Jenna Johnson is an American professional dancer and choreographer known for winning Dancing with the Stars with Adam Rippon and Joey Graziadei. She first gained attention as a finalist on So You Think You Can Dance and later became one of the show's professional dancers.
Personal life
Jenna Johnson has been married to fellow Dancing with the Stars professional dancer Valentin Chmerkovskiy since April 13, 2019. They became engaged during a trip to Venice, Italy, in June 2018 and married in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.
Johnson and Chmerkovskiy have one son, Rome Valentin Chmerkovskiy, who was born on January 10, 2023. Johnson has also spoken publicly about experiencing a miscarriage in 2021 and the depression that followed.
Competitive dance and *So You Think You Can Dance*
Johnson began training in dance at an early age and developed skills in jazz, contemporary, and Latin ballroom. In dancesport, she became a five-time U.S. National Latin Champion, a U.S. National Youth 10 Dance Champion, and a three-time National Contemporary winner. She represented the United States at the 2012 World Latin Dance Championships in Beijing, China.
At 18, Johnson competed on the tenth season of So You Think You Can Dance, where she reached the top four female contestants and finished as a third runner-up. After the season, she served as dance captain on the show's 44-city tour. She later returned as an all-star and mentored Jake Monreal and Chris “Kiki” Nyemchek on later seasons.
Dancing with the Stars championships
Johnson joined Dancing with the Stars as a troupe member before becoming a professional dancer. Her first professional partnership was with actor Jake T. Austin in season 23, and the pair was eliminated first. She later stepped in as a substitute partner for racing driver James Hinchcliffe after Sharna Burgess sustained a knee injury.
Johnson won her first Mirrorball Trophy with Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon during the show's Athletes season in 2018. She reached the finale as runner-up with Nev Schulman in season 29 and with JoJo Siwa in season 30. Johnson and Siwa formed the first same-sex couple in the show's history.
In season 33, Johnson partnered with Joey Graziadei and won the competition, earning her second Mirrorball Trophy. She and Valentin Chmerkovskiy also received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for choreography after creating two waltz routines for season 32.
Quick facts
- Jenna Johnson is a five-time U.S. National Latin Champion, a U.S. National Youth 10 Dance Champion, and a three-time National Contemporary winner.
- She represented the United States at the 2012 World Latin Dance Championships in Beijing, China.
- At 18, Johnson reached the top four female contestants on the tenth season of So You Think You Can Dance.
- After her So You Think You Can Dance season, Johnson served as dance captain on the show's 44-city tour.
- Johnson won the Athletes season of Dancing with the Stars with Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon in 2018.
- She became the fourth professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars to win after being eliminated first in her previous season.
- Johnson and JoJo Siwa formed the first same-sex couple to compete on Dancing with the Stars.
- Johnson and JoJo Siwa finished as runners-up in season 30.
- Johnson and Nev Schulman finished as runners-up in season 29.
- Johnson won her second Dancing with the Stars Mirrorball Trophy with Joey Graziadei in season 33.
- Johnson and Valentin Chmerkovskiy received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for choreography for two waltz routines on Dancing with the Stars.
- Johnson substituted for Sharna Burgess as James Hinchcliffe's dance partner after Burgess sustained a knee injury.
FAQs about Jenna Johnson
How old was Jenna Johnson when she got married?
Jenna Johnson was 25 when she married Valentin Chmerkovskiy on April 13, 2019.
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