DWTS Season 12 – Will Maksim Chmerkovskiy Return To Dancing With The Stars Next Season?
I hate even thinking about Maks not returning next Season. 
But, according to TV Squad via AOL, it’s a big possibility. Right now, Maks is drained which is understandable. He’s been working non-stop this past year. It sounds like he may want to try some more acting too which Kirstie is encouraging. More below and at the link.
“I don’t know,” he shared. “It takes a lot out of you. When you invest that much of you into something that’s supposed to be just work you [can] get misinterpreted. I don’t know [if I'm coming back]. We’ll see. Right now, I’m drained.”
Chmerkovskiy, who joined the show in Season 2, has taken a break from ‘DWTS’ before, sitting out Season 6 back in 2008.
His current partner Kirstie Alley thinks Chmerkovskiy could have a bright future ahead of him as an actor.
“He’s got good qualities,” she said. “He’s handsome, he’s got a good voice and he’s funny. He’s got other qualities … he’s broody, he’s deep. All the bad boy actors are like that. He could be a really great actor if he wanted to act.”
Chmerkovskiy is mulling over his options for professional opportunities. “I have a great team of people behind me,” he said. “They know how to make me do the right thing. It’s going to be up to them.”
Chmerkovskiy plans to open a Los Angeles area dance studio soon. He’s one of the co-founders of the Dance With Me Studios, which has locations in Ridgefield, NJ, Manhattan, NY and Long Island, NY. “We’re finalizing the deal [for the Los Angeles location] and it’s going to be an amazing gorgeous place.”
The Ukrainian-born Chmerkovskiy would also love to take some time off to visit his family. “I haven’t seen my home since August,” he said. “I want to make sure I do stuff for me because it seems to me that I do a lot of things for others.”
Although Chmerkovskiy said plans to listen to his career advisers, he added that, in the end, “I’ll do what’s right for me.”
So, what do you think? Will Maks be back? The show won’t be the same without him in my opinion….just like with Derek this Season. What’s more, I remember a lot of Maks fans saying they were glad Derek didn’t return for Season 12 and saying the most rude things all in order for a win for Maks. Well, now, I have to wonder how that karma is going to feel when the shoe is on the other foot?
Heidi’s Note: Karma…she is a beyotch. 
I’ve really been enjoying Maks this season, but if he needs a season off to recharge, then he should do that rather than going back to being…well, old Maks. I like current Maks. Thanks Kirstie. 
This is the first season that I watch of DWTS. I was at home, sick and flipping channels. Then I saw this great instructor, Maksim, teaching Kirstie Alley how to dance and I was hooked on the show and Maks. I don’t think I can watch DWTS without Maks. He’s the reason why I tune in every week. I’ve seen other clips from previous seasons and even this season, and none of the instructors compare to Maks.
I have watched every season of DWTS and watched it go downhill with a multitude of misgivings. This season is marred by the “romantisim” of Kristi and Max. HE has never been this way. But, the dancies have be absurd; judges are ridiculous. I’m just saying
Awww. I was actually surprised he competed this season – he seemed to need a break badly at the end of last season. I’ve loved him this time around more than any other.
If he takes a season off, though, it’ll be nice for him to leave on a high note, and hopefully make it more likely for him to come back! It’s an ensemble show, so as long as they don’t replace ALL our favorite pros at once I think I can cope? Maybe? I haven’t missed Derek this season as much as I thought I would, because I get all hooked on the new couples every season.
I think he said something like this at the end of last season. I think some of the other pros have said something like this towards the end too and have ended up coming back. I think they just get really burnt out and need that summer vacation desperately!
It’s not the first time Maks has sounded like this at the end of a season. He’s tired, mentally and physically. And he misses his family a whole ton and a half. If you follow Maks, you know how much his family means to him. So… yeah, this is kinda par for the course from Maks, but you know… it really wouldn’t surprise me if he took at least a season off at this point. I think his partnership with Kirstie has had a tremendous affect on him and I don’t think he’ll ever top it in terms of DWTS dancing partners.
That being said, if he and Tony are opening a dance studio in LA, he just might like the publicity that DWTS could bring him.
All I know is that I would miss him TERRIBLY and the show just wouldn’t be the same for me. I love that big, crazy Russian.
He and Tony like attention too much to let this opportunity go. He’ve said he’s taking a break at the end of every season.
This is a grueling week with preparing for finals and then performing them. After that there is a let down and a little bit of depression that this is it and there is no practicing or performing next week. Throw in the exhaustion, and it is hard for anyone to make a commitment about the next season. I also think that Kirstie really wanted to win and after the scores last night she and Maks might feel that they aren’t going to get the Mirror Ball. Factor all of that in, and this is just not the time for Maks to make a decision about the future. Just get through tonight and think later when rested and a more rational decision can be made.
I don’t consider myself a Maks fan or a Derek fan. I am a Tony fan all the way. Having said that, Maks is much more enjoyable to watch than Derek. Derek is like Mark in too many ways….loves taking the camera away from his partner with all the faces he makes during interviews and out-dancing his partner. I’d love to see Maks come back but the show (and this blog) has been much more enjoyable without the Derek lovefest every week. I know we all have our opinions, and this is mine.
