Brandon Armstrong (dancer)

Last updated

Brandon Armstrong
Born
Brandon Kelly Armstrong

(1994-06-05) June 5, 1994 (age 31)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Occupations
  • Dancer
  • choreographer
Years active2006–present
Television Dancing with the Stars
Spouse
Brylee Ivers
​
(m. 2022)​

Brandon Kelly Armstrong (born June 5, 1994) [1] is an American professional Latin and ballroom dancer best known for his appearances on the reality competition series Dancing with the Stars . [2]

Contents

Early life

Brandon Kelly Armstrong was born on June 5, 1994, in San Francisco, California. He identifies as mixed race; he is half African American and half Polynesian. [3] Armstrong was adopted at birth by a white military family and was raised Mormon in Napa, California. [4] He moved to Lehi, Utah and began dancing when he was twelve years old; [5] he trained with Corky Ballas, Shirley Ballas, and Mark Ballas. [4] [6] After graduating from high school, Armstrong served a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Little Rock, Arkansas and Memphis, Tennessee. [4]

Dancing with the Stars

Armstrong started working on the reality competition series Dancing with the Stars as a troupe member on season 24, and remained in that role until season 26. [7] He was promoted to pro in season 27 and was partnered with singer-songwriter Tinashe. [8] [9] Despite consistently receiving high scores and praise from the judges, they were eliminated during the fourth week of competition on October 15, 2018, finishing in tenth place. [10] [11]

In season 28, Armstrong was partnered with Mary Wilson of the girl group the Supremes. [12] They were the first couple to be eliminated from the season, finishing in twelfth place; Armstrong's lowest placement to date. [13] [14] In season 29, Armstrong was partnered with television host Jeannie Mai. [15] They withdrew from the competition on November 2, 2020, after Mai was hospitalized for epiglottitis. [16] [17] In season 30, Armstrong was partnered with actress Kenya Moore. [18] They were eliminated during the sixth week of competition on October 25, 2021, finishing in tenth place. [19]

In season 31, Armstrong was partnered with singer-songwriter and actress Jordin Sparks. [20] They were eliminated during the seventh week of competition on October 31, 2022, finishing in ninth place. [21] For season 32, Armstrong was partnered with social media personality and singer Lele Pons. [22] They were eliminated during the seventh week of competition on November 7, 2023, finishing in eighth place. [23]

Armstrong had a breakthrough performance in season 33 with his partner, television actress and singer Chandler Kinney. [24] Despite inconsistent remarks from the judges, [25] especially from Carrie Ann Inaba and Derek Hough, [26] the couple earned both the highest cumulative points and the first perfect score, of the season. [27] [28] Armstrong and Kinney are the first Black couple in Dancing with the Stars history to advance to the finale. [29] [30] Their freestyle routine to "Hellzapoppin'" and "Move On Up" was the show's first performance to feature an ensemble cast of all-Black dancers. [31] Armstrong and Kinney ultimately finished in third place on November 26, 2024; Armstrong's highest placement to date. [32]

For season 34, Armstrong was partnered with Lauren Jauregui of the girl group Fifth Harmony. [33] They were unexpectedly eliminated during the third week of competition on September 30, 2025, finishing in twelfth place. [34]


SeasonPartnerPlace
27 Tinashe 10th
28 Mary Wilson 12th
29 Jeannie Mai 9th
30 Kenya Moore 10th
31 Jordin Sparks 9th
32 Lele Pons 8th
33 Chandler Kinney 3rd
34 Lauren Jauregui 12th

Season 27

Celebrity partner: Tinashe

WeekDanceSongJudges' scoreTotalResult
InabaGoodmanTonioli
1 Jive "I'm a Lady" — Meghan Trainor 87823Safe
2 Argentine tango "New Dorp. New York." — SBTRKT, feat. Ezra Koenig 98926No Elimination
Cha-cha-cha "Circus" — Britney Spears 98926Safe
3 Rumba "2 On" — Tinashe, feat. Schoolboy Q 99927Safe
4 Tango "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" — Pat Benatar 98926Eliminated

Season 28

Celebrity partner: Mary Wilson

WeekDanceSongJudges' scoreTotalResult
InabaGoodmanTonioli
1 Foxtrot "Baby Love" — The Supremes 65617No Elimination
2 Cha-cha-cha "Think" — Aretha Franklin 55515Eliminated

Season 29

Celebrity partner: Jeannie Mai

WeekDanceSongJudges' scoreTotalResult
InabaHoughTonioli
1 Salsa "Tell It to My Heart" — Taylor Dayne 66618No Elimination
2 Cha-cha-cha "Roses" — Saint Jhn 66618Safe
3 Viennese waltz "Married Life" — Michael Giacchino 77822Safe
4 Tango "Seven Nation Army" — The White Stripes 77721Safe
5 Jazz "Like a Virgin" — Madonna 88824Safe
6 Rumba "You Gotta Be" — Des'ree 88925Safe
7 Paso doble "Maneater" — Nelly Furtado 89825Bottom Two [a]

Notes

  1. ↑ Despite originally being saved by the judges, Jeannie and Brandon withdrew before week 8 due to her being hospitalized for epiglottitis.

