Karina Smirnoff
Karina Smirnoff | |
|---|---|
 Karina Smirnoff at the Get Smart premiere | |
| Born | Karina Smirnova January 2, 1978 |
| Other names | Karyna Kylkova Karyna Smirnoff Karyna Smirnova |
| Occupation | Dancer |
Karina Smirnoff (Template:Lang-ua; born January 2, 1978) is a Ukrainian American professional ballroom dancer.
She is a five-time U.S. National Champion, World Trophy Champion, and Asian Open Champion. Smirnoff has won the title at the UK Open, is a three-time champion at the US Open, two-time champion at the Asian Open, five-time champion at the Dutch Open, and five-time US National Professional Champion. She has been ranked second in the world [citation needed], and took second at the British Open Blackpool Dance Festival.[1]
She is "the first woman to ever make the British Professional Final with three different partners".[2]
Biography
Smirnoff was born Karina Smirnova in Kharkiv, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union on January 2, 1978. When she was five years old, she began taking ballet lessons, followed by gymnastics, aerobics, figure skating, ballroom dancing and piano [3]. Eventually she chose to pursue ballroom dancing. In 1992, Smirnoff immigrated to the United States [4] and became a U.S. citizen. Once in the U.S., Smirnoff took time off from studying dancing for school.
Education
Smirnoff attended Christopher Columbus High School in New York and the Bronx High School of Science[citation needed] before going to Fordham University, during which time she picked up her interest in dancing again. Smirnoff graduated from Fordham University with a double major in economics and information system programming [1]. During her academic studies, Smirnoff's goal was to go to law school and become an attorney; however, she found a dance school in Brooklyn, New York and after some time there dancing became her profession.
Dancing career
Smirnoff has made numerous candid appearances on reality shows such as Dancing with the Stars, and Chelsea Lately, featuring Chelsea Handler [4].
Early in Smirnoff's dancing career, Roman Nabatov and she competed as an amateur couple for USA. They ended their dance partnership in January 1997 [5]. Smirnoff soon after started dancing with Paul Killick in October 1998 as a professional couple for England; this partnership ended in July 1999. Immediately, Louis van Amstel and Karina Smirnoff, in July 1999, entered a professional dance partnership, representing the U.S.A; the partnership ended in December 2000 [6].
From January 2001 to September 2005, Karina Smirnoff was in a dance partnership with Slavik Kryklyvyy and they represented the U.S.A; this partnership thus far is her most successful one. Kryklyvyy and Smirnoff earned many top titles and high ratings together [7].
Smirnoff's last professional partner recorded in competitions was Dmitri Timokhin representing Russia from October 2005. They won first place at the 2006 Grand-Prix Dynamo in Moscow, Russia [8]. They finished dancing together in June 2006[9].
Dancing with the Stars
Smirnoff was a performer on the third season of the ABC series Dancing with the Stars with celebrity partner Mario López. They finished in second place, losing to the team of Emmitt Smith and Cheryl Burke. Smirnoff returned to the show on March 19, 2007 for Season 4, this time partnered with Billy Ray Cyrus, country singer and Hannah Montana star [10]. The pair was the eighth to be eliminated from the competition on May 8, 2007. Her partner for Season 5 of the show was current five-division world champion boxer, Floyd Mayweather Jr. On October 16, 2007, Karina and Floyd were the fourth couple eliminated from competition and came in 9th place. She returned for Season 6, partnered with singer Mario and finished in 5th place. In Season 7, she was partnered with chef Rocco DiSpirito and they were the fourth pair to be eliminated with a finish of 9th place for the second time.
For the eighth season, Smirnoff's partner was Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Wozniak. They were eliminated in the fourth round on March 31, 2009, along with Holly Madison and her partner Dmitry Chaplin.
For the ninth season, she was partnered with singer Aaron Carter. They were eliminated on November 10, 2009, placing fifth.
In the eleventh season, she is partnered with Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino, from MTV's reality TV show Jersey Shore.
Smirnoff spoofed her role on Dancing in Hannah Montana, playing a fortune teller who predicts to a disbelieving Cyrus about his appearance in a dancing competition.
