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Partner · CMO

Ilia Vinikovskiy · Born in Kiev, Ukraine · Trained across Europe in Latin American dance · Photo: Dance With Me Studios

Meet the Author

Ilia Vinikovskiy

Q: Who is Ilia Vinikovskiy?

Ilia Vinikovskiy is a Latin American dancer and the Partner and Chief Marketing Officer of Dance With Me Studios. Born in Kiev, Ukraine, he started Latin dance at 8, won his first national championship in Ukraine at 12, and at 15 was invited to represent Poland and train abroad with top world teachers.

Q: What is Ilia Vinikovskiy's role at Dance With Me?

Ilia is a Partner and the Chief Marketing Officer of Dance With Me Studios, the national ballroom and Latin studio group founded by Maks and Val Chmerkovskiy.

Q: Where is Ilia Vinikovskiy from?

Ilia was born on July 16, 1990, in Kiev, Ukraine. From age 15 he lived and trained in several European countries, including Poland, England, Denmark, Italy, Hungary and Norway.

Q: What dance style does Ilia Vinikovskiy specialize in?

Ilia's background is in competitive Latin American dancing — the International Latin styles of Cha-Cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble and Jive.

Q: Who has Ilia Vinikovskiy trained with?

Ilia has trained with world champions including Bryan Watson, Carmen, Hans Galke, Lene and Colin James, and Carolyn Smith and Graham Oswick.

Q: Can I take a dance lesson with Ilia Vinikovskiy?

Ilia's role at Dance With Me is Partner and Chief Marketing Officer. Lessons at every studio are taught by Dance With Me's trained instructor teams, and the way to start is a $49 private intro lesson at your nearest studio.

Partner· Chief Marketing Officer· Latin Dancer

★ National Champion of Ukraine at 12 · Represented Poland at 15

Ilia Vinikovskiy is a Latin American dancer and a Partner and Chief Marketing Officer of Dance With Me Studios. Born in Kiev, he started dancing at eight, won his first national championship in Ukraine at twelve, and at fifteen was invited abroad to represent Poland — beginning years of training across Europe with world champions of Latin dance.

Train at a DWM Studio → Read His Full Bio ↓

8Age He Began Latin Dance

12First National Title, Ukraine

15Invited to Represent Poland

6European Countries Trained In

Latin AmericanCha-ChaSambaRumba Paso DobleJiveKievPoland EnglandDenmarkItalyHungaryNorway

01The Story

From Kiev to the European Circuit.

Born on July 16, 1990, in Kiev, Ukraine, Ilia Vinikovskiy began his journey as a Latin dancer at eight years old. By twelve he had won his first national championship in Ukraine.

He was only fifteen when he was invited abroad to represent Poland and study with top world teachers. Over the following years he lived in England, Denmark, Italy, Hungary and Norway, following the best coaching in Latin American dance wherever it was — an intense professional career that made him well recognized in the world of Latin dance.

Today Ilia is a Partner and Chief Marketing Officer of Dance With Me Studios, the national ballroom and Latin studio group founded by Maks and Val Chmerkovskiy — bringing a competitive dancer's understanding of the floor to how Dance With Me talks about dance.

Latin American DanceInternational LatinDanceSport Competition Cha-Cha · Samba · RumbaPaso Doble · JiveStudio Marketing

Ilia Vinikovskiy, Latin American dancer and Partner at Dance With Me Studios

Latin, the European way

02Credentials & Training A competitive Latin career built across Eastern and Western Europe.

Why He Knows Latin Dance.

National Champion, Ukraine

Won his first national championship in Ukraine at twelve, four years after starting Latin dance in Kiev.

Competitive Latin · Ukraine

Represented Poland

Invited abroad at fifteen to represent Poland and study with top world teachers.

International Competition

Countries Trained In

Lived and trained in Poland, England, Denmark, Italy, Hungary and Norway to study Latin American dancing at its highest level.

European Training Circuit

World-Champion Coaches

Trained with Bryan Watson, Carmen, Hans Galke, Lene and Colin James, and Carolyn Smith and Graham Oswick, among others.

Coaching Lineage

Years Old at His Start

Began Latin dance at eight in Kiev — a lifetime on the floor before stepping into the business of dance.

