Daniella Brittany Karagach Pashkova (née Karagach; born December 26, 1992) is an American professional Latin and ballroom dancer and choreographer. She began her career in dancesport and rose to prominence as a contestant on the second season of World of Dance with her husband, Pasha Pashkov.

Daniella Karagach
Born
Daniella Brittany Karagach

(1992-12-26) December 26, 1992 (age 31)
Other namesDaniella Karagach Pashkova
EducationCollege of Staten Island
Occupations
  • Dancer
  • choreographer
Television
Spouse
Pasha Pashkov
(m. 2014)
Children1

Karagach continued her competitive dancing career by joining Dancing with the Stars in September 2019. She won her second season with basketball player Iman Shumpert and received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography.

Early life

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Daniella Brittany Karagach was born on December 26, 1992, in Brooklyn, New York, to Moldovan Jewish immigrants Mark and Regina Yvette Karagach (née Gershkovich).[1] Her parents divorced one year after her birth.[2] She was primarily raised as an only child by her mother in the Forest Hills and Bath Beach neighborhoods of New York; until her mother married her stepfather and she gained a stepsister.[3] She moved to South Beach, Staten Island when she grew older.[4]

Karagach began taking ballet lessons at the age of three, and by age seven was taking Latin dance classes.[3] She had trouble focusing in school and was diagnosed with a "very high" case of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) when she was six years old.[4] Her mother refused to give her prescribed medication due to her age and instead enrolled her in ballroom dance classes, which helped her focus and improve her academic performance.[4] After graduating from Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School,[5] Karagach studied childhood education at the College of Staten Island.[3]

Career

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Karagach formed a dance partnership with Leonid Juashkovsky and began her career in dancesport when she was eleven years old. Together, they became three-time USA Dance Junior I and II Latin Champions; represented the U.S. at the IDSF World Championships in Latvia, Russia, and Barcelona; and appeared in the second and third seasons of the competition series America's Ballroom Challenge.[6]

In January 2009, Karagach paired with Pavel "Pasha" Pashkov. They were selected to represent the U.S. at the 2009 World Games in Taiwan and represented the United States in various international competitions and festivals. Karagach and Pashkov are seven-time U.S. 10-Dance Champions and Latin Champions.[7] They also won the Rising Star Professional Championship at the 2017 Blackpool Dance Festival and the 2018 U.S. Latin American Showdance Championship. On television, they competed on the second season of World of Dance (2018) and choreographed for So You Think You Can Dance (2022).

Dancing with the Stars

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Karagach joined the reality competition series Dancing with the Stars as a professional dancer for season 28; although she did not have a celebrity partner.[8] For season 29, Karagach was paired with rapper and singer Nelly. They made it to the finals and placed third on November 23, 2020.[9]

On the 30th season of Dancing with the Stars, Karagach was paired with basketball player Iman Shumpert. Despite a shaky beginning, the couple won the competition on November 22, 2021, making Shumpert the first NBA player to both make the finale and win.[10] Karagach and Shumpert's contemporary piece to "I Got 5 on It (Tethered Mix)" was hailed by critics and viewers as one of the best dances in the series' history.[11][12] For her work on the season, Karagach received her first nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography.[13]

On the 31st season of Dancing with the Stars, Karagach was paired with actor and bodybuilder Joseph Baena.[14] Karagach was unable to compete for the second and third weeks after testing positive for COVID-19; she was temporarily replaced by troupe member Alexis Warr.[15] Karagach and Baena were eliminated on October 18, 2022, finishing in 11th place; Karagach's lowest placement to date.[16]

For season 32, Karagach was paired with singer-songwriter Jason Mraz. They made it to the finals and finished as the runners-up on December 5, 2023.[17]

For season 33, Karagach was paired with basketball player Dwight Howard.[18] They were eliminated during the quarterfinals on November 12, 2024, finishing in 6th place.[19]

Season Partner Place
29 Nelly 3rd
30 Iman Shumpert 1st
31 Joseph Baena 11th
32 Jason Mraz 2nd
33 Dwight Howard 6th

Season 29

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Celebrity partner: Nelly
Average score: 23.5/30

