Pavel "Pasha" Pashkov (born 28 May 1986) is a Russian and American professional dancer and choreographer. He began his career in dancesport and rose to prominence as a contestant on the second season of World of Dance with his wife, Daniella Karagach.
Pashkov continued his competitive dancing career by joining Dancing with the Stars as a pro in September 2019.
Early life Pavel Pashkov was born on 28 May 1986 in Perm, Russian SFSR (present-day Russia). From a young age, he was involved in sports such as tennis, swimming, and taekwondo. Pashkov first became interested in dance when he was eleven years old, through taking a ballroom dance class in school with his older brother. Their teacher thought that Pashkov had potential and encouraged him to train at her separate dance school. After participating in his first competition, Pashkov stopped dancing for a while due to scheduling conflicts.
Pashkov immigrated to the United States with his family when he was fifteen years old, after his father won a green card in the visa lottery. They first lived in Ohio, where he struggled to continue his ballroom dance training. "Not that there is no ballroom dancing in Ohio," he clarified. "But in the area we were, there were only social dance clubs so there was no competitive dance studios, no partners, no coaches." Pashkov moved to the New York City borough of Brooklyn on his own after he eventually found a partner. He attended Baruch College in Manhattan, where he earned a bachelor's degree in business.
Personal life
Pashkov met American professional dancer Daniella Karagach through their respective coaches; he was 22 years old at the time, and she was 16. They began dating amidst their training in 2011. Pashkov proposed on 1 January 2012, and they were married on 18 July 2014. They launched an online dance program in 2020 to prepare engaged couples for their first dance. On 19 July 2025, to commemorate their eleventh wedding anniversary, Pashkov and Karagach renewed their vows in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
In November 2022, Pashkov and Karagach announced that they were expecting a rainbow baby after Karagach suffered a miscarriage at five weeks gestation. Their daughter, Nikita Sofia Pashkova, was born on 30 May 2023.
Career
Dancing with the Stars Pashkov joined the reality competition series Dancing with the Stars as a professional dancer for season 28. He was partnered with The Office actress Kate Flannery. They were unexpectedly eliminated during the eighth week of competition on November 4, 2019, finishing in seventh place.
For season 29, Pashkov was partnered with Tiger King cast member and animal activist Carole Baskin. The couple was eliminated during the third week of competition on September 28, 2020, finishing in fourteenth place.
For season 30, Pashkov was paired with Bling Empire cast member Christine Chiu. They were eliminated week 3, finishing in 14th place.
For season 31, he was partnered with The Real Housewives of New Jersey cast member Teresa Giudice. They were eliminated week 2 and finished in 15th place.
For season 32, he was paired with Vanderpump Rules cast member Ariana Madix. The couple made it to the finale and finished in third place, Pashkov's highest placement to date.
For season 33, Pashkov was partnered with film & television actress Tori Spelling. They couple was eliminated week 2 in a double elimination, and tied for 12th place.
