Peta Murgatroyd facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Peta Murgatroyd
Murgatroyd in 2013
Born	Peta Jane Murgatroyd (1986-07-14) 14 July 1986 (age 39) Auckland, New Zealand
Nationality	Australian American (from 2019)
Occupation	Dancer choreographer
Spouse(s)	Maksim Chmerkovskiy ​ (m. 2017)​
Children	3
Relatives	Valentin Chmerkovskiy (brother-in-law) Jenna Johnson (sister-in-law)

Peta Jane Murgatroyd (born July 14, 1986) is an Australian and American professional Latin dancer. She is famous for being a professional dancer on the American TV show Dancing with the Stars. She has won the competition twice with her celebrity partners.

Before her TV fame, she toured the world with the dance show Burn the Floor, and even performed with them on Broadway in New York City.

Early Life and Training

Peta Murgatroyd was born in Auckland, New Zealand. When she was 18 months old, her family moved to Australia. Because she grew up in Perth, Western Australia, she thinks of herself as more Australian than a New Zealander.

She began studying classical ballet when she was only four years old. For 12 years, she trained with Madame Lubov Nikonorenko, who was a top dancer with the famous Kirov Ballet. However, a serious ankle injury at age 16 meant she had to stop dancing ballet. After this, Peta decided to try Latin dancing.

Career Highlights

Peta quickly became a star in the world of ballroom dancing. Just months after she started, she became the W.A. Amateur Latin State Champion in 2002 and won again in 2003. She also competed in Singapore and was a finalist in the Australian Open Championships. In 2005, she placed third in the world at the famous Blackpool Dance Festival in England.

In 2018, she also starred in a movie called Faith, Hope & Love. She played a dance studio owner who teams up with a single dad for a dance contest.

Burn the Floor

In 2004, Murgatroyd joined the cast of Burn the Floor, a popular dance show. She traveled the world with the show for six years. When Burn the Floor came to Broadway in 2009, she was the lead female dancer.

Dancing with the Stars

Murgatroyd first appeared on Dancing with the Stars in 2011 as part of the dance troupe. The next season, she became one of the main professional dancers, getting paired with celebrities to compete for the championship.

Over the years, she has danced with many famous people. She has won the competition twice.

First Win with Donald Driver (Season 14)

In 2012, Murgatroyd was partnered with football player Donald Driver. The season before, she had been the first dancer eliminated. But this time, she and Donald went all the way to the end. On May 22, 2012, they were announced as the winners of the competition. This made her the second professional dancer to win the show right after finishing in last place the previous season.

Second Win with Nyle DiMarco (Season 22)

Murgatroyd returned for season 22 and was paired with Nyle DiMarco, a deaf model and actor. They had a special connection and performed many memorable dances. On May 24, 2016, Murgatroyd and DiMarco were crowned the champions, giving Peta her second win.

Other Notable Seasons

• Season 13: In her first season as a pro, Murgatroyd was paired with basketball player Metta World Peace. They were the first couple eliminated.
• Season 18: She danced with Big Time Rush member James Maslow. They were a strong couple and made it to the finale, finishing in fourth place.
• Season 19: Murgatroyd was paired with comedian Tommy Chong. They were a fan favorite and made it all the way to the semi-finals, finishing in fifth place.
• Season 21: Murgatroyd was supposed to compete with singer Andy Grammer but had to pull out before the season started because of an ankle injury that needed surgery.
• Season 31: She was paired with actor Jason Lewis, but they were the first couple eliminated.

Personal Life

Murgatroyd is married to Maksim Chmerkovskiy, who is also a professional dancer and was on Dancing with the Stars. They began dating on and off in 2012. On December 5, 2015, Maksim proposed to her on stage during a performance of their dance show, Sway.

They have three children. Their first son, Shai Aleksander, was born on January 4, 2017. The couple got married on July 8, 2017, at Oheka Castle in New York. Their second son, Rio John, was born on June 18, 2023. Their third son, Milan Maksim, was born on July 12, 2024.

On October 10, 2019, Peta Murgatroyd officially became a citizen of the United States.

See also

In Spanish: Peta Murgatroyd para niños