If he does thake a break for one season like he did for season 6 and comes back again than its all good. BUT, if he didn’t come back, I would be shocked and the show wouldd lose one of its most popular male pros (if not the most popular male pro on the show). But, if its for one season than I’m cool with it. They can have Derek, Mark, Tony, Louis, and Dimetry (assuming its eleven couples next season and not 12…if its twelve we can have damien or jonathan back too). I would love if Mark and Louis didn’t come back next season though (Mark is just annoying me this season and lucked out with chelsea and I plain just don’t like Louis and his atitude problems).
On a side note, does anybody know if the troupe is coming back next season? I’m really enjoying them especially Peta and Oksana (they really would give the female pros a run for theit money if they were paired with celebrities.) Out of the guys, I think Ted could really give th male pros a run for their money too. He seems like a guy with a big personality and if there is no Maks than he would be a good choice.
I don’t think you can say one way or another on ANY pro coming back next season until that season starts(or they make the announcement) or in the event of Edyta/Derek/Juliane them saying they have moved on past dwts. The pros themselves don’t even know if they are wanted back until the next season. I think that’s why Maks says every season he is taking a break it means if he is not asked back ppl think he’s taking a “maks-vacation” and if he is then he decided he didn’t need a break. I find it funny that the season is not over till tonight and they are already speculating about next season. Though in the end I think it will depend on many things if Maks comes back.
Maksim has been down this road before. If he dose decides to take a season off or go down a different path, I wish him well. Imo, hope Dmitry is invited back next season, this young man is such a classy sweetheart. I so enjoyed his season 9 pairing with Mya, their dances were wonderful!
I think that he’ll be back next season. Maks isn’t a stupid man–he knows that he is famous because of athe show and that if he isn’t on the show that his visability will decrease and that hurts his bottom dollar. He has studios to support and he needs the publicity that is afforded to him because of his participation on DWTS.
I’d say the same thing goes for Cheryl Burke. I do think that all of her outside projects have hurt her performance on the show–mainly her choreograhy. You can only spread yourself so thin.
Re: Maks fans hating on Derek. I think that it is quite unfair to blame the fact that Maks has never won on Derek. I think that what Maks did in the freestyle last night shows why he hasn’t won. But, regardless he has done extremely well on the show in his partnerships and has consistantly placed very high on the show.
I’m back tao liking all the pros with the exception of Mark and Louis.
Cori, “fair” is the LAST thing that die hard fans typically are, particularly if they tend to be on the losing end like Maks’ fans often are. Sometimes, you gotta blame someone, and no one is likely to blame their favorite. I, on the other hand, will just thank my lucky damn stars if my favorite comes back on the show – seriously. If you have a favorite, I think perhaps it’s best to spend your time focused on them than on “hating” someone else. I’m really wondering if Derek will be back at all.
Which brings me to Theresa’s comment – I don’t think I agree with that. I think that the first pros they find partners for are Derek, Maks and Cheryl – and probably Mark. Maybe Chelsie. I think the rest of them ARE more uncertain. But I do agree that it’s possible that, like Derek, Maks always says “I don’t know” BECAUSE there are no guarantees that he gets a partner. What if they cast all very tall women?? Mark, Louis, Dmitry and maybe Derek would have to sit down. Not that I think that’s likely.
Agree on the “fair” comment. And I’ve never understood people who spend time hating on others instead of spending their time on their favorites. Life is too short for that nonsense.
I don’t think that many would argue that the real stars of the show are the pros/judges/hosts. The stars are just one season guest stars. Some of those stars have staying power and others just fade into the woodwork.
I don’t think Maks will be back. I agree with Evaine that he won’t top a partner like Kirstie. I think a lot of us feel that, and I think he feels that. He has made comments that he’s never had a star of her caliber before and he is having a blast. I think she has done more for his career than anyone else could. I’d bet she is the one that talked him into opening a studio in LA, she has said she wants one there to keep dancing. I just don’t see him coming back, and not just next season. I think he is done with DWTS.
Lisa, the studio with Tony was in the works a while ago, before Season 11 was even finished, I think. Or maybe right after.
No doubt, though, that Kirstie would be one helluva endorsement for it!
And as for die-hard Maks fans… I hope I’m an exception to that rule?
I try to be, at least. It’s kind of ingenuous to blame Maks’ lack of a MBT on Derek, and I think at the very least I’m too old for that. *LOL*
I really hope they’re all back next season, really! Maks, Anna, Mark, Derek, Tony, Kym, Chelsie. For me, they’re the real stars of the show (well, along with Tom). Celebs come and go and my attachment is to my dancers.
And you know, I found this season, I really missed Julianne!
Ummmm…..didn’t Maks tweet photos from Europe and some lovely Island getaways this past winter?? I think he had a vacation. Of course, he needs another one now, I am sure. Rehearsal for season 13 starts in August. He has time.
I predict Maks will be back.
