We reported last fall that the hottie indicated that he would exit the show at the end of 2013 saying,

“The audience can’t expect for me to want to stick around, and the producers can’t expect for me to want to stick around.”

At the time Chmerkovskiy said he plans to pursue opportunities in acting and reality shows. Something he is familiar with since he did appear on The Bachelor in the Ukrane.

But according to TMZ, Chmerkovskiy told producers this week that he will not be returning for the upcoming season as planned.  As he initially stated he is pursuing other TV and movie projects.

Season 16 lineup is slated to be announced next week and we will have all the details here.  Be sure to come back and see who will be on this season’s Dancing With the Stars.

What do you think about Maksim leaving Dancing With the Stars?

Our favorite hottie dancer from Dancing With the Stars, Maksim Chmerkovskiy is leaving the hit show after this season.

The controversial dancer’s contract runs out at the end of next year and like he said,

“What else do I have to do there after 15 seasons?” he continued, “It makes total sense. The audience can’t expect for me to want to stick around, and the producers can’t expect for me to want to stick around.”

Chmerkovskiy says he plans to pursue opportunities in acting and reality shows. Something he is familiar with since he did appear on The Bachelor in the Ukrane. He didn’t end up landing his lady-love on the show but did find love with another professional dancer from DWTS,  Peta Murgatroyd

Chmerkovskiy and Kirstie Alley will re-team for “Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars,” which premieres on Monday. Of course, we will be live blogging the show – will you be tuning in??

This is a case of he said, she said since Hope Solo made the accusation in a new memoir just released. Solo, who has been known to be outspoken, claims Maksim slapped her ‘hard’ across the face out of frustration while trying to bend her into position while rehearsing for Dancing With the Stars.

Solo claims Chmerkovskiy was extremely apologetic following the incident and ABC even offered her a new dance partner but she chose to stay with Max.

Maksim has strongly denied the slapping incident and doesn’t understand why Solo is making such claims.

Maksim is known to have a temper and we have seen some harsh words come out of his mouth towards his dance partners but that doesn’t mean he would slap a woman.

What do you think – did Maksim slap Hope Solo? Or is Hope just trying to sell some books?

The cast of the 2012 Dancing With the Stars (Season 14) has been revealed.  It’s time to reveal the partners.

Jack Wagner  partner Ana

Melissa Gilbert  partner Maks

Donald Driver - partner Peta

William Levy - Cheryl Burke

Sherry Shepherd -  partner Val

Katherine Jenkins - partner Mark Ballas

Gavin DeGraw - partner Karina

Martina Navratilova - partner Tony

Roshon Fegan - partner Chelsea Hightower

Maria Menounos - partner Derek Hough

Jaleel White - partner Kim Johnson

Gladys Knight - Tristan

What do you think of this season’s dancers?  Are you looking forward to the 14th season?   The show returns on Monday, March 19th.

We will be live blogging the season so be sure to come back.

On Monday, ABC announced their new cast for season 13 of Dancing with the Stars during the airing of ‘Bachelor Pad’. On Tuesday, the cast was not wasting anytime, heading to the studio in Hollywood to start practicing.

Chaz Bono, David Arquette, Elisabetta Canalis, Ricki Lake, Rob Kardashian, Cheryl Burke, Derek Hough and Maksim Chmerkovskiy were some of the cast that hit the dance floor, carrying their coffee and dance shoes. They will begin training with their partners, learning either the cha cha or the Viennese Waltz for the show’s two-hour season premiere, Monday, Sept. 19 at 8 p.m. ET.

Do you have a favorite yet??

Click on Photos to Enlarge

Photo Credit: Flynet Pictures

While the Dancing With the Stars cast has not been “officially” revealed there has been a lot of speculation as to who is going to be dancing this season.

TMZ has released the first half of the contestants, as well as their dance partners.

– Kirstie Alley & Maksim Chmerkovskiy
– Kendra Wilkinson & Louis van Amstel
– Wendy Williams & Tony Dovolani
– Chris Jericho & Cheryl Burke
– Lil’ Romeo & Chelsie Hightower
– Disney star Chelsea Kane & Mark Ballas

“DWTS” will officially announce the celebrity cast tonight during “The Bachelor.”  We blog real time during the Bachelor so be sure to stop by for the BIG reveal.

While Maks didn’t dance for the crowd – he definitely brought a smile to their faces by signing autographs and taking the time to take photographs with everyone who showed up.

