15 'Dancing With The Stars' Partnerships That Were More Than Just Professional

Dancing with the Stars is a hit reality competition that has become almost as well known for its showmances, as it has for it's dancing and entertainment value. And it's a good thing that there doesn't seem to be a strict policy on the show for preventing these pairs from getting involved because, over the years, some of the partnerships between the celebrity and the professional dancer have blossomed into something more.

Of course, professionals can fake onscreen chemistry, but it makes it a lot easier (and more believable) if the couple has actually connected on a more personal level, too. Many of these romances are as short-lived as the celebrities' appearances on the show, but some have made their relationship work for months, and sometimes even years after. Actually, there's even a couple who met on the show and ended up getting married. And then there are those relationships that have been vehemently denied, they've also been forbidden (we are talking about Tony Dovolani And Sasha Evans, of course).

Below are 15 Dancing with the Stars partnerships that have happened over the years and how they happened, when it happened, and the reasons why they ended their relationship.

15 Derek Hough And Shannon Elizabeth Couldn't Fight Their Feelings Anymore

Derek Hough and Shannon Elizabeth sparked speculation during Dancing with the Stars Season 6 due to their obvious chemistry and friendly interactions with each other, but they were also close offscreen.

CBS News reported that they were seen getting cozy on the beach.

But despite this, the pair skirted around the question of romance, neither confirming nor denying it during an appearance on Live With Regis and Kelly - although when host Kelly Ripa asked their audience whether or not they thought the couple was dating they shouted a loud and resounding, “yes.”

According to E! News, the pair continued to date for almost a year before they announced their decision to split, via tweets. Their tweets completed each other, with Hough tweeting the first one: "Hi everyone, we wanted you all to know directly from us, that Shannon & I have decided to end our relationship as boyfriend & girlfriend… ," and Elizabeth finished his statement with her own tweet. She wrote, "However, we love and care about each other very much and will remain friends and in each other's lives.”

Despite breaking up in 2009, they stayed in touch, and in 2012, Elizabeth told Access Hollywood Live that they had recently met up. She said, “We just had dinner together and caught up. We're friends.”

14 Maksim Chmerkovskiy's Romance With Willa Ford Is The Best Kept Secret

Out of all of Maksim Chmerkovskiy's Dancing with the Stars partners, there was one he liked a little more than the rest, and he revealed this on an episode of Allegedly with Theo Von and Matthew Cole Weiss (via Daily Mail). The hosts asked Chmerkovskiy to play a game with them, and answer who, of his former partners, he disliked the most, would marry, and who he had a bit of a fling with, and his answers were as follows: He disliked Hope Solo the most and he told the hosts that this was because she is not a nice person, adding, “People can be bad or good or whatever… you can have a [not great] life growing up, you can have a tough upbringing - but if you're just a bad person there's no excuse for that." He was referring to the book Solo wrote titled Solo: A Memoir of Hope, in which she detailed her experience working with Chmerkovskiy.

But then the surprising part came, with Chmerkovskiy saying, “I did not have any relations with any of my partners… well, one! Willa Ford, we dated for a little while.”

Ford starred on Dancing with the Stars Season 3, back in 2006, and she and Chmerkovskiy placed seventh. Despite fans thinking that these two had a romance, she got engaged that same year to hockey player Mike Modano and made a point of speaking to People magazine about her relationship. She said, “Maks and I were definitely close and we still are, but I kept saying that it's going to be a shocker to everybody when they find out [I'm engaged to Mike]. Every week I told people the truth - we were close, we hung out - but the show loved to fuel the relationship.”

13 Cheryl Burke And Chad Johnson Had A Fling

Cheryl Burke and football star Chad Ochocinco, now known as Chad Johnson, had a good run on Dancing with the Stars Season 10, placing fourth overall, Fandom reports. But during their performances, there was also speculation about whether they were more than dancing partners and they were rumored to have been dating.

The romance reports were fuelled when Johnson surprised his dancing partner with an enormous platinum ring encrusted with diamonds, which he gifted to her live, telling her that it was a token of his appreciation.

An insider told Us Weekly the ring came from Jason of Beverly Hills, and cost more than $10,000. Burke told the publication that when she received the ring she was shocked. She said, "At first I was like, Is this even real?" Adding, heck, "not even any of my boyfriends have given me anything like this! Ochocinco likes the bling!"

But what about them as a couple? It took a while for Burke to confirm this, but according to E! News, she later told Wendy Williams they “had a fling.” She added, "A little flirty fling. Like, a little flirt, flirt. That's it." She reportedly also gave back the ring. Then in an interview with Ellen Degeneres (via RealityTVWorld), she said, "I mean, we had a fling. We worked so much together and we had great chemistry, but it was the same pattern I had… with my boyfriends in the past. He was just really unavailable to me. I just knew that didn't work and I've moved on and he's obviously moved on."

