Two To Tango

They’ve danced their way into the hearts of audiences around the globe – and right into Boca Raton. 

Maks and Val Chmerkovskiy comprise one of the most famous sibling dance duos in the world. Whether competing with celebrity partners on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” (“DWTS”) or performing on their Confidential dance tour, the brothers have always brought finesse and charisma to everything they do.

Maks, who turns 40 this month, began dancing at age 4 in their native Ukraine. After their family immigrated to the United States in 1994, Maks worked with his father, Aleksandr, to open a competitive dance studio in New Jersey. Fast forward 26 years, and the Chmerkovskiy brothers, along with their father and business partners, now own and operate a chain of 14 Dance with Me Dance Studios.

Val, 33, says that opening a location in Boca Raton two years ago was a natural fit since the energy of the city and the active South Florida lifestyle mesh so well with their mission and brand. They hope to open more studios in Florida in coming years.

“We fell in love with the beauty, atmosphere and people of South Florida after completing a very successful production of our show ‘Sway,’” Maks says. “Over the past several decades, we’ve accumulated experience not just as dancers but also as educators.”

The brothers say their studios provide quality dance instruction while also promoting physical and mental health. Many students that join Dance with Me have no previous dancing experience, and each is encouraged to learn at their own pace.

“We’re not just a dance school, and our teachers aren’t just dance teachers; it’s about the experience,” Val says. “When customers step through our doors, we thank them for the privilege and pleasure of coming to our studio and ensure they have a fun and memorable experience.”

Dance has always been an important part of the duo’s lives, and 2020 commemorates their 22nd anniversary of performing together. As teens, the brothers performed at local restaurants before going on to compete as professional dancers and winning many competitions. In 2006, Maks joined the “DWTS” cast, and Val made his first guest appearance on the show that same year before becoming a full-time dance pro on “DWTS” five years later.

Nicknamed “the bad boy of the ballroom,” Maks is a Latin ballroom dance champion. He says that genre as a whole has greatly influenced his career, and he’s known for performing many Latin dances on “DWTS,” including the salsa, cha cha and rumba, with his celebrity partners. In 2014, Maks claimed his first “DWTS” victory when he and Olympic ice dancer Meryl Davis were awarded the coveted Mirrorball trophy.

Val, who admits he loves nothing more than a good Viennese waltz, has won “DWTS” twice, with Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez and actress Rumer Willis. Although he’s secured one more win than his brother, Val says the two have always taken a good-natured approach toward competing against each other.

“We live four minutes from each other in Los Angeles,” Val says. “Our entire lives, we’ve been close. But, since we’ve both gotten married and don’t see each other as often, the time we do spend together is quality time.”

The Family That Dances Together Stays Together

Three years ago, the Chmerkovskiy dance troupe expanded when Maks married his longtime girlfriend and “DWTS” pro dancer, Peta Murgatroyd, 33. In fact, he proposed to her during a December 2015 performance of “Sway: A Dance Trilogy” in Miami. Their son, Shai (which means “gift” in Hebrew), was born in 2017.

Maks admits his son’s birth has had a profound impact on his life, both personally and professionally. In an interview with the TV show “The Real,” Maks explained how his priorities had changed since becoming a father and said he would be taking a break from “DWTS.”

“I’m a dad and a husband now, and my responsibilities are a little different,” he said.

Instead of returning to season 26 of “DWTS” in 2018, Maks, Peta and Val launched a nationwide dance tour, Confidential. 

“This show made me realize that even dance shows aren’t always about dancing,” Maks said on an Instagram post. “This is the most vulnerable I’ve ever let myself be on stage while sharing some of the most confidential moments in my life.”

Confidential, choreographed by Maks and Val, recounts the brothers’ lives through dance, including the stories of how both met their wives.

Like his brother, Val also fell in love with a “DWTS” pro dancer. In April, he married Jenna Johnson in an oceanfront ceremony in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.

“I surprised Jenna in 2018 and asked her to marry me during a trip to Venice, Italy,” Val says. “We had visited Venice the year before, and we share a love of Italian culture.”

Val says he hid the ring in his backpack and waited for the perfect moment. 

“I knew Jenna was the one when I saw how close she is with her family and how she interacts with her nieces and nephews,” he told US Weekly. “Family is everything to me, and I can’t wait to build one together.”

Val and Jenna plan to continue with “DWTS” and competed this past season, with Jenna pairing with former South Florida resident and “Queer Eye” star Karamo Brown and Val dancing with Sailor Brinkley-Cook, the daughter of model Christie Brinkley. This month, Val and Jenna are joining the touring show “Dancing with the Stars Live! – A Night to Remember.” Featuring members of the “DWTS” cast, it will have six Florida performances in February, including at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood on Feb. 25.

When he’s not touring, Val says he enjoys being “the cool uncle” to nephew Shai.

“I’ve already bought an entire wardrobe for him, matching mine, so we’ve got that down,” he told People. “I wish I could spend all of my time with him.”

Coming from a close-knit immigrant family, Val has never taken his newfound fame for granted, he says, and he strongly believes in giving back to the community. For his 28th birthday, he requested that, in lieu of gifts, family and friends donate to his favorite children’s charity. 

“I’ve worked with the nonprofit Pencils of Promise to help build two schools in Ghana,” he says. “They’re a wonderful nonprofit that brings education to kids around the world who are living in poverty.”

Maks also believes in philanthropy and works as one of the creators and directors of Dance Team USA, a nonprofit that supports and trains future DanceSport athletes in the art of competitive ballroom dancing.

“I also fell in love with the organization Childhelp,” he adds. “They raise funds to help children who have been severely abused and work to prevent child abuse.”

Plus, the brothers work with Alfalit, a Miami nonprofit that helps students around the world learn to read and write. In 2018, Maks traveled with the organization to the Dominican Republic to assist with the charity’s mission to provide a basic education to children in underserved areas.

“This work not only made me ready for parenthood, it also helped me realign my priorities,” Maks says. 

Born to a Christian mother and a Jewish father, the brothers were raised Jewish and are very proud of their culture and history, they say. In his 2018 book, “I’ll Never Change My Name: An Immigrant’s American Dream from Ukraine to the USA to Dancing with the Stars,” Val recounts how his parents faced anti-Semitism in the Ukraine and moved to the U.S. wanting a better life for their sons. 

Today, the brothers say they’re living their best lives as both professional dancers and newlyweds, and they look forward to tackling new opportunities this year. 

Whatever they do, we’ll be watching. O

Photos by Jerry Metellus Photography Inc. and Stefania Orrù