Daniella Karagach

Daniella Karagach

Daniella Brittany Karagach Pashkova (née Karagach; born December 26, 1992) is an American professional Latin and ballroom dancer and choreographer. She began her career in dancesport and rose to prominence as a contestant on the second season of World of Dance with her husband, Pasha Pashkov.

Karagach continued her competitive dancing career by joining Dancing with the Stars in September 2019. She won her second season with basketball player Iman Shumpert and received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography.

Early life

Daniella Karagach

Daniella Brittany Karagach was born on December 26, 1992, in Brooklyn, New York, to immigrants from Moldova, Mark Karagach and Regina Yvette Karagach (now Zurinam). Her parents divorced one year after her birth. She was primarily raised as an only child by her mother in the Forest Hills and Bath Beach neighborhoods of New York; until her mother married her stepfather, Arie Zurinam, and she gained a stepsister, Ariana. She moved to South Beach, Staten Island when she grew older.

Karagach began taking ballet lessons at the age of three, and by age seven was taking Latin dance classes. She had trouble focusing in school and was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) when she was six years old. Her mother refused to give her prescribed medication due to her age and instead enrolled her in ballroom dance classes, which helped her focus and improve her academic performance. Despite her ADHD diagnosis, she was enrolled in honors and advanced placement programs, and went on to graduate from Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School. Karagach studied childhood education at the City University of New York, the College of Staten Island.

Career

Daniella Karagach

Daniella Karagach on Panache Star Dancesport, 2019

Karagach formed a dance partnership with Leonid Juashkovsky and began her career in dancesport when she was eleven years old. Together, they became three-time USA Dance Junior I and II Latin Champions; represented the U.S. at the IDSF World Championships in Latvia, Russia, and Barcelona; and appeared in the second and third seasons of the competition series America's Ballroom Challenge.

In January 2009, Karagach paired with Pavel "Pasha" Pashkov. They were selected to represent the U.S. at the 2009 World Games in Taiwan and represented the United States in various international competitions and festivals. Karagach and Pashkov are seven-time U.S. 10-Dance Champions and Latin Champions. They also won the Rising Star Professional Championship at the 2017 Blackpool Dance Festival and the 2018 U.S. Latin American Showdance Championship. On television, they competed on the second season of World of Dance (2018) and choreographed for So You Think You Can Dance (2022).

Dancing with the Stars

Karagach joined the reality competition series Dancing with the Stars as a troupe dancer for season 28; although she did not have a celebrity partner. For season 29, Karagach was paired with rapper and singer Nelly. They made it to the finals and placed third on November 23, 2020.

On the 30th season of Dancing with the Stars, Karagach was paired with basketball player Iman Shumpert. Despite a shaky beginning, the couple won the competition on November 22, 2021, making Shumpert the first NBA player to both make the finale and win. Karagach and Shumpert's contemporary piece to "I Got 5 on It (Tethered Mix)", for Halloween week, was hailed by critics and viewers as one of the best dances in the series' history. For her work on the season, Karagach received her first nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography.

On the 31st season of Dancing with the Stars, Karagach was paired with actor and bodybuilder Joseph Baena. Karagach was unable to compete for the second and third weeks after testing positive for COVID-19; she was temporarily replaced by troupe member Alexis Warr. Karagach and Baena were eliminated on October 18, 2022, finishing in 11th place; Karagach's lowest placement to date.

For season 32, Karagach was paired with singer-songwriter Jason Mraz. They made it to the finals and finished as the runners-up on December 5, 2023, behind actress Xochitl Gomez and Val Chmerkovskiy.

For season 33, Karagach was paired with basketball player Dwight Howard. They were eliminated during the quarterfinals on November 12, 2024, finishing in 6th place.

For season 34, Karagach partnered with The Traitors winner Dylan Efron. The couple made it to the finals but ultimately finished in 4th place.

Season	Partner	Place
29	Nelly	3rd
30	Iman Shumpert	1st
31	Joseph Baena	11th
32	Jason Mraz	2nd
33	Dwight Howard	6th
34	Dylan Efron	4th

