Val Chmerkovskiy From 'Dancing With the Stars' Teaches Jeff Mauro How to Dance

Val Chmerkovskiy is used to dancing with the stars — now he’s cooking against them.

From Dancing With the Stars to Say Yes to the Dress, Val is no stranger to reality television. Now, it’s time to see if his two right feet know how to navigate a kitchen on Worst Cooks in America: Reality Check.

Who Is Val?

To quote the Dancing With the Stars legend: “If you don’t know me, I’m sure you have a grandma or an aunt that loves me.”

Born in Soviet-era Ukraine, Valentin “Val” Chmerkovskiy moved to New Jersey at the age of 8 alongside his parents and older brother. Val got his start dancing at his father's and brother’s studio, winning a world junior championship title as part of the first American duo to take home first place.

Since making his first appearance on Dancing With the Stars in February 2006, the three-time champion has danced alongside celebrities like Alix Earle, Danica McKellar and Zendaya.

Chef Val

Val’s talents expand far beyond dance. His violin and poetry skills make him a classic triple threat, but when it comes to the kitchen, Val remains a neophyte. No one can learn without making mistakes, and Val isn’t the exception. Suffice it to say, he learned a lot when he tried to boil olive oil. There’s no better time to be a professional dancer than when you need to shimmy away from an explosion.

Cooking With the Stars

Dancing With the Stars and Food Network have history — long predating Val and Jeff’s steamy homage to Dirty Dancing. Fellow dancer-with-the-stars Cheryl Burke graced the very same kitchen in Season 28 of Worst Cooks in America: Heroes vs. Villains. Author and Food Network journeyman Rocco DiSpirito was the fifth star to be sent home in DWTS Season 7. In the show’s fourth season, NSYNC member, Rewrapped host and Chopped All-Stars: Celebrities competitor Joey Fatone left with the silver medal. This past season, we saw a member of the Warner Bros. Discovery family bring home the gold when Robert Irwin and his partner, Witney Carson, bested Val and Alix in the season finale.

Tune in Sundays at 8|7c to see if Val can learn some new moves and win $25,000 for the charity of his choice.