Romance in the Ballroom: 8 Couples Who Met on ‘Dancing With the Stars’
ABC/Eric McCandless Reading Time: 4 minutes
There seems to be no shortage of romance on set of Dancing with the Stars. Through the years, there have been a number of romantic interactions in the ballroom. In this list, you’ll find 8 memorable couples who have partnered up both on and off the stage.
1. Nikki Bella and Artem ChigvintsevÂ
The loving couple first met when they were partnered up on season 25 of Dancing with the Stars in 2017. The pair was sent home on the seventh night of the competition. At the time, the Total Divas star was still going strong with professional wrestler turned actor, John Cena. After months of being on the down low, Bella confirmed her relationship with Chigvintsev during an episode of Total Divas in March 2019. The couple quickly became Instagram official the next day. The couple is still going strong today, and welcomed their first child together in July 2020.
2. Matthew Lawrence and Cheryl BurkeÂ
The relationship of Matthew Lawrence and Cheryl Burke went from a 10-year separation, to happily ever after. The Dancing with the Stars professional and Boy Meets World actor first began dating in 2007. They were in a year-long relationship before calling it quits in February 2008. Nearly a decade later, the couple rekindled their romance and embarked on a renewed commitment to one another. In 2018, the pair got engaged while on vacation in Laguna Beach, CA. They tied the knot in May a year later, and are happily still together today. The couple celebrated their two-year anniversary back in June.
3. Alan Bersten and Alexis Ren
Alan Bersten and Alexis Ren placed fourth on season 27 of Dancing with the Stars. They left the show as a couple, and seemed like they were making it work outside the ballroom. Unfortunately, their schedules did not coordinate once they got back to their lives. The season ended in November 2018, and the couple called it quits the following month. DWTS fans watched Bersten and Ren’s relationship blossom on the show week after week. The couple even shared a kiss on stage after one of their dances. Their relationship ultimately came to an end due to logistics and timing.
4. Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson
Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson started out as colleagues on set of Dancing with the Stars. The pair first crossed paths in 2014 and decided to take their relationship to the next level the following year. Johnson and Chmerkovskiy dated privately for a few months but eventually called it quits. Chmerkovskiy briefly moved on with season 23 contestant Amber Rose for a short while before reuniting with Johnson. In 2018, the two got engaged during a romantic trip to Italy.
5. Peta Murgatroyd and Maksim Chmerkovskiy
The couple first met in 2009 on Broadway, but didn’t begin dating until their paths crossed again on Dancing with the Stars. The couple began dating officially in 2012 and got engaged three years later. In 2015 Chmerkovskiy proposed to Murgatroyd while performing on stage. The couple married in July 2017, and welcomed their first child, Shai in January that same year.
6. Kym Johnson and Robert Herjavec
Kym Johnson and Shark Tank’s Robert Herjavec quickly fell for one another during season 20 of Dancing with the Stars. The two were inseparable upon their meeting and continued to date after they were eliminated in week eight. The couple married in the Summer of 2016, and said their “I Dos” in front of family and friends. DWTS alums in attendance included Joey Fatone, Lance Bass, and Donny Osmond. The couple later welcomed twins, and are smitten with happiness to this day.
7. Emma Slater and Sasha FarberÂ
In 2016, Dancing with the Stars fans were in for a real surprise when dancer Sasha Farber proposed to fellow professional Emma Slater. He dropped to one knee and presented her with a ring after their performance to Bruno Mars’ “Just The Way You Are.” In March of 2018, the couple finally tied the knot in a gorgeous Russian-style wedding.
8. Brian Austin Green and Sharna Burgess
Actor Brian Austin Green and DWTS pro Sharna Burgess met when Green was supposed to partner with Burgess for season 29 of the show. The former 90210 star pulled out of the show before filming, allowing Hallmark’s Jesse Metcalfe to dance instead. Burgess and Green are now a solid couple and solid dance partners now competing on season 30.