Performances
With Mario Lopez (Season 3)
| Week | Dance(s)/Song | Carrie Ann's Score |
Len's Score |
Bruno's Score |
Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cha-Cha-Cha/"Walkin' on the Sun" | 9 | 8 | 9 | Safe |
| 2 | Quickstep/"Do Your Thing" | 7 | 6 | 8 | Safe |
| 3 | Tango/"What You Waiting For" | 8 | 6 | 8 | Safe |
| 4 | Paso Doble/"Cancion Del Mariachi" | 10 | 9 | 10 | Safe |
| 5 | Rumba/"The Way You Look Tonight" | 9 | 9 | 9 | Safe |
| 6 | Mambo/"Ran Kan Kan" Disco/"Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" |
9 No |
9 Scores |
10 Given |
No Elimination |
| 7 | Foxtrot/"I Wanna Be Loved By You" Jive/"Shake a Tail Feather" |
10 9 |
9 9 |
10 9 |
Safe |
| 8 Quarter Finals |
Waltz/"Dark Waltz" Samba/"Superstition" |
9 10 |
9 9 |
10 10 |
Bottom Two |
| 9 Semi-Finals |
Tango/"Whatever Lola Wants" Cha-Cha-Cha/"Bad" |
10 10 |
10 10 |
10 9 |
Safe |
| 10 Finals |
Samba/"Sir Duke" Paso Doble/"Cancion Del Mariachi" Freestyle/"It Take Two" |
10 9 10 |
10 10 10 |
10 10 10 |
Runner-Up |
With Billy Ray Cyrus (Season 4)
| Week | Dance(s)/Song(s) | Carrie Ann Inaba | Len Goodman | Bruno Tonioli | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cha-Cha-Cha/"I Want My Mullet Back" | 5 | 4 | 4 | Safe |
| 2 | Quickstep/"Ring of Fire" | 7 | 7 | 7 | Safe |
| 3 | Tango/"Rock the Casbah" | 7 | 7 | 7 | Safe |
| 4 | Paso Doble/"Black Betty" | 7 | 7 | 7 | Safe |
| 5 | Rumba/"What's Love Got to Do with It?" | 6 | 6 | 5 | Safe |
| 6 | Jive/"I Love to Boogie" Swing/"Rock This Town" |
7 No |
7 Scores |
7 Given |
Safe |
| 7 | Waltz/"Play Me" Samba/"Living in America" |
5 7 |
6 7 |
6 7 |
Bottom Two |
| 8 Quarter Finals |
Foxtrot/"Stand by Your Man" Mambo/"My Way" |
7 6 |
6 7 |
5 7 |
Eliminated |
With Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (Season 5)
| Week | Dance/Song | Carrie Ann Inaba | Len Goodman | Bruno Tonioli | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cha-Cha-Cha/"The Way You Move" | 6 | 6 | 6 | Safe |
| 2 | Quickstep/"Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" | 7 | 7 | 7 | Safe |
| 3 | Jive/"Mess Around" | 7 | 7 | 7 | Bottom Two |
| 4 | Paso Doble/"Captain From Castille" | 7 | 8 | 8 | Eliminated |
With Mario (Season 6)
| Week | Dance(s)/Song(s) | Carrie Ann | Len | Bruno | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cha-Cha-Cha/"Request Line" | 8 | 8 | 8 | Safe |
| 2 | Quickstep/"Valerie" | 9 | 8 | 9 | Safe |
| 3 | Tango/"El Tango de Roxanne" | 7 | 6 | 8 | Bottom Two |
| 4 | Paso Doble/"Higher Ground" | 8 | 7 | 9 | Safe |
| 5 | Samba/"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" | 9 | 9 | 9 | Safe |
| 6 | Rumba/"Let's Get it On" Country Western/"Cotton-Eyed Joe" |
9 No |
9 Scores |
10 Given |
Bottom Two |
| 7 | Foxtrot/"I'm Your Man" Mambo/"Mambo a la Sandoval" |
8 9 |
8 9 |
8 9 |
Safe |
| 8 Quarter Finals |
Viennese Waltz/"If I Ain't Got You" Jive/"Little Billy Pretty One" |
9 9 |
9 8 |
9 9 |
Eliminated |
With Rocco DiSpirito (Season 7)
| Week | Dance(s)/Song(s) | Carrie Ann Inaba's Score |
Len Goodman's Score |
Bruno Tonioli's Score |
Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Foxtrot/"Stray Cat Strut" Mambo/"La Comay" |
5 7 |
4 7 |
5 7 |
Safe |
| 2 | Rumba/"You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" | 5 | 6 | 5 | Safe |
| 3 | Viennese Waltz/"What's New Pussycat?" | 7 | 7 | 6 | Safe |
| 4 | Samba/"I Go to Rio" | 6 | 6 | 6 | Eliminated |
With Steve Wozniak (Season 8)
| Week | Dance/Song | Carrie Ann Inaba | Len Goodman | Bruno Tonioli | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cha-Cha-Cha/"You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" Quickstep/"Oh, Boy!" |
5 6 |
4 5 |
4 6 |
Bottom Two |
| 2 | Samba/"Jump In The Line (Shake, Senora)" | 4 | 3 | 3 | Safe |
| 3 | Argentine Tango/"Cite Tango" | 4 | 4 | 4 | Eliminated |
