Ervinas Merfeldas | |
|---|---|
| Born | 18 August 2002 |
| Occupation(s) | Dancer Choreographer |
Ervinas Merfeldas (born 18 August 2002) is an Irish ballroom and Latin dancer and choreographer.
Merfeldas was born in Celbridge in Kildare to Lithuanian parents. [1] [2] [3] He attended Scoil Na Mainistreach. [4] He has a younger brother.
Merfeldas has been dancing since the age of seven, training in ballroom and Latin styles.
In 2016, Merfeldas partnered with Gabija Raciute and competed in the WDSF World Championship in Romania. [5] In 2017, Merfeldas and Raciute finished in fifth place in the British Dance Federation Junior Latin Championships. [6] In 2019, they reached the final of the World Dance Championships - Latin discipline, ultimately finishing in sixth place. [7] In 2022, it was announced that Merfeldas would make his acting debut in The Blonde Bombshell, a stage show based on Marilyn Monroe's life scheduled to premiere on 20 November 2022 at The Helix, Dublin. [8] [ needs update ]
On 22 December 2021, Merfeldas was announced as one of the new professional dancers joining the fifth series of the Irish edition of Dancing with the Stars. [9] [10] [11] Merfeldas was partnered with model and influencer Missy Keating, daughter of Ronan Keating and Yvonne Connolly. [12] Merfeldas and Keating performed their first routine on the opening week of the show on 9 January 2022, receiving mixed reviews from the judges and a score of 16. [13] [14] They received high praise in Week 4 for their Contemporary Ballroom routine inspired by the film Wolfwalkers . [15] In the sixth week, Keating tested positive for COVID-19, resulting in the couple being unable to dance and receiving a bye to the following week. [16] [17] On 20 February 2022, Keating and Merfeldas were eliminated from the competition following a dance-off against Erica-Cody and Denys Samson. [18]
On 4 March, it was announced that Merfeldas would partner Erica-Cody after her regular partner, Denys Samson, tested positive for COVID-19. [19] On 13 March, it was announced that Merfeldas would partner Ellen Keane after her regular partner, Stephen Vincent, tested positive for COVID-19. [20] Merfeldas was publicly praised for his contribution and ability to step in at short notice. [21]
Merfeldas returned for the sixth series in 2023, partnered with Republic of Ireland footballer, Stephanie Roche. [22] They were the fourth couple eliminated after the first dance-off against Suzanne Jackson and Michael Danilczuk. [23]
Merfeldas returned for the seventh series in 2024, partnered with Ireland AM presenter, Katja Mia. They were the sixth couple eliminated, losing their dance-off to Blu Hydrangea & Simone Arena.
Merfeldas returned for the eighth series in 2025, partnered with social media personality, Kayleigh Trappe.
| Series | Partner | Place |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Missy Keating | 9th |
| 6 | Stephanie Roche | 8th |
| 7 | Katja Mia | 6th |
| 8 | Kayleigh Trappe | 2nd |
Highest and Lowest Scoring Per Dance
| Dance | Partner | Highest | Partner | Lowest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Smooth | Katja Mia | 26 | Missy Keating | 16 |
| Cha-cha-cha | Katja Mia | 24 | Stephanie Roche | 13 |
| Charleston | Katja Mia | 27 | Stephanie Roche | 23 |
| Contemporary Ballroom | Kayleigh Trappe | 29 | Missy Keating | 24 |
| Foxtrot | Katja Mia | 22 | Stephanie Roche | 13 |
| Jive | Kayleigh Trappe | 28 | ||
| Paso Doble | Katja Mia | 23 | Stephanie Roche | 14 |
| Quickstep | Kayleigh Trappe | 21 | ||
| Rumba | Kayleigh Trappe | 35 | ||
| Salsa | Kayleigh Trappe | 38 | Stephanie Roche | 17 |
| Samba | Kayleigh Trappe | 30 | Stephanie Roche | 19 |
| Showdance | Kayleigh Trappe | 38 | ||
| Tango | Kayleigh Trappe | 35 | Missy Keating | 22 |
| Viennese Waltz | Kayleigh Trappe | 29 | Katja Mia | 23 |
| Waltz |
| Week No. | Dance/Song | Judges' score | Total | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redmond | Barry | Gourounlian | ||||
| 1 | American Smooth / "Baby Love" | 4 | 6 | 6 | 16 | No elimination |
| 2 | No dance performed | - | - | - | - | |
| 3 | Samba / "Dynamite" | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 | Safe |
| 4 | Contemporary Ballroom / "Running with the Wolves" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 24 | Safe |
| 5 | Tango / "Prisoner" | 7 | 7 | 8 | 22 | Safe |
| 6* | Viennese Waltz / No dance performed | - | - | - | - | Given bye |
| 7 | Charleston / "Out Out" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 24 | Eliminated |
*Due to Keating testing positive for COVID-19, the couple did not dance in Week 6 but were given a bye to compete in the following week. [24]
| Week No. | Dance/Song | Judges' score | Total | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redmond | Barry | Gourounlian | ||||
| 1 | Cha-cha-cha / "Crazy What Love Can Do" | 4 | 4 | 5 | 13 | No elimination |
| 2 | Foxtrot / "Love Song" | 4 | 5 | 4 | 13 | |
| 3 | Charleston / "Hustle" | 7 | 8 | 8 | 23 | Safe |
| 4 | Salsa / "Rhythm of the Night" | 5 | 6 | 6 | 17 | Safe |
| 5 | Paso Doble / "Edge of Seventeen" | 4 | 5 | 5 | 14 | Safe |
| 6 | Contemporary Ballroom / "Fight Song" | 7 | 8 | 8 | 23 | No elimination |
| 7 | Samba / "Con Calma" | 6 | 6 | 7 | 19 | Eliminated |
| Week No. | Dance/Song | Judges' score | Total | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redmond | Barry | Gourounlian | ||||
| 1 | Samba / "My Love" | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 | No elimination |
| 2 | Foxtrot / "Killer Queen" | 7 | 7 | 8 | 22 | |
| 3 | Cha-cha-cha / "Cuff It" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 24 | Safe |
| 4 | Paso Doble / "Queen of the Night" | 7 | 8 | 8 | 23 | Safe |
| 5 | Viennese Waltz / "Keep Holding On" | 7 | 8 | 8 | 23 | Safe |
| 6 | Tango / "Sisters Are Doing It for Themselves" | 8 | 9 | 9 | 26 | No elimination |
| 7 | Charleston / "I Need You" | 9 | 9 | 9 | 27 | Safe |
| 8 | American Smooth / "Everlasting Love" | 8 | 9 | 9 | 26 | Bottom two |
| 9 | Salsa / "Levitating" Team Dance / "Electric Energy" | 9 10 | 9 9 | 10 9 | 28 28 | Eliminated |
| Week No. | Dance/Song | Judges' score | Total | Result | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redmond | Byrne | Barry | Gourounlian | ||||
| 1 | Jive / "Yes" | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 | No elimination |
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