Week Dance Music Judges' scores[a] Total score Result
1 Salsa "Ride wit Me" — Nelly 5 5 6 16 Safe
2 Cha-cha-cha "Let's Groove" — Earth, Wind & Fire 6 6 6 18 Safe
3 Foxtrot "It's All Right" (from Soul) 6 6 6 18 Safe
4 Paso doble "All I Do Is Win" — DJ Khaled, feat. T-Pain, Ludacris, Rick Ross & Snoop Dogg 7 7 7 21 Safe
5 Samba "Rhythm of the Night" — DeBarge 8 8 8 24 Safe
6 Viennese waltz "Humble and Kind" — Tim McGraw 8 8 8 24 Safe
7 Argentine tango "Can't Feel My Face" — The Weeknd 9 9 9 27 Safe
8 Rumba "Nobody Knows" — The Tony Rich Project 7 7 7 21 Safe
Cha-cha-cha
(Dance relay)
"Rain on Me" — Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande 2[b]
9 Jazz "California Love" — Tupac, feat. Dr. Dre & Roger Troutman 8 8 8 24 Safe
Salsa
(Dance-off)
"The Cup of Life" — Ricky Martin 0 0[c]
10
(Semifinals)
Paso doble "Run Boy Run" — Woodkid 9 8 9 26 Safe
Jive Jump, Jive an' WailThe Brian Setzer Orchestra 10 10 10 30
11
(Finals)
Samba "Rhythm of the Night" — DeBarge 9 9 9 27 Third place
Freestyle "Savage" — Megan Thee Stallion &
"Hypnotize" — The Notorious B.I.G.
10 10 10 30
Notes
  1. ^ Individual judges' scores are listed in the following order: Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli.
  2. ^ Nelly and Daniella received two bonus points in this dance relay.
  3. ^ Nelly and Daniella received zero bonus points for losing this dance-off.

Season 30

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Celebrity partner: Iman Shumpert
Average score: 32.6/40

Week Dance Music Judges' scores[a] Total score Result
1 Jive "Hey Ya!" — Outkast 7 4 5 5 21 Safe
2 Rumba "U Know What's Up" — Donell Jones 7 6 6 6 25 Safe
3 Tango "Piece of Me" — Britney Spears 7 6 [b] 6 19 Safe
4 Foxtrot "Let It Go" (from Frozen) 8 6 8 8 30 Safe
5 Viennese waltz "Hopelessly Devoted to You" — Olivia Newton-John 7 7 7 7 28 Safe
6 Contemporary "I Got 5 on It (Tethered Mix)" (from Us) 10 10 10 10 40 Safe
7 Paso doble "Another One Bites the Dust" — Queen" 9 7 8 8 32 Safe
Jive
(Dance relay)
"Crazy Little Thing Called Love" — Queen" 2[c]
8 Cha-cha-cha "Rhythm Nation" — Janet Jackson 9 8 9 9 35 Safe
Foxtrot
(Dance-off)
"Again" — Janet Jackson Loser 0[d]
9
(Semifinals)
Tango "Telephone" — Martynas 9 9 10 9 37 Safe
Jazz "Dark Fantasy" — Kanye West 10 9 10 9 38
10
(Finals)
Cha-cha-cha
& Foxtrot (Fusion)
"September" — Earth, Wind & Fire 10 10 10[e] 10 40 Winners
Freestyle "Lose Control" — Missy Elliott, feat. Ciara & Fat Man Scoop
& "Bounce" — DJ Clent
10 10 10[e] 10 40
Notes
  1. ^ Individual judges' scores are listed in the following order: Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli.
  2. ^ Derek Hough was absent this week out of an "abundance of caution" after he had a "possible" exposure to COVID-19.
  3. ^ Iman and Daniella received two bonus points from Carrie Ann Inaba and Derek Hough in this dance relay.
  4. ^ Iman and Daniella received zero bonus points for losing this dance-off.
  5. ^ a b This score was given by Julianne Hough after her brother, Derek, was diagnosed with COVID-19.

Season 31

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Celebrity partner: Joseph Baena
Average score: 28.3/40

Week Dance Music Judges' scores[a] Total score Result
1 Jive "Pump It" — Black Eyed Peas 6 5 6 6 23 Safe
2[b] Viennese waltz "If I Can Dream" — Elvis Presley 6 6 6 6 24 Safe
3[b] Argentine tango "Writing's on the Wall"
(from Spectre)
8 7 7 7 29 Safe
4 Charleston "A Star Is Born" (from Hercules) 7 7 7 7 28 Safe
5 Rumba "My Way" — Frank Sinatra 9 8 9 8 34 Safe
Cha-cha-cha "Shut Up and Dance" — Walk the Moon 8 8 8 8 32 Eliminated
Hustle & Lindy Hop Marathon "Hot Stuff" — Donna Summer &
"Jump, Jive an' Wail" — The Brian Setzer Orchestra
4[c]
Notes
  1. ^ Individual judges' scores are listed in the following order: Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli.
  2. ^ a b Daniella did not perform this week because she was diagnosed with COVID-19. She was replaced by Alexis Warr.
  3. ^ Joseph and Daniella received four bonus points in this dance marathon.

