Artem Chigvintsev has been a staple on Dancing With the Stars since 2014.
Artem, who beforehand received the U.Okay.’s Strictly Come Dancing with Kara Tointon, was initially tapped to hitch the DWTS troupe for season 18. The subsequent yr, he was tasked with educating Again to the Future star Lea Thompson dance.
“I liked it,” Artem mentioned on Good Morning America in 2014 after their elimination. “Plus, having Lea as my associate was simply phenomenal. I liked each minute of it [and] too dangerous it’s over.”
In response to Lea, her trainer made the journey a “nice expertise.”
Mirrorball champs or not, Dancing With the Stars has featured some impeccable skilled dancers within the years because the ABC competitors collection premiered in 2005. Derek Hough, Cheryl Burke and Maksim Chmerkovskiy are among the many expertise who’ve lit up the ballroom. A number of the present’s stars went on to realize main success of their careers whereas […]
“We had a blast collectively,” she mentioned. “Typically they didn’t present it within the packages — they form of had us arguing on a regular basis — [but] we had been all the time laughing and having a good time. He’s an incredible choreographer. For being the primary time on the present, he did wonderful.”
Artem and the actress completed in sixth place. Within the successive seasons, Artem was constantly requested again as a professional. Season 25 was even how he met his now-wife, retired wrestler Nikki Garcia, three years earlier than he received his first mirrorball trophy.
Hold scrolling to revisit Artem’s full historical past on DWTS — and what the celebs needed to say about his educating model:
Season 19: Lea Thompson
Placement: Sixth
Artem and Lea danced collectively each week aside from one when the present launched “Swap-Up Week.” The Russia native was re-partnered with Fairly Little Liars alum Janel Parrish for a steamy burlesque quantity. Lea, in the meantime, did a jazz routine with Janel’s associate, Val Chmerkovskiy. In rehearsal footage, Lea and Val received jealous of the steamy efficiency.
Season 20: Patti LaBelle
Placement: Eighth
For Artem’s second season, he was partnered with the legendary singer. Throughout Week 4, Artem requested that she do “extra” precise dance strikes, which received rave critiques.
“That was uncontrolled,” decide Carrie Ann Inaba gushed throughout the episode. “Your legs are fierce!”
Season 22: Mischa Barton
Placement: Eleventh
The O.C. alum and Artem didn’t final lengthy on season 22, battling sicknesses throughout the course of.
“We each received sick since final week which wasn’t nice, so on antibiotics, making an attempt to get by the dance, by our cha cha and keep optimistic,” Barton advised Us and different reporters in February 2018. “You’ve 5 days to study it and get by it, and while you’re not feeling one hundred pc from the final dance, [it’s tough]. I simply really feel like this entire week simply psyched me out, and possibly now it’s time to only assault it with positivity.”
All through the years, Dancing with the Stars has topped numerous winners. In June 2005, ABC launched the U.S. model of the U.Okay. collection Strictly Come Dancing. Every season, a star is partnered with knowledgeable dancer as they deal with a brand new model of ballroom dance. Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Len Goodman have served […]
Season 23: Maureen McCormick
Placement: Eighth
Throughout his season with the Brady Bunch alum, they received shut. In a single clip from the October 2017 premiere, McCormick gushed about his appears.
“First impression of Artem? Properly, sizzling!” she quipped. “Actually cute. Um, wow — the physique! I imply the physique on all these folks is, like, freaking me out. Hopefully, I simply wish to be an open, clean canvas that he can paint. I’ll do something you need, Artem.”
Season 24: Nancy Kerrigan
Placement: Seventh
Artem partnered with the determine skater, who continuously gushed about their performances on social media.
“Had a blast in my first #DWTS efficiency with @artemchigvintse,” Kerrigan tweeted in March 2017. “Thanks all for the help and right here’s to many extra!”
Since its 2004 debut, Dancing With the Stars has awarded many mirrorball trophies — and has led to engagements, infants and lasting love. In 2017, former WWE wrestler Nikki Bella was partnered with Artem Chigvintsev. They began relationship in 2019. “I’ve by no means met anybody who’s so supportive and I’ve no worry that he’s […]
Season 25: Nikki Garcia
Placement: Seventh
One yr after the present, Nikki broke up with fiancé John Cena and Artem reached out to verify in on the athlete. The pair finally began relationship, getting married in 2022 two years after welcoming son Matteo.
