Maksim Chmerkovskiy Biography

Fast Facts

• Co-founder of the non-profit Dance Team USA, a charitable organization aimed at training young dancers
• Older brother of fellow dancer, Valentin
• Endured a severe skiing accident as a child that would ultimately dash his chances of becoming a professional athlete, an event that ultimately led him to pursue dance more seriously
• Began taking dance lessons at four-years-old
• Owns and operates several dance studios in New York City
• Gained international acclaim after first appearing on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" beginning in 2002
• In 2011, he appeared on the Ukranian version of ABC's "The Bachelor․"