Season 29

Celebrity partner: Nelly Average score: 23.5/30

<table><thead><tr><th>Week</th><th>Dance</th><th>Music</th><th>Judges' scores</th><th>Total score</th><th>Result</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Salsa</td><td>"Ride wit Me" — Nelly</td><td>5</td><td>5</td><td>6</td><td>16</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Cha-cha-cha</td><td>"Let's Groove" — Earth, Wind & Fire</td><td>6</td><td>6</td><td>6</td><td>18</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Foxtrot</td><td>"It's All Right" (from Soul)</td><td>6</td><td>6</td><td>6</td><td>18</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Paso doble</td><td>"All I Do Is Win" — DJ Khaled, feat. T-Pain, Ludacris, Rick Ross & Snoop Dogg</td><td>7</td><td>7</td><td>7</td><td>21</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Samba</td><td>"Rhythm of the Night" — DeBarge</td><td>8</td><td>8</td><td>8</td><td>24</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Viennese waltz</td><td>"Humble and Kind" — Tim McGraw</td><td>8</td><td>8</td><td>8</td><td>24</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Argentine tango</td><td>"Can't Feel My Face" — The Weeknd</td><td>9</td><td>9</td><td>9</td><td>27</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Rumba</td><td>"Nobody Knows" — The Tony Rich Project</td><td>7</td><td>7</td><td>7</td><td>21</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>Cha-cha-cha Relay</td><td>"Rain on Me" — Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande</td><td>—N/a</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Jazz</td><td>"California Love" — Tupac, feat. Dr. Dre & Roger Troutman</td><td>8</td><td>8</td><td>8</td><td>24</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>Salsa Dance-off</td><td>"The Cup of Life" — Ricky Martin</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>10 (Semifinals)</td><td>Paso doble</td><td>"Run Boy Run" — Woodkid</td><td>9</td><td>8</td><td>9</td><td>26</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>Jive</td><td>Jump, Jive an' Wail — The Brian Setzer Orchestra</td><td>10</td><td>10</td><td>10</td><td>30</td></tr><tr><td>11 (Finals)</td><td>Samba</td><td>"Rhythm of the Night" — DeBarge</td><td>9</td><td>9</td><td>9</td><td>27</td><td>Third place</td></tr><tr><td>Freestyle</td><td>"Savage" — Megan Thee Stallion & "Hypnotize" — The Notorious B.I.G.</td><td>10</td><td>10</td><td>10</td><td>30</td></tr></tbody></table>

Season 30

Celebrity partner: Iman Shumpert Average score: 32.6/40

<table><thead><tr><th>Week</th><th>Dance</th><th>Music</th><th>Judges' scores</th><th>Total score</th><th>Result</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Jive</td><td>"Hey Ya!" — Outkast</td><td>7</td><td>4</td><td>5</td><td>5</td><td>21</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Rumba</td><td>"U Know What's Up" — Donell Jones</td><td>7</td><td>6</td><td>6</td><td>6</td><td>25</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Tango</td><td>"Piece of Me" — Britney Spears</td><td>7</td><td>6</td><td>—N/a</td><td>6</td><td>19</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Foxtrot</td><td>"Let It Go" (from Frozen)</td><td>8</td><td>6</td><td>8</td><td>8</td><td>30</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>Argentine tango</td><td>"Arabian Nights" "(from Aladdin)</td><td>9</td><td>7</td><td>9</td><td>8</td><td>33</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Viennese waltz</td><td>"Hopelessly Devoted to You" — Olivia Newton-John</td><td>7</td><td>7</td><td>7</td><td>7</td><td>28</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Contemporary</td><td>"I Got 5 on It (Tethered Mix)" (from Us)</td><td>10</td><td>10</td><td>10</td><td>10</td><td>40</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Paso doble</td><td>"Another One Bites the Dust" — Queen"</td><td>9</td><td>7</td><td>8</td><td>8</td><td>32</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>Jive Relay</td><td>"Crazy Little Thing Called Love" — Queen"</td><td>—N/a</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Cha-cha-cha</td><td>"Rhythm Nation" — Janet Jackson</td><td>9</td><td>8</td><td>9</td><td>9</td><td>35</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>Foxtrot Dance-off</td><td>"Again" — Janet Jackson</td><td>Loser</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>9 (Semifinals)</td><td>Tango</td><td>"Telephone" — Martynas</td><td>9</td><td>9</td><td>10</td><td>9</td><td>37</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>Jazz</td><td>"Dark Fantasy" — Kanye West</td><td>10</td><td>9</td><td>10</td><td>9</td><td>38</td></tr><tr><td>10 (Finals)</td><td>Cha-cha-cha & Foxtrot Fusion</td><td>"September" — Earth, Wind & Fire</td><td>10</td><td>10</td><td>10</td><td>10</td><td>40</td><td>Winners</td></tr><tr><td>Freestyle</td><td>"Lose Control" — Missy Elliott, feat. Ciara & Fat Man Scoop & "Bounce" — DJ Clent</td><td>10</td><td>10</td><td>10</td><td>10</td><td>40</td></tr></tbody></table>

