Daniella Karagach: Ethnicity, Husband, Baby & DWTS

Full Name: Daniella Brittany Karagach Pashkova ·
Born: December 26, 1992 ·
Age (2024): 31 ·
Nationality: American ·
Profession: Professional Latin/ballroom dancer and choreographer ·
Spouse: Pasha Pashkov (married 2014) ·
Children: 1 daughter (Nikita, b. 2023)

Nine key facts, one snapshot: Daniella Karagach’s life is a blend of competitive Latin dance pedigree, family heritage, and television recognition.

What ethnicity is Daniella Karagach?

Daniella Karagach’s family background

• Both of Daniella’s parents are Jewish immigrants from Moldova, a former Soviet republic in Eastern Europe (Unpacked).
• Her maiden name, Karagach, is of Russian origin, reflecting her father’s lineage.
• She was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York City (Derek Hough Facebook).

Cultural heritage and nationality

• Daniella identifies as Jewish and has spoken about her Russian-Jewish heritage shaping her identity.
• She holds American nationality by birth.
• While she speaks Russian fluently (see section below), it is unclear whether she holds dual citizenship with Moldova or Russia.

The implication: Daniella’s identity is a blend that sets her apart in the ballroom world.

How did Daniella and Pasha meet?

Meeting through dance competitions

• Daniella and Pasha Pashkov were introduced by their dance coaches in 2009, when he was 22 and she was 15 (The Knot).
• They began training and competing together as a Latin dance partnership, building a reputation on the competitive circuit.
• The age gap and early start of their relationship raised questions, but both have described it as a natural progression of their dance partnership.

Partnership and marriage timeline

• They were married on July 18, 2014, according to IMDb (some sources later give 2018, but the official marriage record is 2014).
• Daniella and Pasha have performed together extensively, including on Dancing with the Stars where they were both hired as pros.
• In 2022, they announced they were expecting their first child, finding out on the premiere day of season 31 (ABC News).

The pattern: Dance partnerships often evolve into personal relationships, and the Karagach-Pashkov story exemplifies that progression.

Did Daniella Karagach have a baby?

Birth of their daughter

• Daniella and Pasha welcomed their first child, a daughter named Nikita, in 2023 (People).
• By 2025, Nikita was 2 years old, and the family had begun touring together (People).
• The pregnancy was kept quiet during the season; Daniella learned she was pregnant the same day she returned for DWTS season 31 (ABC News).

Balancing motherhood and DWTS

• Daniella returned to Dancing with the Stars less than a year after giving birth, competing in season 32.
• She has spoken in interviews about the challenge of rehearsing long hours while caring for an infant, relying on family support.
• In 2025, she and Pasha took their daughter on tour, integrating parenthood into their performance schedule (People).

The implication: Daniella’s postpartum return to live television is a rare case of a DWTS pro compressing motherhood and elite ballroom competition into a single calendar year — a trade-off that few dancers in her position have publicly navigated.

What is the age gap between Daniella Karagach and Pasha?

Exact age difference

• Daniella was born December 26, 1992 (Wikipedia).
• Pasha Pashkov was born February 11, 1986.
• The age difference is 6 years and 10 months, with Pasha being the older partner.

How it affects their partnership

• Neither Daniella nor Pasha has publicly described the age gap as a challenge in their relationship or dance partnership.
• When they met, he was 22 and she was 15 — a difference that was notable in the competitive dance world but not unusual given that many Latin dance pairs form at young ages.
• Today, both are established professionals with overlapping career goals, making the age difference functionally irrelevant.

The pattern: In competitive Latin ballroom, age gaps of 5-10 years are common between male and female partners; the 7-year split between Daniella and Pasha falls within that norm.

Can Daniella Karagach speak Russian?

Her Russian language proficiency

• Daniella speaks Russian fluently, having learned it from her family at home (Unpacked).
• She has used Russian in interviews and social media posts, connecting with Russian-speaking fans.
• Her husband Pasha also speaks Russian, and the couple sometimes communicates in the language at home.

Cultural connection to Russian heritage

• Daniella’s Russian-Jewish upbringing influences her artistic sensibility — she has cited traditional Slavic music and movement as part of her choreographic inspiration.
• She has performed choreography that incorporates elements of Russian folk dance, particularly in freestyle routines.
• Being bilingual in English and Russian allows her to access a broader repertoire of dance music and training methodologies from both American and Eastern European ballroom traditions.

The catch: While Daniella’s Russian fluency is well-documented, the extent to which it directly shapes her DWTS choreography is subjective — but her heritage clearly differentiates her from many U.S.-born dancers.

Summary

Daniella Karagach is more than a DWTS pro: she’s a Latina champion from a Russian-Jewish immigrant family, a mother who returned to the ballroom floor within a year of giving birth, and a partner in one of the most publicized dance marriages on television. For fans who follow the show, the implication is clear: her story is one of balancing heritage, family, and elite performance — or risk losing the authenticity that makes her a standout pro.

For more celebrity biographies, see Priyanka Chopra: Baby, Net Worth, Husband & Meghan Feud or Anushka Sharma: Biography, Career, Personal Life & Rumors.

For a deeper look into her life, you can read more about Daniella Karagachs biography and marriage on North Observer.

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