Heidi ya know Dmitry is 6’1 and Petra is very tall. I doubt he’d sit out. Just sayin
He’d sit out because he’s boring.
Zach, what on earth are you talking about?
I guess Tom is saying that there’s a good chance Maks won’t be back
http://popwatch.ew.com/2011/05/25/dwts-tom-bergeron-season-12-finale-interview/
Maks will be missed but I think some of them just want to move on. Maybe this Ukranian Bachelor has gotten the acting bug and with Kirsties help may be pursuing it. Good luck to Maks.
Geez, there will be no more ‘hotties’ on the show, they better get casting quick for another hot pro..
I think if Maks does not return to DWTS next season, it will most likely be because of his impending marriage (to a former DWTS partner (hint – she was at the finale show last night sitting unobtrusively in the back), not to the last woman standing from the Ukraine Loner/the Bachelor show) near the end of this year or beginning of next year and because of his multiple business interests (opening his Los Angeles and Las Vegas dance studios and others, his new jewelry line and other business interests) and also preparing himself to move into other areas (namely, acting, modeling and endorsements). If he tries to do all these things while concentrating for up to 3 months on a new partner during season 13, it will be too much for him, and his long -terms transitional interests would suffer. I think those are the reasons that he’s really seriously contemplating not returning to DWTS – it’s not just because he’s tired emotionally and physically from season 12.
@Sandra – Okay you got me, Who is this mystery lady that has stolen Maks heart?
Eh, I don’t know if I would be so quick to believe that Maks is marrying one of his former DWTS partners just because some random poster says so.
I do think it’s possible he might not be back. He’s getting older and if he wants to do all those things he needs to keep on it – he doesn’t have much time left to do any modeling, if that’s what he wants to do. I find it doubtful. Acting? Why not. But doing it doesn’t mean you’ll be good at it. If he wants to try it he does have to try it NOW. It takes a VERY long time for that stuff to come to fruition. Derek is shooting a movie now that I think was in the works for a year or more. I think he’s also been lining up a lot of different things that we don’t know about yet. I really want to know why he was meeting with Simon Fuller a couple months ago. My point is, if Maks wants to do MORE than what he’s already got (which already seems like a lot to handle), he probably does need to take a season off DWTS. These things don’t happen overnight.
I hope Maksim comes back next season as he’s a fantastic professional a pure joy to watch. I also like his postive thinking when I heard him coaching Kirstie. There’s nothing like television to keep a person right up there and forever popular. He really deserved to win that mirror ball and I was as hurt as he was when they didn’t say he won. Hines could never dance as well as Maksim he just doesn’t have the fluid , graceful , movements like Maksim and he’s so easy on the eyes. It was my Monday night entertainment after a days work. Good luck Maksim in whatever you do.
Princess Heidi: ITA your comment about Maks needing to take the next season off to put things in place to transition away from being “just” a ballroom dancer and into other areas. Debbie Mazur, Kirstie and John Travolta have all told Maks that he’d be a good actor, so if it’s something he’s interested in and believes he can do, he’ll need to get cracking taking some acting classes. Kirstie and Travolta can open doors for him if they choose (and I get he impression they would choose to do so), but Maks needs to strike while the iron is hot. Same for modeling and product endorsements, and if he becomes successful as an actor, that will only increase his opportunities for modeling/product endorsements. I think come September he’ll be too busy for season 13 (although some of my friends think he’ll do season 13, then be done with DWTS for good once his other careers start to take off).
Sandy: I don’t feel free to say who I have heard Maks will be marrying (sorry, not trying to be a tease). But I do want to make it clear that I am not an industry insider and that I do not know Maks or his lady personally. I used to work in the industry for 9 years and most of my friends still do. My information about Maks and his lady getting married comes from those friends, their information and observations (but they also do not know Maks or his lady personally, so it’s certainly possible they and I could be wrong). But the scuttlebut is that she’s “the one” and the general expectation has been raised that Maks isn’t going to sleep on getting married and starting a family with her. People have been remarking on the change in Maks this season – although Kirstie is part of that change, she’s not the major part – it’s Maks being in love. It’s also known that Maks’ brother Val loves Maks’ choice for a future wife (I don’t have any information about his parents’ opinion, but hopefully they love her too and will welcome her into the family). Also, I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s no official engagement announcement and the confirmation comes on the announcement of the marriage. Maks’ lady is on record as saying she doesn’t conduct her relationships in public, and I think Maks would probably agree after the public debacle around his engagement to Karina.
So is this a Maks/Erin or a Maks/Brandy shipper? lol
Re acting—I think that it takes more than “wanting to do it.” You have it or you don’t.
I don’t believe the rumors about Maks getting married, I’d say that is just because of his Ukranian Bachelor role.
Maks is a big fish on DWTS, but that won’t automatically translate onto success in other media or shows.
I know that Cheryl Burke had at least one guest appearance on that Disney show about twin boys Zack/Cody (?).
And Mark is trying to make a career in music.
Tony has had some movie roles too. IIRC
But, Julianne is the only one, so far, who has found good success outside the show/dance related field.