Season 31

Celebrity partner: Joseph Baena Average score: 28.3/40

<table><thead><tr><th>Week</th><th>Dance</th><th>Music</th><th>Judges' scores</th><th>Total score</th><th>Result</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Jive</td><td>"Pump It" — Black Eyed Peas</td><td>6</td><td>5</td><td>6</td><td>6</td><td>23</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Viennese waltz</td><td>"If I Can Dream" — Elvis Presley</td><td>6</td><td>6</td><td>6</td><td>6</td><td>24</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Argentine tango</td><td>"Writing's on the Wall" (from Spectre)</td><td>8</td><td>7</td><td>7</td><td>7</td><td>29</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Charleston</td><td>"A Star Is Born" (from Hercules)</td><td>7</td><td>7</td><td>7</td><td>7</td><td>28</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Rumba</td><td>"My Way" — Frank Sinatra</td><td>9</td><td>8</td><td>9</td><td>8</td><td>34</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>Cha-cha-cha</td><td>"Shut Up and Dance" — Walk the Moon</td><td>8</td><td>8</td><td>8</td><td>8</td><td>32</td><td>Eliminated</td></tr><tr><td>Hustle & Lindy Hop Marathon</td><td>"Hot Stuff" — Donna Summer & "Jump, Jive an' Wail" — The Brian Setzer Orchestra</td><td>—N/a</td><td>4</td></tr></tbody></table>

Season 32

Celebrity partner: Jason Mraz Average score: 26.6/30

<table><thead><tr><th>Week</th><th>Dance</th><th>Music</th><th>Judges' scores</th><th>Total score</th><th>Result</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Cha-cha-cha</td><td>"I Feel Like Dancing" — Jason Mraz</td><td>7</td><td>7</td><td>7</td><td>21</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Rumba</td><td>"Quizás, Quizás, Quizás" — Andrea Bocelli, feat. Jennifer Lopez</td><td>8</td><td>8</td><td>8</td><td>24</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Jive</td><td>"Do You Love Me" — The Contours</td><td>9</td><td>8</td><td>8</td><td>34</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Foxtrot</td><td>"A Whole New World" (from Aladdin)</td><td>8</td><td>8</td><td>8</td><td>24</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Quickstep</td><td>"On the Road Again" — Willie Nelson</td><td>9</td><td>9</td><td>9</td><td>27</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Contemporary</td><td>"Zombie" — The Cranberries</td><td>9</td><td>9</td><td>9</td><td>36</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>Hustle & Charleston Marathon</td><td>"Stayin' Alive" — Bee Gees & "Grim Grinning Ghosts" — Kris Bowers</td><td>—N/a</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Jazz</td><td>"Take On Me" — a-ha</td><td>8</td><td>8</td><td>9</td><td>72</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>Team Freestyle</td><td>"Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" — Backstreet Boys</td><td>9</td><td>9</td><td>9</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Samba</td><td>"Higher Love" — Kygo & Whitney Houston</td><td>8</td><td>9</td><td>8</td><td>33</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>Salsa Dance-off</td><td>"It's Not Right but It's Okay" — Whitney Houston</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Argentine tango</td><td>"Don't Blame Me" — Taylor Swift</td><td>10</td><td>10</td><td>10</td><td>40</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>Cha-cha-cha Relay</td><td>"Lavender Haze (Felix Jaehn Remix)" — Taylor Swift</td><td>+3</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>10 (Semifinals)</td><td>Viennese waltz</td><td>"I Won't Give Up" — Jason Mraz</td><td>9</td><td>9</td><td>9</td><td>57</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>Paso doble</td><td>"Diablo Rojo" — Rodrigo y Gabriela</td><td>10</td><td>10</td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td>11 (Finals)</td><td>Foxtrot</td><td>"Fly Me to the Moon" — Frank Sinatra</td><td>10</td><td>10</td><td>10</td><td>60</td><td>Runners-up</td></tr><tr><td>Freestyle</td><td>"Happy" — C2C, feat. Derek Martin</td><td>10</td><td>10</td><td>10</td></tr></tbody></table>

