Dancing With The Stars

Dancing With the Stars fans have another reason to drool this season as Maksim Chmerkovskiy’s equally sexy younger brother Val Chmerkovskiy joins the cast of professional dancers.

Wetpaint Entertainment was lucky enough to catch up with the gorgeous Ukrainian to get the dish on his new role twirling and tipping his beautiful partner (and George Clooney’s ex-girlfriend!) Elisabetta Canalis.

Wetpaint Entertainment: How have your first few weeks as a DWTS pro been going?
They've been going great. I’m lucky to be doing what I love and, on top of that, doing it in front of millions of people. It's a true honor for me to be able to showcase my abilities as a dancer, teacher and choreographer. I've worked very hard over the last 15 years to be able to enjoy opportunities like this one.

Do you have a friendly competition going on with your brother, Maks?
No, not at all! My priority is, 100 per cent, to make sure Elisabetta does well on DWTS! But if there is a situation where I lose out to my brother it's a win-win for me. I put my family above everything that's going on in my life. They were there in the beginning, and they will be there at the end.

Maksim is known for milking his good looks on the show. Will you be doing the same?
I consider my sense of humor and wit the roots of what makes me attractive. I'm just, yet firm. I believe in chivalry and good-manners. I love my parents and find nothing wrong with helping  someone "just because." These are the things I find attractive in myself, and don't mind "milking" at all.

Did you see Elisabetta’s “I’d Rather Go Naked” PETA ad? What did you think of it? Do you think it will help you two in the first week?
I don't know if it will help us, but I do hope it helps PETA. Before I found out that Elisabetta was involved with PETA, I was astounded how conscious she was about animal cruelty and how passionate she was about helping animals involved in any sort of mistreatment. She's rescued countless dogs, finding great homes for them with fellow animal lovers.  

What is Elisabetta’s biggest disadvantage this season? Or her biggest advantages?
Sometimes the language barrier gets in the way, but that happens very rarely for the most part. Elizabetta is talented and a pleasure to work with. Her biggest advantages are her personality and her flexibility.

Who is the couple to watch out for this season?
Valentin Chmerkovskiy and Elisabetta Canalis!

Has Maks given you any tips on your first season competing?
Maks has given plenty of tips and helped me out tremendously, as he has my entire life. He's paved the way for me in many different directions. However, this time I'm paving my own way... my way!

How have you been adjusting to all the new attention?
I haven't felt too much new attention yet, however if it does come, I will be ready for it. I've been around my brother enough times to experience what excessive attention looks and feels like.  

What are your future plans, do you plan on using DWTS to further other career goals like Maks and Derek Hough have done?
For sure. I am a performer and I am an artist. True joy in my life comes from being able to express my creativity through a variety of channels. Whether it be poetry, music, dance, entrepreneurship, or a simple discussion my creative juices are always flowing, and my lust for self-expression drives constantly towards a diversified portfolio of creative outlets. I aspire to be a modern day Renaissance man.

Aside from Elisabetta, who would be your dream celeb dance partner?
I don’t believe there is such a thing as an ideal partner, but if there was somebody that I would love to have the opportunity to meet and work with it would be Marilyn Monroe. She was a Hollywood icon with immense stage presence. I would have loved the opportunity to be able to perform with a talent of that caliber.