Karagach Daniella

About

Daniella Karagach, born on December 26, 1992, in Brooklyn, New York, to a family of Moldovan immigrants, is a professional Latin and ballroom dancer, as well as a renowned choreographer in the United States. Her career began at the age of three with ballet lessons, later transitioning to Latin dance at seven, which helped her overcome an ADHD diagnosis. She became a U.S. junior champion alongside Leonid Juashkovsky, representing the country at world championships, and from 2009, she formed a successful duo with Pasha Pashkov, becoming seven-time national champions in 10-Dance and Latin, winning titles such as Rising Star at the Blackpool Dance Festival in 2017. In the United States, Daniella excelled in international competitions, placing on the podium at events like the World Championships and GrandSlams, and represented the USA at the World Games in 2009. Her success culminated in TV shows such as World of Dance (Season 2, 2018), where she competed with her husband, and Dancing with the Stars, where she joined in Season 28 as a troupe dancer, becoming a professional in Season 29. She won Season 30 with Iman Shumpert (the first victorious NBA player), was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for choreography, and reached finals in multiple seasons, including with Jason Mraz (2nd place in 2023). Married to Pasha Pashkov since July 18, 2014, with whom she shares a career of over a decade and a child, Daniella maintains a balance between her intense professional life and family. Raised by her mother Regina in the Forest Hills and Bath Beach neighborhoods, then moved to Staten Island, she graduated from Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School and studied child education at the College of Staten Island. As a descendant of Moldovans, she represents a successful example of the diaspora in the American dance world, continuing to inspire through dynamic performances and innovative choreographies.