Whereas Artem continued filming seasons of DWTS, Nikki stayed with Matteo in Napa Valley, California, which frequently brought about friction.
“I’d be mendacity to say, ‘Oh, it’s nice.’ It has undoubtedly been a battle for us,” Nikki completely advised Us Weekly in November 2021. “It’s arduous. Now we have so many ups and downs. It’s been so tough on our relationship as a result of I would like a lot from him, however he’s, like, torn between his job that requires a lot from him after which us at dwelling.”
She added, “After Dancing, we’re going to start out lessons as a pair as a result of we’ve realized that we each really feel like we’re not listening to one another. … We lastly each simply mentioned, like, ‘We have to carry somebody in to assist us so we don’t get [back] into that place.’”
Season 26: Jamie Anderson
Placement: Tenth
Artem was paired with the skier on the all-athletes season of DWTS.
Season 27: Danielle Umstead
Placement: Twelfth
The Paralympic champion was the primary blind competitor to look on DWTS. In September 2018, Artem advised Entry Hollywood that his educating course of for Danielle was “trial and error.”
“You need to actually be there for her,” he mentioned. “When music performs, I’m continuously, like, ‘You OK? Are we gonna do that?’”
Danielle additionally introduced her information canine into each follow.
Season 29: Kaitlyn Bristowe
Placement: Winner
Kaitlyn completely advised Us in 2022 that she now not retains in contact with Artem.
“I haven’t actually talked to him, which is form of unhappy. I don’t know. He’s busy. He’s dancing every single day,” she recalled. “He’s received slightly candy boy at dwelling, and he simply received married, which I used to be so excited for them.”
One yr later, Kaitlyn warned fellow Bachelorette alum Charity Lawson that most of the male DWTS execs had been “d–ks.”
“[Kaitlyn] advised me to have plenty of endurance — which I do — but in addition that he’s simply such an ideal trainer and that I’m going to study a lot, and I have already got,” Charity advised Us in September 2023.
Artem, in the meantime, had no unwell will towards Kaitlyn.
“Look, it’s all with a great intention,” he advised Us. “As a result of I do know typically when we have now somebody who has an ideal potential, you wish to carry it out of them. It labored for Kaitlyn — she received the mirrorball trophy.”
Season 30: Melora Hardin
Placement: Sixth
The Workplace alum advised Us in September 2021 in regards to the hours that they put into rehearsals.
“I’m a tough employee and Artem is simply too. So, we each work arduous, and we work effectively collectively,” Melora mentioned. “We’re actually each [very] dedicated. However I can’t sleep very effectively as a result of I’m doing the dance in my head each evening. It’s tough to attempt to determine the tempo. … Proper in regards to the time you get it, you gotta study one thing new that you simply’ve by no means had earlier than.”
Season 31: Heidi D’Amelio
Placement: Eighth
Artem taught TikTok star Charli D’Amelio’s mom groove, the place they went up towards her daughter head-to-head. (Charli and associate Mark Ballas in the end received.) At one level, Heidi was able to throw within the towel however didn’t inform Artem of her plans.
“I had no thought she was quitting,” he advised Us and different reporters in September 2022. “I used to be like, ‘What?’ … I actually [found] out once they had been speaking to [cohost] Alfonso [Ribiero] and I used to be like, ‘Ought to I say one thing? Ought to I not?’ … [I decided] I’m gonna ask her afterward.”
In response to Heidi, she was battling “self-doubt” however selected to proceed on with the competitors.
Season 32: Charity Lawson
Placement: Fourth
Artem danced with Charity in 2023, who advised Us that Kaitlyn had burdened how a lot she’d study from the ballroom professional. They’re nonetheless on good phrases, with Charity congratulating Artem and Nikki on their second marriage ceremony anniversary in August 2024.
“Completely happy anniversary you two!!! So candy,” Charity gushed through an Instagram remark, replying to Artem’s tribute to his spouse.