Maks Chmerkovskiy: ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ Judge Says It ‘Just Makes Sense’ to Give Back [Exclusive]
Maks Chmerkovskiy may have made his mark on television as a Dancing with the Stars pro, but the current So You Think You Can Dance judge is much more than that. In an exclusive for Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Chmerkovskiy reveals that philanthropy holds just as big a place in his heart as dance, saying “it just makes sense” to give back.
Maks Chmerkovskiy finds great satisfaction in helping others
One of the most important elements of Maks Chmerkovskiy’s life is philanthropy. He finds great satisfaction in helping others.
“Since I started DWTS, we were invited to all these events, like the ESPYS and the ESPYS Celebrity Golf Classic. Its a great thing,” Maks shared.
He continued, “For me, it was like I had finally made it. In my mature years, it became very important to me to go and give back. It’s something I wanted to attach myself to because of how they give back to others.”
Realizing he has a public platform, Chmerkovskiy consciously uses it for good. Therefore, he spends much of his time aligning himself with organizations that can make a life-changing difference.
“The ESPYS Golf Classic is all about the V Cancer Research Foundation. As a 40-plus-year-old, I have many personal connections with the disease, so being a part of this event makes sense,” Maks revealed.
“And 100% of the funds raised go to cancer research. I love these types of initiatives; they make me happy. It’s rooted in my DNA to give back,” he continued.
“I won’t plant a tree, I need to plant the forest. I want to make sure I am part of the solution.”
Maks Chmerkovskiy is a participant and sponsor of the ESPYS Celebrity Golf Classic
Lending his name and face to the ESPY’s Celebrity Golf Classic is one thing. However, Maks Chmerkovskiy is also participating in the event in another way; his vodka line, Tetya KAPA, is also a sponsor of the yearly cancer research event.
The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano. He was a legendary North Carolina State University basketball coach and ESPN commentator.
The Foundation has awarded more than $353 million in cancer research grants. The event proceeds will benefit cancer research funded by the V Foundation and runs from July 7-12 in Thousand Oaks, California.
However important Chmerkovskiy’s philanthropic work is, he always makes time for his first love: dance. He recently starred on So You Think You Can Dance as a judge, utilizing his skillset in a different way.
Chmerkovskiy used his dance skills in a different way on ‘So You Think You Can Dance’
Early in 2024, Maks Chmerkovskiy had the opportunity to use his decades of dance knowledge to assist up-and-coming performers as a judge during Season 18 of the competition series So You Think You Can Dance. He sat alongside JoJo Siwa and Allison Holker on the panel.
Where he utilized his dance skills for 17 seasons as a Dancing with the Stars pro, this time, Chmerkovskiy had the chance to “sit down” and share his experiences and help others start their professional dance careers.
“I had a great time,” he revealed. “It was the opportunity to sit down. It was the chance to live up to the expectations I set for myself.”
However, he still needed the show’s producers to explain why his opinion would matter. He wanted to know exactly what was expected of him as a judge on the series.
“When I was offered this position, I kept asking can you please tell me why me? What is my job? They said that because of your experience and your job when asked, you say what you feel is right.”
“My opinion came from a physical reaction to watching someone dance. I’m not there saying I’m correct. I am saying this was how I reacted to the performance and my understanding and experience as a dancer,” he continued.
Maks Chmerkovskiy is married to DWTS pro Peta Murgatroyd. They are parents to sons Shai and Rio and will welcome a third son in a matter of weeks.