Season 30

Celebrity partner: Kenya Moore

WeekDanceDance / SongJudges' scoreTotalResult
InabaGoodmanHoughTonioli
1 Foxtrot "Kiss Me More" — Doja Cat, feat. SZA 766726No Elimination
2 Cha-cha-cha "Hot Stuff" — Donna Summer 666624Safe
3 Tango "Womanizer" — Britney Spears 77—721 [a] Bottom Two
4 Contemporary "How Far I'll Go" — Auliʻi Cravalho 778729No Elimination
Viennese waltz "Dangerous Woman" — Ariana Grande 778830Bottom Three
5 Rumba "There Are Worse Things I Could Do" — Stockard Channing 999936Safe
6 Argentine tango "Take My Breath" — The Weeknd 888832Eliminated

Notes

  1. ↑ Due to Derek Hough's absence, scores were given on a 30 point scale.

Season 31

Celebrity partner: Jordin Sparks

WeekDanceSongJudges' scoreTotalResult
InabaGoodmanHoughTonioli
1 Cha-cha-cha "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" — Whitney Houston 766726Safe
2 Quickstep "Hound Dog" — Elvis Presley 767727Safe
3 Rumba "Licence to Kill" — Gladys Knight 777829Safe
4 Jazz "Remember Me" — Benjamin Bratt 988934Safe
5 Salsa "Let's Get Married (ReMarquable Remix)" — Jagged Edge, feat. RUN 888933Safe
Contemporary "No Air" — Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown 989935
Hustle & Lindy Hop Marathon "Hot Stuff" — Donna Summer
"Jump, Jive an' Wail" — The Brian Setzer Orchestra 		————3 [a]
6 Foxtrot "You Make Me Feel So Young" — Michael Bublé 988943 [b] Safe
7 Tango "Oogie Boogie's Song" — Ed Ivory & Ken Page 999936Eliminated
Team Freestyle "The Witches Are Back" — Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker & Kathy Najimy 889833

Notes

  1. ↑ Jordin and Brandon received 3 bonus points from the dance marathon.
  2. ↑ Jordin and Brandon also received a score of 9 from guest judge Michael Bublé.

Season 32

Celebrity partner: Lele Pons

WeekDanceSongJudges' scoreTotalResult
InabaHoughTonioli
1 Tango "El Tango de Roxanne" — from Moulin Rouge! 67619Safe
2 Samba "Gasolina" — Daddy Yankee 77721Safe
3 Cha-cha-cha "Super Freak" — Rick James 76727 [a] Safe
4 Rumba "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" — Elton John 77822Safe
5 Contemporary "I'll Stand by You" — The Pretenders 88824Safe
6 Paso doble "Bloody Mary" (TikTok Remix) — Lady Gaga 88933 [b] Safe
Hustle & Charleston Marathon "Stayin' Alive" — Bee Gees
"Grim Grinning Ghosts" — Kris Bowers 		———4 [c]
7 Salsa "Whenever, Wherever" — Shakira 98833 [d] Eliminated
Team Freestyle "Gangnam Style" — Psy 10101040 [e]

Notes

  1. ↑ Lele and Brandon also received a score of 7 from guest judge Michael Strahan.
  2. ↑ Lele and Brandon also received a score of 8 from guest judge Niecy Nash-Betts.
  3. ↑ Lele and Brandon received 4 bonus points from the dance marathon.
  4. ↑ Lele and Brandon also received a score of 8 from guest judge Paula Abdul.
  5. ↑ The team dance also received a score of 10 from guest judge Paula Abdul.

Season 33

Celebrity partner: Chandler Kinney

WeekDanceSongJudges' scoreTotalResult
InabaHoughTonioli
1 Tango "Hot to Go!" — Chappell Roan 87823No Elimination
2 Rumba "What Was I Made For?" — Billie Eilish 88824Safe
3 Cha-cha-cha "It's Tricky" — Run-DMC 99936 [a] No Elimination
Jive "Cum On Feel the Noize" — Quiet Riot 88833 [b] Safe
4 Contemporary "I Hope You Dance" — Lee Ann Womack 88832 [c] Safe
5 Paso doble "We Own the Night" — Cast of Zombies 99927Safe
Team Freestyle "I 2 I" — Tevin Campbell & Rosie Gaines 99927
6 Viennese waltz "Secret" — Denmark + Winter9101029Safe
7 Argentine tango "Para Te" — Appart10101030Safe
Instant Cha-cha-cha "Apple" — Charli XCX 10101030
8 Salsa "Spicy Margarita" — Jason Derulo & Michael Bublé 1091029No Elimination
Foxtrot "Too Sweet" — Hozier 9101029
9 Jive "Apt." — Rosé & Bruno Mars 10101030Third Place
Freestyle "Hellzapoppin’" — Eyal Vilner Big Band
"Move On Up" — Curtis Mayfield 		10101030

