As the popular television show “Dancing with the Stars” (DWTS) continues its impressive run into its 35th season, many of the professional dancers are finding joy not only on the dance floor but also in their personal lives as parents. With the recent announcement that Witney Carson is expecting her third child, the collective number of children among the show’s pros is set to rise to six.
Current competitors include several couples, such as Daniella Karagach and Pasha Pashkov, as well as Jenna Johnson and Val Chmerkovskiy, who are pitted against each other while juggling the demands of parenthood. This blend of family and competition highlights the unique and heartwarming environment that the DWTS community fosters among its members.
Johnson and Chmerkovskiy, who first met on the show in 2014, have embraced parenthood with open arms since welcoming their son, Rome, on January 10, 2023. The couple wed in April 2019 and has enjoyed watching Rome develop a love for music and dance, reflecting the artistic genes of his parents. Chmerkovskiy remarked on the joy of seeing their son engage with their performances, noting, “If we ever have a video of us dancing, he loves watching it over and over again.”
Daniella Karagach and her husband Pasha Pashkov joined the ranks of DWTS parents with the birth of their daughter, Nikita, on May 30, 2023. The couple, who married in 2014, has expressed their excitement about parenthood, with Karagach stating how calming Pasha is around children. Nikita has already experienced the tour life at just two years old, where she became a fixture during her parents’ performances, much to the delight of the DWTS cast and crew.
In another recent addition to the fold, Mark Ballas and his wife BC Jean welcomed their son, Banksi, into the world on November 5, 2023. Describing fatherhood as his favourite experience to date, Ballas shared his joy during a podcast interview, expressing how cute he finds his son. The couple, who started their whirlwind romance in 2012, got married after a four-year engagement, proving the intertwining of love and career in the demanding world of dance.
Witney Carson, another beloved pro on the show, has two sons: Kevin Leo, born on January 3, 2021, and Jet, born on May 14, 2023. The family recently relocated from Utah to Florida, and Carson decided to take a break from DWTS for season 32 to focus on her growing family. Despite her hiatus, she returned for season 33 and later announced her pregnancy, revealing plans to compete while expecting.
“I’ll actually be the first professional dancer to compete being this far along pregnant, which is scary but also exciting,” Carson told PEOPLE, hopeful that her journey would provide a positive experience for both herself and her unborn child. Her dedication to both her family and her career demonstrates the resilience and adaptability of the show’s professionals.
The DWTS family continues to grow, with the pros balancing their professional commitments alongside the joys and challenges of being parents. As the competition heats up, followers of the show are increasingly sharing in the personal lives of these stars, who are determined to shine both on stage and at home.
In this unique realm where dancing meets family, the connections between the stars and their little ones have added depth to the DWTS experience. The joy of parenting, coupled with the excitement of competition, creates a compelling narrative that resonates with fans, allowing them to cheer for their favourite dancers while celebrating their growing families.
As each dancer navigates this dual role, the camaraderie among them is evident. Their experiences underscore the importance of support within the DWTS community, creating a nurturing environment where both personal and professional growth can flourish.