12 Julianne Hough And Chuck Wicks' Romance Ended After Their Partnership Did

Julianne Hough And Chuck Wicks were partnered together in Dancing with the Stars Season 8, and the producers made a good move because these two had an undeniable attraction. The couple placed seventh, and Hough wrote in a MySpace celebrity blog (via People) that she had almost taken the season off until show called and told her they thought it would be good if she danced with Wicks. She did, obviously, and she also commented on his dancing, writing, “It has been so much fun and really hilarious to see Chuck try to dance. Even thinking about it is funny! He is actually doing very well though. I was really surprised!”

After they were voted off the show they didn't seem to be too upset and were seen together outside the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles, BuddyTV reports. However, the romance didn't last much longer than their dance partnership did, and Hough told People, “We're both just really, really busy with our careers, and we spend a lot of time apart from each other - so we're just taking a little break right now.” But their split was amicable, with Hough telling the publication, “Honestly, Chuck and I are such good friends - we still hang out all the time, and we're still writing together.”

11 Val Chmerkovskiy Confirmed His Romance With Janel Parrish In His Memoir

Val Chmerkovskiy has been the subject of several dating rumors with his co-stars over the years, and these women have included Pretty Little Liars actress Janel Parrish, who he danced with in Season 19. Although the pair were not vocal about their romance, the attraction was evident in their routines and they even shared a smooch onstage. Daily Mail also reported on how their chemistry was not just reserved for the competition, and they were spotted walking hand-in-hand during an outing in New York, following their appearance on The View.

Chmerkovskiy did eventually comment on his relationship with the actress, and he chose to do this in his memoir, I'll Never Change My Name.

According to Fame10, he had this to say: “Gradually all the interactions between us took on a highly personal flavor. We entered into a romance.” He also commented on how their decision to make their professional relationship a romantic one backfired on their dancing partnership, writing, “I fell into the trap of letting relationship melodrama get in the way of me sticking to the script, which was to focus on dance. I let the line get blurred. I didn't separate the personal from the work. The reason I came to look at season 19 as disappointing wasn't a result of the content or not winning, but what appeared to matter was the romance, not the performances.” In the end, according to Fandom, they came third.

10 Val Falls For A Lot Of Contestants, Including Amber Rose

The entry above focused on Val Chmerkovskiy's relationship in Dancing with the Stars Season 19, but another of his memorable relationships was with Amber Rose, who was on Season 23. The interesting thing about this relationship though is it's a little different from the rest of this list because Rose was actually partnered with Chmerkovskiy's brother, Maksim on the show.

The pair were eliminated early, placing ninth, but during Rose's time on the show, she clearly connected with Val (who ended up winning the season with Laurie Hernandez). But the couple ended their relationship after five months of dating, and an insider told Us Weekly, "Val has been on tour and really hasn't had time to see her too much. It fizzled out, but it wasn't serious, to begin with.” They added, “I could see them hooking up again in the future."

According to ExtraTV, Chmerkovskiy addressed his split in an Instagram post (in a now-deleted post) and his comments made it appear that he and Rose ended on good terms. He wrote, "We decided to end our relationship a week ago, and did so with humility and understanding. She's an amazing woman and I feel very lucky to have gotten to know and love. An amazing mother, an awesome friend, a loving human period. Reserved, poised, and loyal. To stress that to the more common folk 'she loyal af.'"

9 Mark Ballas And Shawn Johnson Faced Reports Of A Nasty Breakup

Fans of Dancing with the Stars know that Mark Ballas dated his Season 5 partner, Sabrina Bryan, but his reported romance with another participant, Shawn Johnson, was never confirmed. They competed together on Season 8 and ended up winning the mirrorball trophy, a moment which Johnson was thrilled about. According to NBC, she said, "This has been the most amazing experience ever. I've grown so much. Thank you!"

The pair clearly danced well together, and their chemistry onstage made people question whether there was something romantic going on between them. Although little is known about their relationship, or possibly their lack of, The New York Post claims an insider told them they went through a “nasty breakup” adding, “That's why they couldn't be paired up again [for the All-Star shows].”

That said, both Johnson and Ballas have denied the reports about an alleged relationship and subsequent breakup.

The New York Post claims that the show has no official policy about showmances, however, Cheryl Burke revealed that sometimes this can be misinterpreted, as she said, “Us dancers are very touchy-feely" and although that's normal for them, it can give other people the wrong idea and feelings sometimes develop because of this (not that that's necessarily what happened with Ballas and Johnson).

