Ervinas Merfeldas (born 18 August 2002) is an Irish ballroom and Latin dancer and choreographer.
Early life Merfeldas was born in Celbridge in Kildare to Lithuanian parents. He attended Scoil Na Mainistreach. He has a younger brother.
Career Merfeldas has been dancing since the age of seven, training in ballroom and Latin styles.
In 2016, Merfeldas partnered with Gabija Raciute and competed in the WDSF World Championship in Romania. In 2017, Merfeldas and Raciute finished in fifth place in the British Dance Federation Junior Latin Championships. In 2019, they reached the final of the World Dance Championships - Latin discipline, ultimately finishing in sixth place. In 2022, it was announced that Merfeldas would make his acting debut in The Blonde Bombshell, a stage show based on Marilyn Monroe's life scheduled to premiere on 20 November 2022 at The Helix, Dublin.
Dancing with the Stars On 22 December 2021, Merfeldas was announced as one of the new professional dancers joining the fifth series of the Irish edition of Dancing with the Stars. Merfeldas was partnered with model and influencer Missy Keating, daughter of Ronan Keating and Yvonne Connolly. Merfeldas and Keating performed their first routine on the opening week of the show on 9 January 2022, receiving mixed reviews from the judges and a score of 16. They received high praise in Week 4 for their Contemporary Ballroom routine inspired by the film Wolfwalkers. In the sixth week, Keating tested positive for COVID-19, resulting in the couple being unable to dance and receiving a bye to the following week. On 20 February 2022, Keating and Merfeldas were eliminated from the competition following a dance-off against Erica-Cody and Denys Samson.
On 4 March, it was announced that Merfeldas would partner Erica-Cody after her regular partner, Denys Samson, tested positive for COVID-19. On 13 March, it was announced that Merfeldas would partner Ellen Keane after her regular partner, Stephen Vincent, tested positive for COVID-19. Merfeldas was publicly praised for his contribution and ability to step in at short notice.
Merfeldas returned for the sixth series in 2023, partnered with Republic of Ireland footballer, Stephanie Roche. They were the fourth couple eliminated after the first dance-off against Suzanne Jackson and Michael Danilczuk.
Merfeldas returned for the seventh series in 2024, partnered with Ireland AM presenter, Katja Mia. They were the sixth couple eliminated, losing their dance-off to Blu Hydrangea & Simone Arena.
Merfeldas returned for the eighth series in 2025, partnered with social media personality, Kayleigh Trappe. They reached the final, finishing as joint runners-up to Rhys McClenaghan & Laura Nolan.
Merfeldas returned for the ninth series in 2026, partnered with Fair City actress, Stephanie Kelly.
SeriesPartnerPlace5Missy Keating9th6Stephanie Roche8th7Katja Mia6th8Kayleigh Trappe2nd9Stephanie Kelly7th
Highest and Lowest Scoring Per Dance
DancePartnerHighestPartnerLowestAmerican Smooth Katja Mia 26 Missy Keating 16Cha-cha-cha Katja Mia 24 Stephanie Roche 13Charleston Katja Mia 27 Stephanie Roche 23Contemporary Ballroom Kayleigh Trappe 29 Missy Keating 24Foxtrot Katja Mia 22 Stephanie Roche 13Jive Kayleigh Trappe 28 Paso Doble Katja Mia 23 Stephanie Roche 14Quickstep Kayleigh Trappe 21 Rumba Kayleigh Trappe 35 Salsa Kayleigh Trappe 38 Stephanie Roche 17Samba Kayleigh Trappe 30 Stephanie Roche 19Showdance Kayleigh Trappe 38Tango Kayleigh Trappe 35 Missy Keating 22 Viennese Waltz Kayleigh Trappe 29 Katja Mia 23Waltz
Series 5 – with celebrity partner Missy Keating
Week No.Dance/SongJudges' scoreTotalResultRedmondBarryGourounlian1American Smooth / "Baby Love"46616No elimination2No dance performed - - - -3Samba / "Dynamite"77721Safe4Contemporary Ballroom / "Running with the Wolves"88824Safe5Tango / "Prisoner"77822Safe6*Viennese Waltz / No dance performed - - - -Given bye7Charleston / "Out Out" 8 8 8 24Eliminated
*Due to Keating testing positive for COVID-19, the couple did not dance in Week 6 but were given a bye to compete in the following week.
Series 6 – with celebrity partner Stephanie Roche
Week No.Dance/SongJudges' scoreTotalResultRedmondBarryGourounlian1Cha-cha-cha / "Crazy What Love Can Do"445No elimination2Foxtrot / "Love Song"454133Charleston / "Hustle"78823Safe4Salsa / "Rhythm of the Night"56617Safe5Paso Doble / "Edge of Seventeen"455Safe6Contemporary Ballroom / "Fight Song"788No elimination7Samba / "Con Calma" 6 6 7 Eliminated
Series 7 – with celebrity partner Katja Mia
Week No.Dance/SongJudges' scoreTotalResultRedmondBarryGourounlian1Samba / "My Love"77721No elimination2Foxtrot / "Killer Queen"778223Cha-cha-cha / "Cuff It"888Safe4Paso Doble / "Queen of the Night"78823Safe5Viennese Waltz / "Keep Holding On"78823Safe6Tango / "Sisters Are Doing It for Themselves"89926No elimination7Charleston / "I Need You"99927Safe8American Smooth / "Everlasting Love"89926Bottom two9Salsa / "Levitating"Team Dance / "Electric Energy"9109910928Eliminated
Series 8 – with celebrity partner Kayleigh Trappe
Week No.Dance/SongJudges' scoreTotalResultRedmondByrneBarryGourounlian1Jive / "Yes"777728No elimination2Viennese Waltz / "Timeless"7778293Cha-cha-cha / "Espresso"666624Safe4Quickstep / "The Aristocats"77 -721Safe5Contemporary Ballroom / "Brave"778729Safe6Samba / "Fuego"778830Safe7Salsa / "Let There Be Love"888832Safe8Charleston / "That's Entertainment"888832Safe9Rumba / "I Will Always Love You"Team Dance / "Footloose"8889899933Safe10Tango / "Hot to Go!"Scare-a-thon / "Time Warp"8Couple9awarded939points38Safe11Salsa / "Let There Be Love"Showdance / "Wildest Dreams (R3hab remix)"99101099101038 Runners-up
Series 9 – with celebrity partner Stephanie Kelly
References
External links