives primarily in Fort Lee, New Jersey.

How do you pronounce Maksim Chmerkovskiy’s name?

Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Maksim “Maks” Aleksandrovich Chmerkovskiy ( Ukrainian: Максим Олекса́ндрович Чмерковський, Russian: Максим Александрович Чмерковский, pronounced [mɑkˈsɪm olɛkˈsɑndroβɪtʃ ˈtʃmɛrkou̯sʲkɪj]; born January 17, 1980) is a Ukrainian-American Latin – ballroom dance champion, choreographer, and instructor.

What nationality is Val Chmerkovskiy?

Valentin Chmerkovskiy. Valentin “Val” Chmerkovskiy was born in Odessa, Ukraine to an engineer mother and marine merchant father. At 8 years old, Val’s family emigrated to Brooklyn, NY. It was in a small Eastern European community in South Brooklyn where Val first picked up ballroom dancing as an after school activity.

Who is Maksim Chmerkovskiy on Dancing with the Stars?

Maksim Chmerkovskiy is a Latin Ballroom dance champion, choreographer, Broadway star and actor. Maks first appeared on Dancing with the Stars on the second season as a professional dancer. Maks was on the series for 14 seasons and won the Mirrorball Trophy in 2014 with Olympic ice dancer, Meryl Davis.