Dancing With The Stars is announcing their brand new cast of stars and pros Wednesday, August 21 on Good Morning America, but we already know one pro who is returning — Peta Murgatroyd!
The good news was announced today by DWTS on Instagram when they wrote, “She’s baaaaaack! We’re thrilled to welcome @petamurgatroyd to the new season of #DWTS.” In honor of Murgatroyd’s return to the ballroom, here are five fast facts you need to know about this beloved pro from Dancing With the Stars!
In The Beginning
Murgatroyd was born on July 14 in Auckland, New Zealand, but she moved to Australia before she was 2 years old. She was raised in Perth and started dancing when she was 4. She began as a ballerina, but due to an ankle injury, she had to give up ballet at 16. This is when she started doing ballroom dancing instead.
Broadway Dreams
After competing in a number of dance competitions in Australia, Murgatroyd ended up joining the cast of Burn the Floor, which was a very successful live dance show. She joined the cast in 2004 and toured the world with them for six years. Then, when the show hit Broadway in 2009, she was one of the lead female dancers.
Two-Time Winner
Murgatroyd joined the cast of DWTS back in Season 13 and has competed in a total of 11 seasons. She has won the Mirrorball Trophy two times. She first won in Season 14, her second season, with former NFL star Donald Driver. She then won for a second time in Season 22 with deaf model Nyle DiMarco.
Acting Career
Along with dancing, Murgatroyd’s other passion is acting. In fact, she was cast as the lead in the movie Faith, Hope, & Love, which was released this past March. The movie is about a woman who enters a dance competition and falls in love. This was also Murgatroyd’s first acting role.
Getting Personal
Murgatroyd began dating her husband, fellow DWTS pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy, back in 2012. However, they split for a bit, but they ended up getting back together in 2015. They then got engaged in December 2015 and tied the knot in July 2017. They also have a 2-year-old son together named Shai Aleksander.
Video Credit: JlBBERJABBERZ
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