8 Karina Smirnoff And Mario Lopez's Relationship Crashed And Burned

Professional dancer Karina Smirnoff was paired with Mario Lopez during Dancing with the Stars Season 3, and what they had was much more than a brief connection because they dated for two years. But things ended very badly. In 2008, a month after Smirnoff and Lopez split, she told People, “I'm definitely heartbroken.” She added that the breakup left her wishing she could “just crawl into bed, eat ice cream… and not come out for weeks.”

During her interview with the publication, she also commented on how she and Lopez had first met and the impression she had of him. She said, “I thought that he was extremely hot and charming. We actually tried to fight the attraction as long as we could. But obviously, that didn't last too long at all.” And for a time, things were serious between the pair and Smirnoff even moved into Lopez's Los Angeles home with him after just six months of dating.

Despite the heartache, Lopez had only good things to say about his ex-girlfriend because according to UPI, his representative released a statement to People, which read: "Karina and I have the utmost respect for each other. She is a phenomenal and talented woman. I support her always and feel blessed to have her in my life.”

7 Sabrina Bryan And Mark Ballas Had More Than Dancing Chemistry

The relationship between Sabrina Bryan And Mark Ballas is one of the most adorable in the show's history, and they hit it off right from the beginning. Bryan told TVGuide, "When I walked into the rehearsal hall the first day and found out who my partner was, it was so exciting. I would've been happy with anyone, but I think he has a really cool edge. And he's incredible… ”

Fans liked them as dancing partners, but there were also rumors that what was between them was a lot more than professional, and Bryan eventually revealed that the dating rumors were true.

According to TVGuide, she said, "He's taking me out for a surprise this weekend and he won't tell me what it is. He's joking that it's our first date because we've always hung out, millions of times, millions of dinners. But this is different." However, Bryan was also quick to tell the publication that it was only once she had been eliminated that they decided to explore what was happening between them.

She said, "We've been so focused on the competition. But now that that has died down, we'll see where it goes. We haven't had a chance to do any of that [dating] or even talk about it. We didn't even realize that people would think that about us until they started asking us. Because you get so close to someone, you get so comfortable, that you don't even see it."

They did end up dating, but it wasn't meant to be because their busy schedules drove them apart. However, Bryan told People they had remained friends.

6 James Maslow And Peta Murgatroyd Looked Very Happy In Each Other's Company

Peta Murgatroyd is now happily married to fellow Dancing with the Stars pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy, but before their marriage, she was linked to Big Time Rush actor James Maslow. The dating rumors started even before Maslow joined Season 18 of the show because the pair had been spotted together on several occasions.

Life&Style magazine reported that an insider told them they were dating. “They started dating after meeting through friends recently,” the insider told the publication. “He's super busy rehearsing for his Big Time Rush tour, which kicks off today [Feb. 6], and she's gearing up for the next season of DWTS. They're both really busy, but they enjoy each other's company.”

The insider also commented on the relationship and suggested that it was much more than just a fling, saying,“It's going to get serious soon!”

In the end, the couple placed fourth and there was no denying had onscreen chemistry, even sharing a kiss onstage after a steamy tango performance. Although, according to Daily Mail, it was not a spontaneous moment and rather part of a choreographed routine. It's also interesting to know that despite the rumors, these two never admitted to being in a relationship.

5 Peta Murgatroyd Got Super Close To Brant Daugherty At An Event

Dancing with the Stars pro Peta Murgatroyd and her Season 17 partner Brant Daugherty sparked dating rumors when they were reportedly spotted together at a Hollywood event, getting very close.

An eyewitness at the Trevor Live L.A. event in Hollywood told Us Weekly that they sat together at a table in the back of the ballroom and were reportedly inseparable over the course of the evening. There were also reports that when the lights dimmed the pair locked lips, and the onlooker revealed that they actually did this several times.

This certainly sounds like a moment shared between people who are much more than dancing partners, and when Daugherty shared a photo of the two of them from the event on Instagram, it did nothing to squash the swirling rumors.

He captioned the picture where he is embracing Murgatroyd with: “Had so much fun at Trevor Live last night with this lovely lady by my side.”

According to Wetpaint, they were also spotted on a date in a park and smooched outside the studios, but despite this, the pair denied that they were dating. Or at least Murgatroyd did, because the publication claims she told Steppin' Out magazine, “We're just friends. It happens to me every single season with every partner. We're just very close friends.”

4 Kym Johnson And Robert Herjavec Are Now Enjoying Marital Bliss

Kym Johnson And Robert Herjavec met when the Shark Tank business mogul competed on Dancing with the Stars Season 20 and fell in love during rehearsals. Despite not winning the mirrorball trophy, they walked away with something else: a rock solid relationship.

The couple continued to date after appearing on the show, although they were initially coy about their relationship. Then in 2016, the couple exchanged vows in a romantic Los Angeles ceremony.