Season 32

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Celebrity partner: Jason Mraz
Average score: 26.6/30

Week Dance Music Judges' scores[a] Total score Result
1 Cha-cha-cha "I Feel Like Dancing" — Jason Mraz 7 7 7 21 Safe
2 Rumba "Quizás, Quizás, Quizás" — Andrea Bocelli, feat. Jennifer Lopez 8 8 8 24 Safe
3 Jive "Do You Love Me" — The Contours 9 8 8 34[b] Safe
4 Foxtrot "A Whole New World" (from Aladdin) 8 8 8 24 Safe
5 Quickstep "On the Road Again" — Willie Nelson 9 9 9 27 Safe
6 Contemporary "Zombie" — The Cranberries 9 9 9 36[c] Safe
Hustle &
Charleston
Marathon
"Stayin' Alive" — Bee Gees &
"Grim Grinning Ghosts" — Kris Bowers
3[d]
7 Jazz "Take On Me" — a-ha 8 8[e] 9 72 Safe
Freestyle
(Team 4 Everybody)
"Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" — Backstreet Boys 9 9[f] 9
8 Samba "Higher Love" — Kygo & Whitney Houston 8 9 8 33[g] Safe
Salsa
(Dance-off)
"It's Not Right but It's Okay" — Whitney Houston 0 0[h]
9 Argentine tango "Don't Blame Me" — Taylor Swift 10 10 10 40[i] Safe
Cha-cha-cha
(Dance relay)
"Lavender Haze (Felix Jaehn Remix)" — Taylor Swift +3 3[j]
10
(Semifinals)
Viennese waltz "I Won't Give Up" — Jason Mraz 9 9 9 57 Safe
Paso doble "Diablo Rojo" — Rodrigo y Gabriela 10 10 10
11
(Finals)
Foxtrot "Fly Me to the Moon" — Frank Sinatra 10 10 10 60 Runners-up
Freestyle "Happy" — C2C, feat. Derek Martin 10 10 10
Notes
  1. ^ Individual judges' scores are listed in the following order: Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli.
  2. ^ Jason and Daniella also received a score of 9 from guest judge Michael Strahan.
  3. ^ Jason and Daniella also received a score of 9 from guest judge Niecy Nash-Betts.
  4. ^ Jason and Daniella received three bonus points in this dance marathon.
  5. ^ Jason and Daniella also received a score of 10 from guest judge Paula Abdul.
  6. ^ This team also received a score of 10 from guest judge Paula Abdul.
  7. ^ Jason and Daniella also received a score of 8 from guest judge Billy Porter.
  8. ^ Jason and Daniella received zero bonus points for losing this dance-off.
  9. ^ Jason and Daniella also received a score of 10 from guest judge Mandy Moore.
  10. ^ Jason and Daniella also received three bonus points for winning this dance relay.

Season 33

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Celebrity partner: Dwight Howard

Week Dance Music Judges' scores[a] Total score Result
1 Salsa "This Is How We Do It" — Montell Jordan 8 7 7 22 Safe
2 Foxtrot "City of Stars" (from La La Land) 8 7 7 22 Safe
3 Cha-cha-cha "Let's Groove" — Earth, Wind & Fire 6 5 6 23[b] Safe
Paso doble "Walk This Way" — Aerosmith 8 7 7 29[c]
4 Rumba "Shoot for the Stars" — Dwight Howard 7 8 7 29[d] Safe
5 Tango "When Can I See You Again?"
(from Wreck-It Ralph)
8 8 8 48 Safe
Freestyle
(Team Roar)
"I Just Can't Wait to Be King"
(from The Lion King)
8 8 8
6 Contemporary "Ring Around the Rosie" — District 78 10 9 9 28 Safe
Cha-cha-cha
(Dance-off)
"Ghostbusters" — Ray Parker Jr. +3 3[e]
7
(Quarterfinals)
Argentine tango "Santa María (del Buen Ayre)" — Gotan Project 8 9 9 48 Eliminated during 500th episode
Paso doble
(Instant Dance)
"Victorious" — Panic! at the Disco 8 7 7
Notes
  1. ^ Individual judges' scores are listed in the following order: Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli.
  2. ^ Dwight and Daniella also received a score of 6 from guest judge Rosie Perez.
  3. ^ Dwight and Daniella also received a score of 7 from guest judge Gene Simmons.
  4. ^ Dwight and Daniella also received a score of 7 from guest judge Mark Ballas.
  5. ^ Dwight and Daniella received three bonus points for winning this dance-off.

