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I'll never change my name : an immigrant's American dream from Ukraine to the U.S.A. to Dancing with the stars / Valentin Chmerkovskiy.

by Chmerkovskiy, Valentin.

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Dey St., an imprint of William Morrow, 2018.

Chmerkovskiy, Valentin.

Dancing with the stars (Television program)

Ballroom dancers -- United States -- Biography.

Ukrainian Americans -- Biography.

Immigrants -- United States -- Biography.

9780062820471 (hc.)

Alternate title:

I will never change my name : an immigrant's American dream from Ukraine to the U.S.A. to Dancing with the stars

xi, 324 pages : illustrations (chiefly color) ; 24 cm.

Valentin Chmerkovskiy, the world championship-winning and Dancing with the Stars ballroom dancer invites fans into his life, sharing the experiences, including the failures and successes, that have shaped him, from his early childhood in Ukraine to growing up as an immigrant in the U.S. to his rise to fame. Val has captivated viewers of Dancing with the Stars since his first performance in 2011. This memoir illuminates his soul, revealing a deep, thoughtful person who channels his emotions and socially conscious views through his art. The dance champion and choreographer assesses his life and career so far. Val looks back at his childhood in Odessa, Ukraine, and his Jewish family's immigration to the United States, including what it was like to grow up as a stranger desperate to fit into a different culture, how he worked to become a premiere dancer, and, of course, the collaborations and competitions with his brother and fellow DWTS sensation, Maksim "Maks" Chmerkovskiy. Val speaks warmly of his close-knit family and shares intimate and inspiring stories. Enduring anti-Semitism in their native land, Val's parents wanted a better life for their children - a desire that led them to leave everything they knew and start again thousands of miles away in a foreign country. It was a gamble that paid off - after years of practice and discipline, Val and his older brother Maks have reached the pinnacle of success. Though he admits he sometimes still feels like an outsider, Val expresses his enduring gratitude for everything that America represents and pays homage to his adopted nation and the opportunities it has afforded him and his family.

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