This was not something that Johnson expected to happen when she was paired with Herjavec, but it did, and she told People, “I didn't think it was possible, but it just kept getting better. I'm just so happy to be going through life with Robert, He's the most incredible person.”And Herjavec feels the same way, telling the publication, “I enjoy every minute I spend with Kym. When I met her, I felt complete.”

Herjavec may have felt complete in that moment, but there won't be just two of them in their family anymore, as the pair revealed in December of 2017 that Johnson was pregnant with twins. They chatted to People about the pregnancy, saying, “We waited so long that we decided to double up! We are very grateful for the blessing of twins.”

3 Tony Dovolani And Sasha Evans: Romance May Have Ended Her Marriage

Tony Dovolani And Sasha Evans are another Dancing with the Stars couple who made headlines about whether there was more to their relationship than a professional partnership. Despite the suggestion of a romance, this showmance is unclear because it was denied by both Dovolani and Evans, who were paired together on Season 3.

Evans left the show and announced that she was divorcing her husband. According to Entertainment Weekly, her record label released this statement: “Recent events that shed light on the status of her marriage prompted Ms. Evans to make the filing.” Her husband, Craig Schelske, claimed that Evans had been unfaithful, and TMZ reports that he had found out about her alleged relationship with another man a day before she filed for divorce.

Insiders who were connected to the case told the publication that the man who Schelske believed his wife had had an extramarital relationship with was Dovolani.

TMZ notes that both Dovolani and Evans stated that her husband's claims were untrue.

Having faced the rumors of having a relationship with a participant, Dovolani weighed in on the claims about Cheryl Burke being involved with Drew Lachey. According to People, he said, “I told Cheryl, 'You just have to not listen.'”

2 Cheryl Burke And Antonio Sabato Jr. Denied They Were Together, But Rumors Claim Otherwise

Cheryl Burke And Antonio Sabato Jr. were rumored to have connected on a more personal level when they were paired together in Season 19 of Dancing with the Stars.

According to a Celeb Dirty Laundry, Globe magazine claimed that professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy was apparently feuding with Sabato Jr. backstage and had accused him of having an extramarital relationship with Burke (he was married, and she had a boyfriend) The report states: “Part of Maks's strategy was to get under the skin of other dancers and throw them off their games. If Val has learned anything from him, it's that being feisty and even confrontational can really get you ahead. Early on in rehearsals, Val told Cheryl Burke to watch out for Antonio because he has a reputation. And, that got Antonio steaming. Antonio stood chest to chest with Val and told him in no uncertain terms that he's happily married and to mind his own business.”

This is a showmance that RadarOnline claims both Burke and Sabato Jr. denied and insisted that their relationship was only professional. And despite making headlines for something that he probably would have preferred not to, Sabato Jr. told Access Hollywood Live that his time on the show had been amazing. He said, “It's just amazing. Dancing with this amazing person right here, [Cheryl, who] I can call a friend now, it's been incredible. The fanbase, dancing for my family, my wife and my kids are there it's just been an incredible journey."

1 Rumor Had It Artem Chigvintsev And Mischa Barton Were More Than Dance Partners

Artem Chigvintsev and Mischa Barton were rumored to have had a connection that went beyond friendship. They were eliminated from Dancing with the Stars Season 22 early on in the competition, so there was no time for fans to determine if they had a real-life connection, however, Entertainment Tonight reported that an insider told them Chigvintsev and Barton had started dating, revealing they were “transitioning into more than friends.” They added, “He is the reason she's looking happier recently. She has become giddy when talking about him and quite smitten with him. He's pursued her for a while, and she's coming around.”

However, Chigvintsev's rep told E! News the rumors were not true.

His representative reports, "All of these reports are false. Mischa and Artem are not dating. The experience of Dancing with the Stars has a tendency to really bond partners and pros. They have remained friends since the show."

But Barton's experience on the show was apparently not the best because she told The Ringer, “I had no idea it would be so bad. I got told off by my dancer. I was supposed to control the costumes, I was told that I could do the design aspect of it, that's kind of the reason why I agreed to do it. That didn't happen. It wasn't collaborative like a choreographer on a film set.… I was so confused by it. It was like The Hunger Games. It was all a popularity contest. It was awful. I was so glad to get kicked off."

References: CBS News, E! News, Access Online, Daily Mail, People, Fandom, Us Weekly, E! News, RealityTVWorld, BuddyTV, People, People, Daily Mail, Fame10, Fandom, Fandom, Us Weekly, ExtraTV, Radar Online, NBC, New York Post, People, UPI, TV Guide, People, Life&Style, Daily Mail, Us Weekly, Brant Daugherty Instagram, WetPaint, People, People, Entertainment Weekly, TMZ, People, Celebrity Dirty Laundry, Radar Online, Access Online, Entertainment Tonight, E! News, The Ringer.