Notes

  1. ↑ Chandler and Brandon also received a score of 9 from guest judge Rosie Perez.
  2. ↑ Chandler and Brandon also received a score of 9 from guest judge Gene Simmons.
  3. ↑ Chandler and Brandon also received a score of 8 from guest judge Mark Ballas.

Season 34

Celebrity partner: Lauren Jauregui

WeekDanceSongJudges' scoreTotalResult
InabaHoughTonioli
1 Tango "Yes, And?" — Ariana Grande —7613 [a] No Elimination
2 Foxtrot "Lovefool" — The Cardigans 77721Safe
3 Cha-cha-cha "Work from Home" — Fifth Harmony, feat. Ty Dolla Sign 66618Eliminated

Notes

  1. ↑ Due to Carrie Ann Inaba's absence, scores were given on a 20 point scale.

Personal life

Armstrong began dating social media manager Brylee Ivers in 2021 after meeting through Instagram. [35] They got engaged on March 7, 2022, [36] [37] and were married on July 30, 2022, in the mountains of Draper, Utah. [38] [39]

References

  1. ↑ Ivers, Brylee [@bryleebug6]; (June 5, 2022). "Happy birthday to my love @brandonarmstrong 🫶🏼 The day I met him, my life changed forever! I feel like the luckiest girl in the world because I get to marry him & celebrate the rest of our birthdays together. I love you the most B!" . Retrieved June 5, 2022– via Instagram.
  2. ↑ "Meet the new Dancing With the Stars pro dancer Brandon Armstrong". Good Morning America . September 11, 2018. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  3. ↑ Kinney, Chandler [@chandlerkinney]; (September 6, 2024). "TEAM CHAN & BRAN YAP SESH #1 👯🗣️" . Retrieved December 3, 2024– via Instagram.
  4. 1 2 3 Vulpis, Joe (October 2, 2024). "Brandon Armstrong & Chandler Kinney of Dancing with the Stars! Weekly Recap, Wife, and Tabloids". Lightweights Podcast with Joe Vulpis (Podcast). YouTube . Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  5. ↑ Parkinson, Emily (January 22, 2013). "Celebrity dancers come to Provo's Covey Center". BYU Daily Universe. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  6. ↑ Fernandes, Aurelia (September 20, 2021). "DWTS: Brandon Armstrong's track record and his training under show pro Mark Ballas". MEAWW. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  7. ↑ Bobic, Chrissy (October 2, 2018). "Brandon Armstrong Is The New Pro On DWTS This Season". Romper. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  8. ↑ Dugan Ramirez, Christina (September 12, 2018). "Dancing with the Stars Unveils Season 27 Cast — Find Out Who's Competing!". People . Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  9. ↑ Seemayer, Zee (September 23, 2018). "DWTS: Tinashe and Pro Brandon Armstrong on Their Competitive Drive to Win the Mirrorball Trophy (Exclusive)". Entertainment Tonight . Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  10. ↑ Oliverius, Jacquie (October 16, 2018). "Dancing With the Stars: Tinashe shockingly eliminated". The Mercury News . Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  11. ↑ Seemayer, Zee (October 15, 2018). "Tinashe Reacts to Shocking Dancing With the Stars Elimination: 'We Did Our Best' (Exclusive)". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  12. ↑ Longeretta, Emily (September 17, 2019). "Dancing With the Stars Season 28 Partners Revealed". Us Weekly . Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  13. ↑ Feighan, Maureen (September 23, 2019). "Former Supreme Mary Wilson eliminated on Dancing With The Stars". The Detroit News . Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Supreme Mary Wilson Performs Cha-Cha, Eliminated from 'Dancing With the Stars': Watch". Billboard. September 24, 2019. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  15. ↑ Blackwelder, Carson (September 24, 2020). "Dancing with the Stars 2020: Pairs for season 29 revealed". Good Morning America. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  16. ↑ McRady, Rachel (November 2, 2020). "Jeannie Mai's Dancing With the Stars Partner Brandon Armstrong Posts Sweet Message After Her Exit". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  17. ↑ Carras, Christi (November 2, 2020). "The Real host Jeannie Mai exits Dancing With the Stars due to health scare". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  18. ↑ Nocera, Gianna (September 24, 2021). "Dancing With The Stars Season 30: Full List Of Dancing Couples". ScreenRant. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  19. ↑ Duncan, Gabrielle (October 25, 2021). "DWTS : Real Housewives Star Kenya Moore Eliminated from Season 30 on Horror Night". People. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  20. ↑ Dugan Ramirez, Christina (September 8, 2022). "Dancing with the Stars: Teresa Giudice, Wayne Brady, Selma Blair and More Celebs Join Season 31". People. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  21. ↑ Schepp, Calie (October 31, 2022). "Halloween night shakes up Dancing With the Stars leaderboard". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  22. ↑ "Dancing with the Stars Cha Chas Back to the Ballroom for Season 32 with an All-New Celebrity Cast" (Press release). ABC. September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2023– via The Futon Critic.
