Artem Chigvintsev
Artem Vladimirovich Chigvintsev (Russian: Артём Влади́мирович Чи́гвинцев; born 12 June 1982) is a Russian professional dancer, specializing in Latin dancing.[2][3]
In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Vladimirovich and the family name is Chigvintsev.
Artem Chigvintsev
American[1]
- Dancer
- choreographer
- reality television star
2003–present
- So You Think You Can Dance
- Strictly Come Dancing (2010–2013)
- Dancing with the Stars (2014–2018; 2020–present)
1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
1
Chigvintsev was a cast member of Burn the Floor where he performed both on Broadway and more recently in the West End in 2009.[4] Chigvintsev joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2010 straight from Burn the Floor. He won the show in his first year with his celebrity partner Kara Tointon.
Early life[edit]
Chigvintsev was born at Izhevsk, Udmurt Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, RSFSR, Soviet Union. He moved to the United States in 2003 and began dancing with champion ballroom dancer Giselle Peacock. Chigvintsev auditioned to appear as a contestant on the first series of So You Think You Can Dance.[5] Chigvintsev was eliminated alongside his fellow contestant Melissa Vella,[6] but returned as a guest choreographer for season two.[5]
So You Think You Can Dance[edit]
In 2011, Chigvintsev was a choreographer on the British adaptation of So You Think You Can Dance. He choreographed a Viennese Waltz to "She's Always a Woman" by Billy Joel for Katie Love & Luke Jackson. He choreographed a Cha-Cha-Cha to "Judas" by Lady Gaga for Bethany Rose Harrison & Lee Bridgman. For the final, he choreographed a Tango to "I've Seen That Face Before (Libertango)" by Grace Jones for Katie Love & Luke Jackson.
Other work[edit]
In 2009, he appeared in the music video for Hush Hush; Hush Hush by The Pussycat Dolls, dancing with Nicole Scherzinger.
In 2011, Chigvintsev acted the part of lead choreographer in the CBeebies Christmas Pantomime, Cinderella.
Chigvintsev has also appeared in an episode of the TV show The O.C. and in the movie I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.[5]
In October 2020, he made a guest appearance in an episode, “Sister, Sister and a Babymoon” of the American reality TV show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians to teach Kris Jenner and her boyfriend ballroom dancing. He has also made another guest appearance on another American reality TV show, Paris in Love. In an episode, "Too Close for Carter," in January 2022 to teach Paris Hilton and her former fiancé now husband some dance moves for their wedding reception.
Chigvintsev appeared as a main cast member on the E! reality show, Total Bellas, for the show's fifth and sixth season.
Personal life[edit]
Chigvintsev was married to his dancing partner, Giselle Peacock, from 2004 to 2005. He dated Carrie Ann Inaba from 2006 to 2008.[33] Chigvintsev became a naturalized U.S. citizen on September 17, 2014.[1] In November 2019, he got engaged to Total Bellas star, and retired WWE wrestler, Nikki Bella,[34] who was his celebrity partner on the 25th season of Dancing with the Stars. On January 29, 2020, Nikki and Artem announced they were expecting their first child, just a week and a half after Nikki's twin sister, Brie, announced she was expecting her second child.[35] Bella gave birth to Matteo Artemovich Chigvintsev on July 31, 2020.[36] The pair got married on August 26, 2022.[37]