You’ve seen him spinning celebrities around the ballroom for over a decade. He’s the guy who can make a gymnast fly and a reality star look like a seasoned pro. But every time he stands next to a host or a taller contestant, the same question pops up on social media: Sasha Farber how tall is he, exactly?
In an industry where male ballroom dancers are often expected to be towering figures like Gleb Savchenko or Val Chmerkovskiy, Sasha stands out. Not just for his energy, but because he doesn't fit that "tall, dark, and brooding" mold. He's something else entirely. He's compact. Powerful.
The Numbers: Sasha Farber’s Actual Height
Let’s get the hard facts out of the way first. Sasha Farber is 5 feet 7 inches tall.
That’s roughly 170 cm for those of you tracking in metric. If you’ve ever seen him on Dancing with the Stars, you might have noticed he’s often the shortest male pro on the floor. Does it matter? Honestly, in the world of professional Latin dance, being slightly shorter can actually be a massive technical advantage. It lowers his center of gravity. It makes his spins faster. It makes his footwork look like it's happening at 2x speed.
There was a bit of a stir on TikTok recently where Sasha himself addressed his height. He basically confirmed that being 5'7" sometimes makes the casting process for the show a bit of a headache for producers. They have to find celebrities who won't tower over him, especially once you factor in the three-inch heels the women wear.
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Why 5'7" Is a "Strategic" Height in Ballroom
Ballroom dancing is all about physics. Think about it.
When you have a taller dancer, they have more "line." Their limbs are longer, which looks great in a Waltz. But Sasha is a Latin specialist. In dances like the Cha Cha, Samba, or Jive, speed is the currency. A shorter frame allows for quicker weight shifts. If you watch Sasha dance, his "down-into-the-floor" action is incredible. He’s not fighting a long torso to get back on balance; he’s already there.
Here is how he stacks up against some of his peers:
- Gleb Savchenko: 6'1" (The giant of the group)
- Val Chmerkovskiy: 6'0"
- Pasha Pashkov: Around 5'8" or 5'9"
- Mark Ballas: Also sits around the 5'7" or 5'8" mark
It’s a niche. When the show casts a shorter female celebrity—think gymnasts like Suni Lee or Simone Biles—Sasha is the first name on the list. He’s the "Pocket Rocket" for a reason.
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The Emma Slater Dynamic
You can’t talk about Sasha’s height without mentioning his long-term relationship (and marriage/divorce) with fellow pro Emma Slater. Emma is roughly 5'5". On paper, that's a two-inch difference.
However, ballroom heels are no joke. A standard Latin heel is 2.5 to 3 inches. When Emma puts on her "work shoes," she and Sasha are essentially eye-to-eye. This is why they looked so balanced when they danced together. They had similar stride lengths and their centers of gravity aligned almost perfectly.
Height and the "Castability" Struggle
Kinda sucks to say, but height plays a huge role in whether Sasha gets a partner each season. He’s been very vocal about this. In 2024, there was a lot of drama when he was nearly cut from the pro lineup.
The reason? The female celebrities that year were mostly tall.
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If a celebrity is 5'10", putting them with a 5'7" Sasha creates a visual disconnect that judges often penalize. It's not fair, but it’s the reality of televised ballroom. Sasha has joked about it, saying he sometimes wishes he could just "stretch" a few inches to make the producers' lives easier. But then again, if he were 6'2", he probably wouldn't have that signature "Sasha bounce" that fans love.
Notable Partners and the Height Match
- Simone Biles (4'8"): This was a match made in heaven. Sasha could actually lead and lift her without looking like he was wrestling a giant.
- Suni Lee (5'0"): Another gymnast. Sasha’s height makes him the go-to for athletes with smaller frames.
- Justina Machado (5'2"): They had incredible chemistry, partly because their physical proportions allowed for very tight, intricate choreography.
- Terra Jolé (4'2"): This was a historic pairing. Sasha's ability to adapt his frame to a partner with dwarfism showed his true skill as a technician.
How He Hacks His Height
If you look closely at Sasha’s competition shoes, you’ll notice they aren't flat. Male ballroom dancers wear a "Latin heel," which is usually about 1.5 to 2 inches. This gives him a slight boost, bringing him closer to 5'9" when he’s actually performing.
He also uses posture to his advantage. A lot of shorter guys tend to hunch, but Sasha’s "long neck" and dropped shoulders give the illusion of more height. It’s a trick of the trade.
Final Thoughts on the 5'7" Powerhouse
Height is just a number until you’re trying to lead a 6-foot supermodel in a Tango. For Sasha Farber, being 5'7" is part of his brand. It’s why he’s fast, why he’s agile, and why he’s survived on one of the most competitive shows on TV for over a decade.
If you’re looking to improve your own presence regardless of your height, take a page out of Sasha’s book:
- Focus on posture: Pulling your shoulder blades down and back can add a perceived inch to your frame.
- Embrace your "speed": Shorter limbs move faster—use that to your advantage in any physical activity.
- Dress the part: Sasha often wears high-waisted trousers which elongate the legs, a classic trick for shorter men.
The next time you watch him on stage, don't look at how he compares to the host. Look at the feet. The speed he generates at 5'7" is something most of the taller pros can only dream of.