  23. ↑ Emily Longeretta (November 7, 2023). "Dancing With the Stars: Boy-Banders Crash Music Video Night — Plus, an Elimination Leaves the Judges Stunned". Variety . Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  24. ↑ Lenker, Maureen Lee (September 6, 2024). "See the first couple shots of the Dancing With the Stars season 33 duos". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  25. ↑ Grebenyuk, Yana (October 16, 2024). "Chandler Kinney Questions What DWTS Judges Expect From Her". Us Weekly. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  26. ↑ Olson, Samantha (October 31, 2024). "Chandler Kinney Is "A Little Frustrated" With Carrie Ann Inaba's Dancing With the Stars Critiques". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  27. ↑ Knolle, Sharon (October 23, 2024). "Dancing With the Stars Week 6: Deadpool & Wolverine Fight-Inspired Routine Steals the Show on Disney Night". TheWrap . Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  28. ↑ "Chandler Kinney, Brandon Armstrong earn season's 1st perfect scores on 'Dancing with the Stars'". ABC30 Fresno. November 13, 2024. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  29. ↑ Kinney, Chandler [@chandlerlkinney]; (November 21, 2024). "this is exactly how I replay this moment in my head :,) WE MADE IT TO THE FINALE!!!!! truly feels UNREAL. not only is this Brandon's first time making it to the finale, but we're also the first ever black couple in 33 seasons to make it to the DWTS finale!!! so many special firsts that I'm beyond honored and proud to be a part of. 🖤 still pinching myself. let's go out with a bang, @brandonarmstrong :))" . Retrieved November 23, 2024– via Instagram.
  30. ↑ LaCapria, Kim (November 23, 2024). "Chandler And Brandon Just Made DWTS History, And We're So Excited". TheThings. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  31. ↑ Baker, Kamrin (November 27, 2024). "Dancing with the Stars finalists perform first-ever all-Black ensemble dance in show's history". Good Good Good. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  32. ↑ Campione, Katie (November 26, 2024). "Dancing With The Stars Season 33 Finale Recap: Who Wins The Mirrorball Trophy?". Deadline. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  33. ↑ Rice, Lynette (September 3, 2025). "Dancing With The Stars Cast Reveal: Hilaria Baldwin, Andy Richter & Corey Feldman To Compete In Season 34". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on September 3, 2025. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  34. ↑ McKinley Franklin (September 30, 2025). "Dancing With the Stars Ends TikTok Night With an Unexpected Elimination: See the Scores, Who Went Home". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved September 30, 2025.
  35. ↑ Dugan Ramirez, Christina (March 8, 2022). "DWTS Pro Brandon Armstrong Is Engaged to Girlfriend Brylee Ivers: 'I'm Excited for Our Future'". People . Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  36. ↑ Grebenyuk, Yana (March 9, 2022). "Dancing With the Stars Pro Brandon Armstrong Is Engaged to Girlfriend Brylee Ivers: Stars React". Us Weekly . Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  37. ↑ McRady, Rachel (March 9, 2022). "Dancing With the Stars Pro Brandon Armstrong Is Engaged to Girlfriend Brylee Ivers -- See the Ring!". Entertainment Tonight . Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  38. ↑ Dugan Ramirez, Christina (July 30, 2022). "DWTS Pro Brandon Armstrong Marries Brylee Ivers in Romantic Utah Wedding". People. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  39. ↑ Heller, Corinne (July 31, 2022). "Dancing With the Stars Brandon Armstrong Marries Brylee Ivers". E! Online . Retrieved August 1, 2022.
Awards and achievements}
Preceded by Dancing with the Stars (US) third place contestant
Season 33 (Fall 2024 with Chandler Kinney)		Succeeded by
Preceded by Dancing with the Stars (US) last place
Season 28 (Fall 2019 with Mary Wilson)		Succeeded by
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