Maksim Chmerkovskiy is one of the most popular performers on the hit show “Dancing With the Stars.”  In his native Ukraine, he trained as a dancer from childhood and after immigrating to the United States he made his mark as a dance champion, choreographer and instructor.  He is the owner of four dance studios in the New York City area, including Dance With Me Studio in Glen Head, NY.  Chmerkovskiy is also one of the creators and directors of Dance Team USA, a non-profit educational and charitable organization.

I had the opportunity to speak to Maks prior to the event where he shared how he got started on DWTS, the significance of his bracelets, what he looks for in a dance partner and much more!!   I was surprised at how humble Maks was – as he said, “I eat and sleep like everyone else.”    Check out a video of Maks and the complete interview after the jump!!

Have U Heard (HUH):  How did you get started with Dancing With the Stars??

Maks: DWTS came to America and I was ranked first in the U.S.   When I got the call, I turned them down.  That’s why I missed the first season because I felt like I was still seriously competing and it would have been distracting.

They called me again for the 2^nd season and I said yes.  I wanted to see what  it was like to do something different and here we are.

HUH:  How has it changed your life?

Maks: It altered everybody’s lives.  It is probably a different route that I would have chosen to promote ballroom dancing.  I have done great – it’s certainly not just me.  There are a few dancers out there whose career goals are to stick around in the ballroom world to see it go higher and higher and see how far we can go.

HUH: You have danced with a number of celebrities – is it your philosophy that anyone can dance?

Maks: Before Heather Mills came to the show, my philosophy was as long as you have two feet.  I believe with hard work and determination you can achieve anything.  Like I said, before Heather Mills I didn’t think it was possible to dance unless you had two legs.  Obviously she proved everyone wrong.  She did a great job.

Now we’re convinced that anybody can…..it’s just about enjoying it.

HUH:  You have worked with a number of celebrities, who would you consider the most challenging person to work with?

I think everyone’s challenging. I’m challenging too.  I’m their biggest challenge.  Obviously we are a lot more experienced now – it’s upcoming on my 9^th season. I think I’ve learned a lot about dealing with different types of people.  Dealing with people under tension.  The show’s very hard because it throws people a curveball.  We’re now familiar with the structure so we know what to expect and we try and figure out things how to make it work.

How many weeks do you practice before the first show?

We have three weeks before the show goes live.  Everyone has a different approach, my approach is to try and get the person to get used to dancing with another person.  Everybody can move.  No matter what dance experience you may have had, close proximity is the most challenging part – so I try and get my partner to get used to dancing as a couple.

Do you know who is going to be on the show this season?

We’ve been asked that question for the past five years.  It sounds like we are being a very loyal crew.   Not really.   I would like to know myself.   I really don’t know.  We find out the day we meet the celebrities we dance with.  I am praying and hoping it’s the level of last season’s cast.  It really doesn’t matter to me.   I would love it to be somebody from sports.  Those people know what it entails to practice every day, the grueling schedule and the devotion.  It’s easier for them to get used to three months of nonstop action.

HUH:  You suffered a severe injury when you were you were younger.  What would you recommend to someone who gets injured – in terms of how to get through it?

A lot of physical thereapy.  My personal belief if I was to analyze how I recovered it was because I had no idea of the severity of my injury.  I was 13 and kind of sheltered from the news.  I only found out details of it now that I am older.  Probably if it were to happened now it would have been harder to recover  – ignorance is bliss.  A positive mindset works a lot.  Not for a second did I think I wasn’t going to recover.

I would always break something and my brother would fall on his face.  That’s how we grew up.  I was used to casts, this was certainly a lot more severe.  I went to therapy and I swam.  Swimming was very healing.  I think positivity and a lot of physical therapy.

Questions from twitter users:

Do your bracelets have a special meaning?

First of all it’s pretty crazy they know this.  Do they know the color of my socks too??    I like to say they don’t work.  Everyone has their little things.  Everyone in my family has one.  I started off with one and it turned into six.  Russian tradition has a lot of superstition in it to begin with – this was just an added thing.

What do you think about the twitter crazies?

People live vicariously through us on the show – I’ll give you an example; last season they wanted me and Erin Andrews to be in a relationship and we weren’t.  That didn’t sit well.   I can’t be mad at it.  As long as people enjoy it and aren’t coming to my house – it’s all good.

I love the interest and the fact they know the cha cha and samba.  That’s what is important.  You take the good with the bad.  The bad is that you become a public figure and some of the stuff in your life is right out there.

I lead a very private lifestyle.  I have the best of both worlds, I get to enjoy privacy.

HUH:  Can you tell us one thing people would be surprised about you?? I sleep – laying down, not on the ceiling.  Nothing about my life is crazy.  I fly a lot, I travel a lot.  I eat and sleep like everyone else.