Kiev, Ukraine

CMO

Partner, Dance With Me

Partner and Chief Marketing Officer of Dance With Me Studios, founded by Maks and Val Chmerkovskiy.

Dance With Me Studios

03Experience

A Latin Career, In Order.

1990

Born in Kiev, Ukraine

Ilia Vinikovskiy was born on July 16, 1990, in Kiev.

Age 8

Starts Latin Dance

Begins his journey as a Latin dancer in Kiev.

Age 12

First National Championship

Wins his first national championship in Ukraine.

Age 15

Invited to Represent Poland

Moves abroad to represent Poland and study with top world teachers.

Europe

Training Across the Continent

Lives in England, Denmark, Italy, Hungary and Norway, training with world champions including Bryan Watson, Hans Galke, Colin James and Carolyn Smith.

DWM

Partner & CMO, Dance With Me

Joins Dance With Me Studios as a Partner and Chief Marketing Officer.

04At Dance With Me

A Dancer's Eye on Everything We Say.

As Partner and Chief Marketing Officer, Ilia leads how Dance With Me presents itself — and because he came up through competitive Latin, the way we describe dance is checked by someone who has lived it from the floor.

Partner in the Business

One of the partners behind the national Dance With Me studio group.

Marketing Leadership

Leads Dance With Me's marketing as Chief Marketing Officer.

Latin Expertise

A competitive Latin background behind how we explain Cha-Cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble and Jive.

European Training Lineage

Coached by world champions across six European countries.

Find Your Nearest Studio →

A Dance With Me group Latin and Ballroom class

Dance With Me Studios · Nationwide

05The Lineage

Trained by the Names That Shaped Latin.

From Kiev to Poland, England, Denmark, Italy, Hungary and Norway, Ilia trained with world champions including Bryan Watson, Hans Galke, Lene and Colin James, and Carolyn Smith and Graham Oswick.

Ilia Vinikovskiy · Partner & CMO, Dance With Me Studios

06Train With Us Every program starts with a single $49 private intro lesson.

Find Your Way Onto the Floor.

Private ballroom dance lesson at Dance With Me Studios

Private Lessons

One-on-one instruction on a personalized curriculum — the fastest way to build real Latin and Ballroom technique.

PersonalizedAny LevelFlexible Schedule

Start with a $49 Intro Lesson →

Students in a group Latin and Ballroom dance class

Group Classes

The most popular way to begin. Structured sessions that guide beginners through fundamentals while sharpening technique for experienced dancers.

Partner RotationNo Partner NeededCommunity

Start with a $49 Intro Lesson →

International Latin

Ilia's home style: Cha-Cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble and Jive — precision, passion and detail on the floor.

Cha-ChaSamba · RumbaPaso Doble · Jive

Explore the Dance Styles →

Wedding First Dance

Custom choreography matched to your song, your comfort level, and your timeline.

Custom ChoreographyAny SongParent Dances

Start with a $49 Intro Lesson →

07Common Questions

About Ilia Vinikovskiy.

Ilia Vinikovskiy is a Latin American dancer and the Partner and Chief Marketing Officer of Dance With Me Studios. Born in Kiev, Ukraine, he started Latin dance at 8, won his first national championship in Ukraine at 12, and at 15 was invited to represent Poland and train abroad with top world teachers.

Ilia is a Partner and the Chief Marketing Officer of Dance With Me Studios, the national ballroom and Latin studio group founded by Maks and Val Chmerkovskiy.

Ilia was born on July 16, 1990, in Kiev, Ukraine. From age 15 he lived and trained in several European countries, including Poland, England, Denmark, Italy, Hungary and Norway.

Ilia's background is in competitive Latin American dancing — the International Latin styles of Cha-Cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble and Jive.

Ilia has trained with world champions including Bryan Watson, Carmen, Hans Galke, Lene and Colin James, and Carolyn Smith and Graham Oswick.

Ilia's role at Dance With Me is Partner and Chief Marketing Officer. Lessons at every studio are taught by Dance With Me's trained instructor teams — start with a $49 private intro lesson at your nearest studio and we'll match you with the right teacher for your goals.

08Start Dancing