Season 33

Celebrity partner: Dwight Howard Average score: 23/30

<table><thead><tr><th>Week</th><th>Dance</th><th>Music</th><th>Judges' scores</th><th>Total score</th><th>Result</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Salsa</td><td>"This Is How We Do It" — Montell Jordan</td><td>8</td><td>7</td><td>7</td><td>22</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Foxtrot</td><td>"City of Stars" (from La La Land)</td><td>8</td><td>7</td><td>7</td><td>22</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Cha-cha-cha</td><td>"Let's Groove" — Earth, Wind & Fire</td><td>6</td><td>5</td><td>6</td><td>23</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>Paso doble</td><td>"Walk This Way" — Aerosmith</td><td>8</td><td>7</td><td>7</td><td>29</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Rumba</td><td>"Shoot for the Stars" — Dwight Howard</td><td>7</td><td>8</td><td>7</td><td>29</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Tango</td><td>"When Can I See You Again?" (from Wreck-It Ralph)</td><td>8</td><td>8</td><td>8</td><td>48</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>Team Freestyle</td><td>"I Just Can't Wait to Be King" (from The Lion King)</td><td>8</td><td>8</td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Contemporary</td><td>"Ring Around the Rosie" — District 78</td><td>10</td><td>9</td><td>9</td><td>28</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>Cha-cha-cha Dance-off</td><td>"Ghostbusters" — Ray Parker Jr.</td><td>+3</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>7 (Quarterfinals)</td><td>Argentine tango</td><td>"Santa María (del Buen Ayre)" — Gotan Project</td><td>8</td><td>9</td><td>9</td><td>48</td><td>Eliminated</td></tr><tr><td>Instant Paso doble</td><td>"Victorious" — Panic! at the Disco</td><td>8</td><td>7</td><td>7</td></tr></tbody></table>

Season 34

Celebrity partner: Dylan Efron Average score: 25.9/30

<table><thead><tr><th>Week</th><th>Dance</th><th>Music</th><th>Judges' scores</th><th>Total score</th><th>Result</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Cha-cha-cha</td><td>"Milkshake" — Kelis</td><td>—N/a</td><td>5</td><td>5</td><td>10</td><td>No Elimination</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Samba</td><td>"Macarena (Bayside Boys Remix)" — Los del Río</td><td>7</td><td>6</td><td>7</td><td>20</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Foxtrot</td><td>"Yukon" — Justin Bieber</td><td>7</td><td>8</td><td>8</td><td>23</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Quickstep</td><td>"Life Is a Highway" — Tom Cochrane</td><td>7</td><td>8</td><td>8</td><td>23</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Contemporary</td><td>"Rewrite the Stars" — Zac Efron & Zendaya</td><td>9</td><td>9</td><td>9</td><td>36</td><td>No Elimination</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Rumba</td><td>"I'm Not That Girl" — Cynthia Erivo</td><td>8</td><td>8</td><td>8</td><td>32</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Viennese waltz</td><td>"Can't Help Falling in Love (Dark)" — Tommee Profitt & Brooke</td><td>9</td><td>9</td><td>9</td><td>35</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>Hustle & Lindy Hop Marathon</td><td>"Murder on the Dancefloor" — Sophie Ellis-Bextor "A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got)" — Fergie, Q-Tip, & GoonRock</td><td>+3</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Jive</td><td>"I'm Still Standing" — Elton John</td><td>8</td><td>9</td><td>9</td><td>36</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>Team Freestyle</td><td>"25 or 6 to 4" — Chicago</td><td>10</td><td>10</td><td>10</td><td>40</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Argentine tango</td><td>"Ain't No Sunshine" — Bill Withers</td><td>10</td><td>10</td><td>10</td><td>40</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>Viennese waltz Relay</td><td>"Earned It" — The Weeknd</td><td>Winner</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Tango</td><td>"I Would Die 4 U" — Prince</td><td>9</td><td>9</td><td>9</td><td>27</td><td>Safe</td></tr><tr><td>Cha-cha-cha</td><td>"Kiss" — Prince</td><td>9</td><td>9</td><td>10</td><td>28</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>Paso doble</td><td>"Stampede" — Alexander Jean, feat. Lindsey Stirling</td><td>9</td><td>9</td><td>10</td><td>28</td><td>Fourth Place</td></tr><tr><td>Foxtrot</td><td>"Ordinary" — Alex Warren</td><td>10</td><td>10</td><td>10</td><td>30</td></tr><tr><td>Freestyle</td><td>"Something in the Heavens" — Lewis Capaldi</td><td>10</td><td>10</td><td>10</td><td>30</td></tr></tbody></table>

Personal life

Daniella Karagach

Karagach was introduced to Russian professional dancer Pasha Pashkov through their respective coaches; she was 16 years old at the time, and he was 22. They began dating amidst their training in 2011. Pashkov proposed on January 1, 2012, and they were married on July 18, 2014. They launched an online dance program in 2020 to prepare engaged couples for their first dance. On July 19, 2025, to commemorate their eleventh wedding anniversary, Karagach and Pashkov renewed their vows in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

After learning that she was pregnant in July 2022, Karagach suffered a miscarriage at five weeks gestation. Four months later, she and Pashkov announced that they were expecting a rainbow baby. Their daughter, Nikita Sofia Pashkova, was born on May 30, 2023.

Accolades

Daniella Karagach

<table><thead><tr><th>Award</th><th>Year</th><th>Recipient(s)</th><th>Category</th><th>Result</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards</td><td>2022</td><td>Karagach</td><td>Outstanding Choreography (for "I Got 5 on It" / "Dark Fantasy" )</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>