HUH:  What was it like choreographing Chelsea Clinton’s first dance?

Maks: I did?  I think from what I read they had a fabulous wedding.  (a side note: – Maks would neither confirm nor deny any involvement in Chelsea Clinton’s wedding).

Do you have time to watch TV and What Are Your Favorite Television Shows? I like to catch up on Entourage.  I am in the same circles as some of the people on the show.  I love to see some of my friends.  It’s like a reality show but it’s active reality.  Some of the characters in it are not the same way in real life.

I’m more of a fantasy kind of person.  I like movies.  My favorite movie is Kick Ass.

You can’t really have a favorite because you shelter yourself.

WHO: Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Professional Dancer & Multi-Season “Dancing With the Stars” Performer

WHAT:   GIRL’S NIGHT OUT:  TO THE BEAT! 
An exclusive opportunity to meet Maksim Chmerkovskiy from TV’s “Dancing With the Stars” and his team of Dance With Me Studio dancers.  Get psyched for a special live in-store can’t miss dance performance at 6pm and afterwards his dancers will teach you how to move your feet to the beat.  Capture your best moves with a Pic Flips photo flip book that you can take home.

DATE/TIME:    Thursday, August 12^th, 6pm – 8pm

WHERE:  Bloomingdale’s Roosevelt Field, New York Y.E.S., Level 3

Maksim Chmerkovskiy is one of the most popular performers on the hit show “Dancing With the Stars.”  In his native Ukraine, he trained as a dancer from childhood and after immigrating to the United States he made his mark as a dance champion, choreographer and instructor.  He is the owner of four dance studios in the New York City area, including Dance With Me Studio in Glen Head, NY.  Chmerkovskiy is also one of the creators and directors of Dance Team USA, a non-profit educational and charitable organization.

Bloomingdale’s is America’s only nationwide, full-line, upscale department store; and a division of Macy’s, Inc.  It was founded in 1872 and currently operates 41 stores in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Illinois, Minnesota, Georgia, Florida, Nevada and California.  In addition, in 2010 Bloomingdale’s opened its first international location in Dubai and will open four US outlet stores. 

Be sure to follow Bloomingdale’s on Facebook (www.facebook.com/bloomingdales) or Twitter (www.twitter.com/bloomingdales), and for more information, or to shop any time, visit www.bloomingdales.com.

Spending all that time together practicing for “Dancing With the Stars” can definitely bring two people closer.  So close that Steve Wozniak, the Apple co-founder, plans to walk former dance partner, Karina Smirnoff,  down the aisle at her upcoming wedding to Maksim Chmerkovskiy.

  Steve W, who was kicked off the show last month, said,

“Maks is really into scientific and mathematical type things and I have a lot of unusual little things. So we have a lot of fun joking over these things that are very unusual to know and hard to understand.”

It sounds like a fun wedding – don’t you think.

Love is in the air for celebrities!!  Over the past couple of weeks every gossip page you click mentions someone else getting engaged.

Here is a list of some of the latest celebrities ready to take that big step:

Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy  (Claire and Hugh met while filming the 2007 romantic drama, ”The Evening’)

Alyssa Milano and David Bugliari (Alyssa grew up in front of our eyes on ‘Who’s the Boss’ and David is a Hollywood Agent)

Zooey Deschanel and Ben Gibbard (Zooey starred in ‘Elf’ and Ben is the frontman for the band Death Cab for Cutie)

Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Karina Smirnoff (both from Dancing With The Stars)

Anna Faris and Chris Pratt (Anna starred in House Bunny and Chris was in Bride Wars)

Geri Halliwell and Fabrizio Politi (Geri Halliwell, former Spice Girl, got engaged after a whirlwhind one month relationship.)

Elizabeth Moss and Fred Armisen (Elizabeth stars on Mad Men and Fred stars on Saturday Night Live)

Christina Hendricks and Geoffrey Arrend (Christina also stars on Mad Men and Geoffrey is on Trust Me on TNT)

All of these couples should check out Get Married (GetMarried.com).  I am a huge fan of Get Married (and GetMarried.com)  and even had the opportunity to speak with co-host, DeAnna Pappas.  Get Married connects local and national wedding professionals and industry experts with brides throught entertainment, news and retail.  Driven by unique video and content, getmarried.com and Get Married’s show on Lifetime Television provide brides and wedding professionals with inspiring ideas, quality connections and great goods to create a personalized and memorable wedding. 

Congratulations to all of our newly engaged couples!!  If I have missed anyone who got engaged in 2009 – let me know!!