Personal life

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Karagach was introduced to Russian professional dancer Pasha Pashkov through their respective coaches; she was 15 years old at the time, and he was 22.[20] They began dating amidst their training shortly after Karagach turned 16.[21] Pashkov proposed on January 1, 2012, and they were married on July 18, 2014.[21] In 2020, the couple launched a first dance preparation school for engaged couples.[22][23]

After learning that she was pregnant in July 2022, Karagach suffered a miscarriage at five weeks gestation.[24][25] Four months later, she and Pashkov announced that they were expecting a rainbow baby.[26] Their daughter, Nikita Sofia Pashkova, was born on May 30, 2023.[27][28]

References

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  1. ^ Miller, Victoria (June 8, 2023). "DWTS Pro Shares Emotional Reason For Baby's Middle Name". Heavy. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  2. ^ Thompson, Avery; Norwin, Alyssa (November 21, 2021). "Daniella Karagach: 5 Things To Know About DWTS Pro Who Won For The 1st Time". Hollywood Life. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Costabile, Sabrina (November 21, 2020). "DWTS: Daniella Karagach's Nationality, Age, Husband, Dance History & More". ScreenRant. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c DeJesus, Jaime (May 25, 2018). "Former Bath Beach resident ready to compete in hit NBC show World of Dance". The Brooklyn Home Reporter. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  5. ^ Jooda, Barakat (January 11, 2022). "Interview with Daniella Karagach". The New Dealer. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  6. ^ O'Rourke, Jill (November 24, 2021). "Meet Daniella Karagach, the Latest Dancing with the Stars Pro Superstar". Talent Recap. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  7. ^ Longeretta, Emily (August 30, 2019). "Dancing With the Stars Season 28 Cast Revealed: Full List". Us Weekly. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  8. ^ Murphy, Desiree (September 16, 2019). "Dancing With the Stars Fans React to All-New Format Changes". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  9. ^ Stone, Natalie (November 23, 2020). "Dancing with the Stars: Kaitlyn Bristowe Wins Season 29". People. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  10. ^ "Iman Shumpert becomes first NBA player to win Dancing With The Stars". The New York Times. November 22, 2021. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  11. ^ Yahr, Emily (November 23, 2021). "How former NBA player Iman Shumpert, the 'underdog' of Dancing With the Stars, defied the odds and won the show". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 26, 2024. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  12. ^ Dator, James (October 26, 2021). "Iman Shumpert's routine on Dancing With the Stars might be the show's greatest ever". SB Nation. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  13. ^ Bernabe, Angeline Jade (September 12, 2022). "Daniella Karagach breaks down Emmy-nominated Dancing with the Stars choreography". Good Morning America. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  14. ^ "Dancing with the Stars: Teresa Giudice, Wayne Brady, Selma Blair and More Celebs Join Season 31". Peoplemag. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  15. ^ Rice, Lynette (September 26, 2022). "Dancing With the Stars: Pro Daniella Karagach Tests Positive for Covid; Will Miss Tonight's Performance". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  16. ^ Schepp, Calie (October 18, 2022). "Dancing With the Stars gives us a prom queen and a shocking elimination". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  17. ^ Campione, Katie (December 6, 2023). "Dancing With The Stars Finale: Who Brings Home The Season 32 Mirrorball Trophy?". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  18. ^ Rice, Lynette (September 4, 2024). "Dancing With The Stars: Season 33 Cast Includes Tori Spelling, Rugby Star Ilona Maher, Eric Roberts, Phaedra Parks & Reginald VelJohnson". Deadline. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  19. ^ Rice, Lynette (November 12, 2024). "Dancing With The Stars: One Couple Racks Up Perfect 30s While Another Popular Celeb Goes Home". Deadline. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  20. ^ Barber, Brittany (September 16, 2024). "Inside Daniella Karagach & Husband Pasha Pashkov's Relationship". The Knot. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  21. ^ a b Siwak, Miranda (September 13, 2023). "DWTS Daniella Karagach, Pasha Pashkov's Relationship Timeline". Us Weekly. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  22. ^ Kozma, Leila (November 16, 2020). "DWTS Stars Daniella Karagach and Pasha Pashkov Started Dancing Together in 2009". Distractify. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  23. ^ "Your Wedding First Dance Doesn't Have to Look Like a Slow Dance at Prom". Wedding Chicks. May 4, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  24. ^ Najib, Shafiq (October 2, 2024). "Dancing with the Stars pro Daniella Karagach opens up for 1st time about past miscarriage". Good Morning America. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  25. ^ Stenzel, Wesley (October 2, 2024). "Dancing With the Stars pro Daniella Karagach reveals miscarriage". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  26. ^ Falcone, Dana Rose (November 22, 2022). "Dancing with the Stars Pros Daniella Karagach and Pasha Pashkov Expecting First Baby". People. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  27. ^ Margaret, Aileen (May 31, 2023). "Dancing With the Stars Pro Daniella Karagach Gives Birth, Welcomes 1st Baby With Husband Pasha Pashkov". Us Weekly. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  28. ^ Pendleton, Tonya (June 1, 2023). "Dancing With The Stars pros Daniella Karagach, Pasha Pashkov announce the birth of their daughter". United Press International. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
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