With Aaron Carter (Season 9)
| Week | Dance(s)/Song(s) | Carrie Ann | Len/Baz | Bruno | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cha-Cha-Cha/"Beggin'" Viennese Waltz/"I'm Your Man" |
7 Awarded |
8 10 |
7 Points |
Safe |
| 2 | Quickstep/"The Muppet Show Theme Song" | 9 | 9 | 9 | Safe |
| 3 | Rumba/"Spotlight" | 8 | 6 | 7 | Safe |
| 4 | Lambada/"Dr. Beat" | 6 | 6 | 6 | Bottom Two |
| 5 | Argentine Tango/"Epoca" | 8 | 8 | 8 | Bottom Two |
| 6 | Waltz/"Three Times a Lady" Mambo Marathon/"Ran Kan Kan" |
8 Awarded |
9 8 |
8 Points |
Safe |
| 7 | Jive/"We're Not Gonna Take It" Paso Doble/"I Hate Myself for Loving You" |
9 8 |
10 8 |
10 8 |
Bottom Two |
| 8 Quarter Finals |
Foxtrot/"Lucky" 90's Samba/"Two Princes" |
7 9 |
8 9 |
8 9 |
Eliminated |
With Mike Sorrentino (Season 11)
| Week | Dance(s)/Song(s) | Carrie Ann Inaba's Score |
Len Goodman's Score |
Bruno Tonioli's Score |
Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cha-Cha-Cha/"Break Your Heart" | 5 | 5 | 5 | Safe |
| 2 | Quickstep/"Americano" | 6 | 6 | 6 | Safe |
Other endeavors
An episode of Family Guy had Stewie cross dress in order to be on television. He used the name Karina Smirnoff.[citation needed]
Smirnoff has appeared nude in a PETA advertising campaign -with the tagline "I'd rather dance naked than wear fur"[11][12]
Personal life
She was the project manager/director of dancing event entitled "Day & Night".[13] This event was held on November 18, 2006 at the Hollywood & Highlands Grand Ballroom.
Smirnoff had dated Mario Lopez after having been partnered with him during the fall 2006 third season of Dancing with the Stars. The relationship lasted from 2006 to 2008.[14].
She began dating a fellow Ukrainian and fellow Dancing With the Stars dancer, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, in summer 2008. Just six months later they announced their engagement on December 31, 2008.[15] Smirnoff and Chmerkovskiy have performed professionally, at the 2007 ALMA Awards[16].
Their engagement ended after nine months.[17][18]
References
- ^ a b "Karina Smirnoff Bio" (PDF). McDonald’s Electronic Press Kit. November 20, 2006. Retrieved 2007-09-09.
- ^ Ballas, Corky (September 1, 2002). "Open British Professional Latin Championship". dsninternational.com. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Karina Smirnoff Official Website
- ^ a b Kim, Steve (September 8, 2007). "'The Pretty Boy' Dances with the Stars". maxboxing.com.
- ^ "Dance Couple Profile of Paul Killick & Karina Smirnoff". DancesportInfo. 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-09.
- ^ "Dancers Details: Karina Smirnoff". DancesportInfo. 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-09.
- ^ "Couple results: Slavik Kryklyvyy & Karina Smirnoff". DancesportInfo. 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-09.
- ^ "Couple results: Dmitri Timokhin & Karina Smirnoff". DancesportInfo. 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-09.
- ^ http://dancesportinfo.net/Couple/Dmitri_Timokhin_and_Karina_Smirnoff_34115/Details.aspx
- ^ "The Stars Align for a Fourth Season of ABC'S Hit Alternative Series, "Dancing with the Stars"". ABC Television Network. 2007-02-21. Retrieved 2007-02-27.
- ^ http://www.peta.org/FeatureKarinaSmirnoff.asp
- ^ http://www.kyivpost.com/news/guide/guidenews/detail/49303/
- ^ "Day & Night". Retrieved 2007-02-28.
- ^ "Mario Lopez and Karina Smirnoff Split". People Magazine. June 5, 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
- ^ Karina and Maksim Engaged
- ^ "2007 alma presenters/PERFORMERS". June 5, 2007. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
- ^ http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20303021,00.html
- ^ "DWTS' Karina Smirnoff and Maksim Chmerkovskiy Split". UsMagazine.com.