Honestly, if you’d told a Dancing with the Stars fan five years ago that Artem Chigvintsev would be making headlines for mugshots instead of Mirrorball trophies, they wouldn’t have believed you. It’s wild how fast things change. For over a decade, the Russian-born pro was the steady hand of the ballroom, the guy who could turn even the most rhythmically challenged celebrity into a decent waltzer.
But lately? The conversation around Artem Chigvintsev Dancing with the Stars has shifted from choreography to courtrooms.
It’s been a messy few years. We’ve seen him win it all with Kaitlyn Bristowe, get "cut" unexpectedly, come back, and then fall into a personal tailspin that basically leveled his career in 2024. People are still trying to figure out if he's actually done with the show for good or if there's a path back for him.
The Mirrorball Peak and the Sudden Drop
Artem isn't just some random dancer. He’s actually the only pro to have won both the US version and the UK’s Strictly Come Dancing. That’s a huge deal. He won Strictly in his very first season back in 2010 with Kara Tointon. Then he moved stateside, joined DWTS in Season 19, and eventually secured his US win with Bachelorette Kaitlyn Bristowe in Season 29.
Success didn't make him "safe," though.
The show is notorious for rotating pros. In 2019, he got the call just three days before the Season 28 cast announcement telling him he wasn't needed. He described it as a "punch in the stomach." It’s a brutal business. You’re a star one day and looking for work the next.
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Partners and Placements Through the Years
Artem usually got stuck with the "older" contestants or the ones the producers didn't expect to win. But he was good at it.
- Patti LaBelle (Season 20): They were a fan favorite, even if they didn't win.
- Lea Thompson (Season 19): She was actually a ringer, but they went out in 6th.
- Melora Hardin (Season 30): They made it to the semi-finals, and she was incredible.
- Charity Lawson (Season 32): His most recent run, finishing in 4th place.
Then came 2024.
Why Artem Chigvintsev Dancing with the Stars Ended Abruptly
By the time Season 33 rolled around in late 2024, the "Artem era" was effectively over, but the drama was just starting.
Here’s the thing: most people think he was fired because of his arrest. In reality, reports from PEOPLE and other insiders confirmed that the show had already decided not to bring him back for Season 33 before the police were ever called to his house. He was essentially a free agent when everything went south with his now-ex-wife, Nikki Garcia (formerly Nikki Bella).
On August 29, 2024, Artem was arrested in Napa Valley on suspicion of felony domestic violence.
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It was a shocker. They had just celebrated their second wedding anniversary days prior. Nikki filed for divorce almost immediately. The legal battle that followed was intense, with both sides filing restraining orders and making pretty heavy accusations.
The Fallout and the "Life Ruined" Quote
The District Attorney eventually declined to file criminal charges in September 2024, citing a lack of evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. Artem felt vindicated, but the damage was done.
He recently went on the Glamorous Grind podcast and didn't hold back. He said the situation "completely ruined my life from every angle." He claimed he lost over $100,000 in income because dance conventions and sponsors dropped him the second that mugshot hit the internet.
At one point, Nikki even claimed in court docs that he had taken a construction job because he couldn't find dance work, which he later disputed. It’s a far cry from the glitz of a live TV finale.
Is There a Future for Artem in the Ballroom?
As we move through 2026, the question is whether the show will ever touch him again.
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The DWTS production team is usually pretty risk-averse when it comes to controversy. While fans on Reddit and Facebook are split—some wanting him back because he was never charged, others saying the "vibe" is forever ruined—the show seems to be moving toward younger, "fresher" pros like Ezra Sosa or Alexis Warr.
What You Should Know Now
If you're following the latest updates, keep these points in mind:
- Current Status: As of the 2025-2026 cycle, Artem is not on the roster for Dancing with the Stars. He has been focusing on teaching at private dance conventions and raising his son, Matteo.
- Legal Resolution: No criminal charges were ever filed, and his divorce from Nikki Garcia was finalized in late 2024. They now share joint custody of their son.
- Financial Impact: He is still vocal about the "cancel culture" effect the arrest had on his career, claiming the "innocent until proven guilty" standard didn't apply to his professional life.
For anyone looking to dive deeper into the technical side of his career, you can find old clips of his Season 29 freestyle with Kaitlyn Bristowe—it’s still widely considered some of the best choreography in the show's history.
If you want to stay updated on the upcoming Season 34 cast, your best bet is to follow the official DWTS social media channels or trade publications like Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, which usually leak the pro list about a month before the premiere.
Next Steps: You might want to check out the current 2026 professional dancer lineup to see who took over the spots formerly held by veterans like Artem and Sharna Burgess. You can also look into Nikki Garcia’s recent interviews for her perspective on their co-parenting dynamic post-divorce.