Celebs Who Fell In Love On Dancing With The Stars

Dancing with the Stars first foxtrotted onto television screens in 2005, and the program that pairs high-profile celebrities with professional ballroom dancers has found the winning formula to engage its viewers ever since. Each week, fans watch the celebs endure grueling practices to learn their numbers, which builds to the nail-biting live show where they have to pull it all off. The celebs' backstories are also incorporated into the show, which builds a deeper connection for fans, and makes their victories even more meaningful.

And then there are the showmances. Throughout the series there have been dance partners who made fans wonder if their "partnership" was developing into something greater behind the scenes. As dancer Karina Smirnoff once told Fox News, the magic of an "incredible" romantic dance routine is getting the audience "to believe that romance will continue past the performance." Fellow dancer Cheryl Burke put it more bluntly, telling the Allegedly with Theo Von & Matthew Cole podcast (via Inquisitr) that it feels like every pro-dancer on the show has "dated each other at one point."

From flings to finding their significant other, this list takes a waltz through the many folks who fell in love on Dancing with the Stars.

Dancing with the Stars pro dancer Kym Johnson and Shark Tank's Robert Herjavec were partners on Season 20 when the world saw their first public kiss in the midst of performing their contemporary routine in 2015.

As revealed on Good Morning America, a month into their DWTS relationship Herjavec asked Johnson out to dinner and by the winter of 2016 the business man popped the question. Johnson shared the news on Instagram, writing, "I never thought a year ago I'd meet someone who would change my life completely ! I'm the luckiest girl in the world." Meanwhile, Herjavec told People how he couldn't "believe that a year after walking in a dance studio" that his life would change and gushed, "Kym is an incredible woman and I'm just so excited for what the future brings for us." That future brought a wedding and the birth of their twins in 2018.

The family of four spent the spring of 2020 quarantined together, which Herjavec then told US Weekly, "The reason I fell in love with Kym ... she's just so much fun to be with and I just think we are having a lot of fun."

Dancing with the Stars mirror ball-winning professional dancers Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Peta Murgatroyd were engaged in 2015. That year, Murgatroyd told People her first impression on Chmerkovskiy was that "he was arrogant," but after spending time with him on the show she saw a different side. "I learned to like him because I found out he wasn't that arrogant," Murgatroyd told the outlet. "He was really generous to the entire cast, and our friendship grew and grew." Murgatroyd joined DWTS on Season 13 in 2011, and during her second season on the show she began dating Maks in 2012.

Maksim's brother, Valentin Chmerkovskiy, shared his approval on Instagram once they were engaged, writing, that Murgatroyd won Maksim's "heart" and will be "his one and only for the rest of his life." Val added, "You're family now and that makes you my sister." In 2017, Maks and Peta welcomed their first child together and walked down the aisle in the summer. On Mother's Day 2020, Maks posted a photo of his wife and son on Instagram, writing, "Happy Mother's Day my love" and added, "Shai is a very lucky kid to call you mom and watching you two together makes me want [a] few more babies with you ASAP." They've since had two more sons, Rio in 2023, and Milan in 2024. 

Dancing with the Stars professional dancers Valentin Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson were engaged in 2018 and married a year later. In 2014, Johnson joined DWTS on Season 18 as a pro dancer, and as revealed to Access, during her first rehearsal on the show there was a moment where she "saw this really cute Russian guy from across the room," who was Chmerkovskiy. The Dancing with the Stars: Athletes winner noted, "Immediately, he captured my heart. I knew he was the one." In 2019, Johnson told People that one of the couple's "first dates" was a secret outing to Disneyland. "He really is my Prince Charming," she gushed. 

Days after their wedding ceremony, Chmerkovskiy posted a photo of himself and his wife on Instagram, writing, "I really have no idea what I would do without you. He also thanked her for "being by [his] side" through "all" of his "stresses," and added, "You strengthen me when I am weak, calm me when I'm in turmoil, you pick me up when I am headed south, I not only love, adore you... I appreciate you. You take an average man and let him dream beyond his potential."

