Dmitry Chaplin (Courtesy Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Dmitry Chaplin ( Dmitry Alexandrovich Chaplin) is an International Latin dancer, best known for being a Top 10 finalist on the TV show So You Think You Can Dance (Season 2). He was famous for constantly performing shirtless, with one solo routine having him rip off his shirt.

Biography

Chaplin was born in Rostov-on-Don, Russia on July 14, 1982. He currently lives in Los Angeles, California. He graduated from School #8 in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, Minnetonka High School in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and attended Brooklyn College in Brooklyn, New York for one semester.

Ballroom Dance

Chaplin partnered with Heidi Groskreutz and was a national finalist in US National Amateur Dancesport Championships in Provo, Utah that occurred on March 11, 2006. His dancing coach since 2004 has been Louis van Amstel, who was partnered with actress Lisa Rinna on the U.S. show Dancing with the Stars.

So You Think You Can Dance

In 2006 on Season 2 of So You Think You Can Dance, Chaplin's dance style proved extremely popular with the audience, and other contestants sought his assistance in how to "dance masculine". In each routine, Chaplin performed shirtless at some stage.

Dmitry has stated,

The judges generally rated his dancing positively, but call-in votes still repeatedly placed him in the bottom three couples each week. Three of his first partners, Joy Spears, Aleksandra Wojda and Ashlee Nino, were eliminated, so he was labeled as being cursed. Chaplin was partnered with Donyelle Jones during the show on July 19 when all the contestants switched partners. On the results show of July 20, it was revealed that Donyelle had "beaten the curse", but Chaplin was unable to beat it himself. He was eliminated along with Martha Nichols.

Chaplin earned his place on the Season 2 tour, and performed before sold out audiences with his fellow finalists.

For Season 3, Chaplin made his first appearance as Mary Murphy's assistant for the Latin dance portion of the Las Vegas eliminations.

On July 25, Chaplin, assisted by Groskreutz, choreographed a Samba routine for contestants Lacey Schwimmer and Danny Tidwell.

Present Day

After the So You Think You Can Dance Tour, Dmitry moved to Los Angeles to pursue a show business career

He has also been teaching dance classes at Mary Murphy's Champion Ballroom Academy.

On June 30, 2007 Dmitry appeared on the Reality All-Stars fund raising event as the only representative from So You Think You Can Dance.

Awards & Achievements

Competition Results (Selected)

Partnered by Heidi Groskreutz
- Finalists (6th), World Class Latin, 2006 New Jersey Spring Fling
- Finalists (4th), Latin Championships, U.S. National Amateur Dancesport Championships
- Runners Up, Open Amateur Latin, Northeastern Open
- Finalists (3rd), Open Amateur Latin, 2005 Holiday Dance Classic
- Finalists (6th), Open Amateur Latin, 2005 Ohio Star Ball
- Runners Up, Open Amateur Latin, 2005 Constitution State Challenge
- And several other results in adult and youth division championships

Partnered by Ilona Mayzenberg
- Semi-Finalists, 2005 US National Junior and Professional Dancesport Championships
- Finalists (3rd), Open Amateur Latin, 2004 Holiday Dance Classic
- And numerous other results in adult and youth division championships

Dmitry Chaplin