For season 34, Pashkov was paired with Boy Meets World actress Danielle Fishel. They were eliminated week 8, finishing in 8th place. Season Partner Place 28 Kate Flannery 7th 29 Carole Baskin 14th 30 Christine Chiu 14th 31 Teresa Giudice 15th 32 Ariana Madix 3rd 33 Tori Spelling 12th 34 Danielle Fishel 8th 35 Amber Glenn TBD
Season 28 Celebrity partner: Kate Flannery WeekDanceMusicJudges' scoresTotal scoreResult1Cha-cha-cha"She Works Hard for the Money" — Donna Summer55515No Elimination2Foxtrot"Fly Me to the Moon" — Frank Sinatra77721Safe3Quickstep"9 to 5" — Dolly Parton88824Safe4Argentine tango"Hands to Myself" — Selena Gomez76626Safe5Jazz"A Spoonful of Sugar" — Julie Andrews88824No Elimination6Viennese waltz"I Have Nothing" — Whitney Houston99927Safe7Rumba"Wicked Game" — Chris Isaak88824 Bottom twoTeam Freestyle"Sweet Dreams" — Beyoncé888248Jive"Heat Wave" — Linda Ronstadt88824 EliminatedCha-cha-cha Dance-off"Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)" — C+C Music Factory colspan="3" 2 Notes
Season 29 Celebrity partner: Carole Baskin WeekDanceMusicJudges' scoresTotal scoreResult1Paso doble"Eye of the Tiger" — Survivor44311No Elimination2Viennese waltz"What's New Pussycat?" — Tom Jones65516 Bottom two3Samba"Circle of Life" — Carmen Twillie & Lebo M54312 Eliminated Notes
Season 30 Celebrity partner: Christine Chiu WeekDanceMusicJudges' scoresTotal scoreResult1Tango"Glamorous" — Fergie & Ludacris676625No Elimination2Salsa"Despacito" — Daddy Yankee & Luis Fonsi666624 Bottom two3Paso doble"Stronger" — Britney Spears77721 EliminatedNotes
Season 31 Celebrity partner: Teresa Giudice WeekDanceMusicJudges' scoresTotal scoreResult1Tango"We Found Love" — Rihanna & Calvin Harris555520 Bottom two2Jive"All Shook Up" — Elvis Presley656623 Eliminated Notes
Season 32 Celebrity partner: Ariana Madix WeekDanceMusicJudges' scoresTotal scoreResult1Tango"Love Myself (Riddler Remix)" — Hailee Steinfeld77721Safe2Samba"Me Porto Bonito" — Bad Bunny & Chencho Corleone67720Safe3Quickstep"You Can't Hurry Love" — The Supremes98834Safe4Contemporary"Into the Unknown" — Idina Menzel & Aurora89825Safe5Viennese waltz"Happier Than Ever" — Billie Eilish88824Safe6Argentine tango"Bad Guy" — Billie Eilish991037SafeHustle & Charleston Marathon"Stayin' Alive" — Bee Gees"Grim Grinning Ghosts" — Kris Bowers47Cha-cha-cha"I'm a Slave 4 U" — Britney Spears99937SafeTeam Freestyle"Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" — Backstreet Boys999378Paso doble"Queen of the Night" — Whitney Houston9101039+3Safe9Rumba"Cruel Summer" — Taylor Swift991037SafeViennese waltz Relay"Lover" — Taylor Swift colspan="3" 010(Semifinals)Jive"Runaway Baby" — Bruno Mars991028SafeFoxtrot"Trampoline" — Shaed & Zayn1010103011(Finals)Samba"Spice Up Your Life" — Spice Girls9101029 Third placeFreestyle"Run the World (Girls)" — Beyoncé"Level Up" — Ciara10101030 Notes
Season 33 Celebrity partner: Tori Spelling WeekDanceMusicJudges' scoresTotal scoreResult1Foxtrot"Trustfall" — Pink66517No Elimination2Rumba"This Is Me" — Keala Settle & The Greatest Showman Ensemble76619 Eliminated Notes
Season 34 Celebrity partner: Danielle Fishel WeekDanceMusicJudges' scoresTotal scoreResult1Tango"Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" — Kelly Clarkson6612No Elimination2Cha-cha-cha"The Rhythm of the Night" — Corona76619Safe3Foxtrot"Manchild" — Sabrina Carpenter77721Safe4Quickstep"I Wan’na Be Like You (The Monkey Song)" — Louis Prima and Phil Harris77721Safe5Jive"Boy Meets World (Theme)" — Twenty Cent Crush feat. Phil Rosenthal77829No Elimination6Argentine tango"No Good Deed" — Cynthia Erivo99936Safe7Viennese waltz"Die with a Smile" — Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars88933SafeHustle & Lindy Hop Marathon"Murder on the Dancefloor" — Sophie Ellis-Bextor"A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got)" — Fergie, Q-Tip, & GoonRock28Contemporary"Dream On" — Aerosmith98834 EliminatedTeam Freestyle"25 or 6 to 4" — Chicago10101040 Notes Season 35
Celebrity Partner: Amber Glenn +WeekDanceMusicJudges' scoresTotal scoreResult1Cha-cha-cha"Smooth" — Santana feat. Rob Thomas66618Safe2Tango"All the Things She Said" — Harrison77721Safe3Foxtrot"Hold the Line" – Toto88824Safe4Rumba"Hero"
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