Denys Samson (; born 21 August 1989) is a Ukrainian ballroom and Latin dancer and choreographer.
Career Samson is a former two-time Ukrainian Ten Dance Champion and a two-time World Ten Dance Champion.
Dancing with the Stars
Ukraine In September 2021, Samson joined the cast of the ninth season of the Ukrainian version of Dancing with the Stars, Tantsi z zirkamy, as a professional dancer. He was originally partnered with comedian, Anastasia Orudzhova. However, in preparation for their first dance, Orudzhova suffered a knee injury and was forced to withdraw from the competition following her first performance. Orudzhova was replaced by her colleague and fellow-comedian, Oleksandra Mashlyatina and Samson partnered her instead. They were the second couple to be eliminated from the competition. SeriesPartnerPlace9Anastasia Orudzhova15thOleksandra Mashlyatina13th
Ireland On 22 December 2021, Samson was announced as one of the new professionals to join the fifth season of the Irish version of Dancing with the Stars. He reached the final with singer and songwriter, Erica-Cody, finishing as joint runners-up to Nina Carberry & Pasquale La Rocca.
Samson returned for the sixth series in 2023, where he was partnered with drag queen, Panti Bliss. This made them the first same-sex pairing in the history of the show. They were the sixth couple to be eliminated from the show, after losing their dance-off to Brooke Scullion and Robert Rowiński.
Samson returned for the seventh series in 2024, where he was partnered with Ireland's Fittest Family presenter, Laura Fox. They reached the final, finishing as joint runners-up to Jason Smyth &Karen Byrne.
Samson returned for the eighth series in 2025, where he is partnered with Ireland AM presenter, Elaine Crowley. They were the second couple to be eliminated from the show.
On 23 November 2025, Samson announced that he was leaving the show.
SeriesPartnerPlace5Erica-Cody2nd6Panti Bliss6th7Laura Fox2nd8Elaine Crowley10th
Highest and Lowest Scoring Per Dance
DancePartnerHighestPartnerLowestAmerican Smooth Panti Bliss 27 Erica-Cody 25Cha-cha-cha Erica-Cody 30 Panti Bliss 23Charleston Erica-CodyLaura Fox 30 Panti Bliss 27Contemporary Ballroom Erica-Cody 29 Laura Fox 22Foxtrot Erica-Cody 23 Jive Laura Fox 30 Elaine Crowley 18Paso Doble Panti Bliss 29 Elaine Crowley 17Quickstep Laura Fox 25 Panti Bliss 21Rumba Erica-Cody 26 Salsa Erica-Cody 27 Elaine Crowley 15Samba Laura Fox 27 Erica-Cody 24Showdance Laura Fox 30 Erica-Cody 28Tango Laura Fox 27 Erica-Cody 20Viennese Waltz Laura Fox 22 Waltz Panti Bliss 19 Elaine Crowley 17
Series 5 – with celebrity partner Erica-Cody
Week No.Dance/SongJudges' scoreTotalResultRedmondBarryGourounlian1No dance performed - - - -No elimination2Samba / "Kiss My (Uh Oh)"8883Foxtrot / "My Girl"78823Safe4Charleston / "When We're Human"9910Safe5Rumba / "Girl on Fire"89926Safe6Tango / "Body II Body"76720No elimination7Salsa / "Don't Go Yet"99927Bottom two8American Smooth / "Too Darn Hot"88925Safe91Contemporary Ballroom / "Rise Up"91010Safe10Cha-cha-cha / "Mambo Italiano"Team Dance / "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)"10910101010Safe11Jive / "Let's Go Crazy"Bust-a-Move Marathon / "I'm So Excited"8Awarded 939points2629Bottom two12Charleston / "When We're Human"Showdance / "Glitterball"1091091010Runners-up
1In week 9, Samson tested positive for COVID-19, so his partner, Erica-Cody danced with Ervinas Merfeldas.
Series 6 – with celebrity partner Panti Bliss
Week No.Dance/SongJudges' scoreTotalResultRedmondBarryGourounlian1"78823No elimination2Waltz / "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman"667193Quickstep / "Karma Chameleon"77721Safe4Jive / "The Witches Are Back"77822Safe5Charleston / "Puttin' On the Ritz"999Safe6Paso Doble / "It's a Sin"91010No elimination7Salsa / "Stupid Love"77822Safe8Tango / "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)"88925Bottom two9American Smooth / "It's Oh So Quiet"Team Freestyle / "HandClap"99999927Eliminated
Series 7 – with celebrity partner Laura Fox
Week No.Dance/SongJudges' scoreTotalResultRedmondBarryGourounlian1Jive / "River Deep – Mountain High"77721No elimination2Contemporary Ballroom / "Cruel Summer"778223Paso Doble / "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood"78823Safe4Viennese Waltz / "Somewhere Over The Rainbow"77822Safe5Samba / "Échame La Culpa"999Safe6Quickstep / "Galway Girl"88925No elimination7Cha-cha-cha / "yes, and?"88824Safe8Tango / "Take On Me"99927Safe9Charleston / "Do Your Thing"Team Dance / "A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got)"10910101010Safe10American Smooth / "Monster Mash"Scare-a-thon / "Dead Ringer for Love"8Awarded949points30Safe11Jive / "River Deep – Mountain High"Showdance / "Make It Look Easy"101010101010 Runners-up
Series 8 – with celebrity partner Elaine Crowley
Week No.Dance/SongJudges' scoreTotalResultRedmondByrneBarryGourounlian1Waltz / "Three Times a Lady"565723No elimination2Paso Doble / "Standing in the Way of Control"5666233Salsa / "Turn the Beat Around"555520Safe4Jive / "You Can't Stop the Beat"66 -618Eliminated
References