Professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy, a celebrated star of the hit television series Dancing With The Stars, has been hospitalised after suffering from severe vertigo while on the show's ongoing live tour. The incident forced him to miss a scheduled performance at the Prairie Home Alliance Theater in Peoria, Illinois, on Sunday evening.
Hospital Bed Announcement Via Social Media
Chmerkovskiy shared the news directly with his followers through a video posted on Instagram from his hospital bed. In the clip, he explained his condition and apologised for his absence from the stage. "What's up friends. So yeah, my bad. I ended up out here in Peoria, but the doc was cool — shout out to Claire, our physical therapist on tour, and everyone on our tour for rallying," he began. "I've just been having vertigo for the past couple of days and had it yesterday."
Vertigo Symptoms Worsened By Tour Travel
The dancer revealed that he had managed to push through a previous show despite experiencing vertigo, but the constant movement of the tour bus likely exacerbated his symptoms. "That little crystal in your equilibrium — again, I'm learning a lot — once it goes out, it's really hard to get it back in," Chmerkovskiy said. "So, I'm just spinning everywhere. And so, on the bus when it's moving, and I woke up, and I couldn't get myself together."
According to medical experts at the Mayo Clinic, vertigo, specifically benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, causes sudden sensations of spinning or dizziness. This condition is triggered by crystals in the otolith organs within the inner ear, which normally detect head movement to maintain balance. When these crystals become dislodged, they can lead to significant mobility issues and disorientation.
Plans For A Swift Return To The Stage
Despite the setback, Chmerkovskiy remains optimistic about his recovery. He concluded his social media message by assuring fans that he aims to be back performing for Tuesday's show in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. "Sorry my friends... small hiccup," he captioned his posts. The announcement prompted an outpouring of support in the comments section, with numerous well-wishes for a speedy recovery, including messages from several of his fellow cast members from Dancing With The Stars.
Recent Season And Tour Details
In the most recent season of the ABC competition series, Chmerkovskiy was partnered with influencer Alix Earle. The duo achieved an impressive second-place finish, narrowly behind winners Witney Carson and her celebrity partner, Robert Irwin. The Dancing With The Stars live tour, which typically follows the season finale, features a lineup of professional dancers alongside select celebrity finalists and fan-favourites who join as special guest co-hosts.
Other professional dancers participating in the tour include Emma Slater, Danielle Karagach, Hailey Bills, Brandon Armstrong, Britt Stewart, Alan Bersten, Ezra Sosa, Jenna Johnson, and Pasha Pashkov. While Alix Earle will appear at a few tour dates, other celebrities from the past season set to join the tour are Andy Richter, Elaine Hendrix, Dylan Efron, and Jordan Chiles.
Chmerkovskiy's hospitalisation highlights the physical demands and challenges faced by performers on rigorous touring schedules, even as he remains determined to return to the dance floor promptly.