This couple is a testament that DWTS definitely makes dreams come true.

Season 27 of Dancing with the Stars had a little extra spice with an ongoing showmance that reached its climax on the season finale. Pro dancer Alan Bersten and model Alexis Ren shared a kiss after their last dance, in which Ren told her partner, "This has been the best experience in my life." They scored a perfect ten from each of the three judges, but the two were more focused on each other as Bersten thanked Ren for "an incredible journey." The eventual Season 28 mirror ball winner told E! that Ren met his parents during the finale and he was "excited" the show was over "because now [they] can just hang and do whatever [they] want."

In December 2018, Ren and Bersten's romance fizzled out about a month after their final ballroom dance, with a source telling People the two broke things off due to their long distance relationship. At the time, Ren was "in Japan working," while and Bersten stayed in Los Angeles "rehearsing for the DWTS tour." The source also noted, "They care about each other a lot" and "talk regularly." The 2018 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Rookie of the Year explained the breakup in an Instagram comment (via People), writing, "We're focused on our careers and growing as individuals." Ren added, "[Bersten is] an amazing person and I'm grateful he came into my life."

Dancing with the Stars winningest dancer — with six mirror ball wins — Derek Hough partnered up with actor Shannon Elizabeth on Season 6. The 2008 doublet hit on all cylinders outside of the ballroom as Elizabeth confirmed their relationship to People, but did shut down rumors that the two were engaged.

This relationship was one of the more publicized DWTS flames as they were constantly spotted on dates and being facetious with the media, like the time the two jokingly said they'd get hitched while they were in Las Vegas. The Derek-and-Shannon era all came to an end when both parties announced the split in August 2009. The Scary Movie actor mentioned on Twitter the two were on good terms, writing, "We love & care about each other very much & will remain friends & in each other's lives."

The two shared a love so deep that Elizabeth told Access in 2012 that they recently "had dinner together" and were still "friends," despite breaking up three years prior.

In 2006, professional dancer Karina Smirnoff first joined Dancing With the Stars on Season 3 where she was paired with actor Mario Lopez. The duo made it all the way down to the finals and finished in second place. Sweeping through the competition, their chemistry was unparalleled and, as it turned out, their steamy showmance continued with a trip to Mexico after the season concluded.

The couple dated for two years before calling it quits in 2008. According to People, a rep for the five-time US National Champion dancer said in a statement, "The relationship wasn't heading in the right direction." The Saved By the Bell star said through a statement, "Karina and I have the utmost respect for each other. She is a phenomenal and talented woman. I support her always and feel blessed to have her in my life."

Speaking with Fox News in 2017, the Season 13 mirror ball winner didn't mention Lopez specifically, though she did say that she stays in contact with "most" of her DWTS partners, because through the experience they "become family." The pair certainly didn't walk down the aisle, however, their love went a little deeper than normal for the 18-time DWTS participant and that's a special bond the two will share forever.

Model Amber Rose hit the ballroom floor in 2016 with partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy on Season 23 of Dancing with the Stars. But it was Maksim's brother, Valentin Chmerkovskiy, with whom Rose formed a behind-the-scenes showmance. That fall, Val and Amber were spotted at a Halloween party together. Amber later tweeted a photo of the two hugging amongst a group of friends, and, with rumors circulating there was more than a friendship brewing between them, the "Fame" singer finally confirmed they were an item when she tweeted a photo of the two all smiles, writing, "Him" followed by a heart emoji.

Not too long after the couple appeared on the "kiss cam" at a New York Knicks game, the couple split before Valentine's Day in 2017. Amber explained, in a now deleted Instagram post (via E!), that they broke off the relationship after five months for their "own personal reasons" and they "still care about each other tremendously." She noted, "Nobody got dumped and nothing we do over here is malicious its just how life works sometimes." Valentin also explained on Instagram (via E!) that the two still had a special bond as Rose is "loyal af." He added, "She's an amazing woman that I feel very lucky to have gotten to know and love. An amazing mother, an awesome friend, a loving human period."

Val and Amber weren't the love of each other's lives but they shared good times together.