Maksym Stepanskyi

Overview

Maksym is a Ukrainian-born ballroom dancer proudly representing the United States, with over a decade of experience and an unwavering devotion to the art of dance. His journey has been shaped by both triumph and adversity.

Maksym fell in love with ballroom dancing at the age of five and has spent years mastering both the International Standard and International Latin styles. When war disrupted life in Ukraine, everything changed. The dance floor he once knew went silent, but he never let go of his passion. After a 2-year hiatus, he found a new home and studio in the United States, a space that reignited his spirit and helped him reclaim a vital part of himself.

Since then, Maksym has trained relentlessly and reached new heights, becoming the 2025 USA National Champion in Standard Showdance. His competitive journey also includes multiple titles at the 2024 USA Nationals, the Islanders DanceSport Challenge, and the Midwest Regional Championships, among others. Today, he continues to train under the guidance of world-class coaches, constantly pushing his limits and refining his craft.

Off the competition floor, he is deeply committed to giving back, working as an assistant coach and mentor to the next generation of dancers. He teaches not just movement, but mindset: discipline, patience, and the joy of expression. This journey is far more than a pursuit of medals, it’s a story of resilience, recovery, and a lifelong dedication to an art form that continues to shape who Maksym is.

Accomplishments

Performances in the USA 2024-2025

Nationals 2025 - Champion in Standard Showdance Adult
Islanders DanceSport Challenge 2025
ATLANTA DANCESPORT CUP 2025 - 3rd Place in Latin U21
The MAC: A USA Dance Regional 2025 - 3rd Place in WDSF Adult Raising Star - Latin
The City’s DanceSport Challenge 2024 - 3rd in Open U21 Int'l Latin; 2nd in Open U21 Int'l Ballroom
Constitution State DanceSport Championship 2024 - 5th in U21 Ballroom Open Scholarships AM/AM U21 Int'l Ballroom
Midwest Regional DanceSport Championship 2024 - 1st in Youth Ballroom; 1st in U21 Ballroom; 3rd in U21 Latin
Dance Passion Ball 2024 - 2nd Place in Youth Ballroom
Nationals 2024 - Vice-Champion in Youth Standard
Islanders DanceSport Challenge 2024 - Youth Ballroom Champion

Performances in Ukraine 2018-2021

Championship of Kharkiv in Dance Sports 2021 - 1st Place in Junior 1C Latin
Harmony 2021 - 1st Place in Junior 1C Latin
Silver Edelweiss Lviv Championship 2020 - 2nd in Regional Championship Junior 1C
Silver Edelweiss Lviv Championship 2020 - 2nd in Junior 1 C Standard
Ukrainian Open Championship 2019 - 2nd Junior 1C Latin
Stanislav Shklyar’s Cup 2019 - 1st in Standard Junior 1D
Dnipro Cup Regional Championship 2019 - 2nd in Junior 1C Latin
Kyiv Cup 2019 - 2nd in Junior 1D Latin
Zaporizhia Open Cup 2018 - 1st in Junior 1 E Ballroom
KHARKIV TROPHY 2018 - 1st in Junior 1 E Latin
Astra Cup 2018 - 2nd In Junior 1 E Ballroom
Harmony 2018 - 1st Place in Junior 1E Ballroom