Question

[LACHopeful]

I'm semi new to dance sport (especially when it comes to knowing about the professional able bodied dancers) and I was wondering how many of the professionals are actually professional? I just researched Maksim and there was nothing about him except for when it came down to DWTS. So how many of these dancers actually COMPETE in Ballroom outside of DWTS and are accomplished at it?
I know Karina is amazingly accomplished and I've seen many videos of hers, but what about the others.

[DancePoet]

Some of the pros may not compete currently as part of a pro/pro partnership, yet they might be teaching, and maybe even doing some pro/am dancing as well.

[gingerbread]

Maks is pretty accomplished as a pro competitor, on a par with Cheryl I would say, and certainly more so than Alex Mayo or Ideta. He was ranked 2d in the US when he danced with Elena Grinenko, won OHio Star Ball and was considered very promising. I think Jonathan Roberts and Anna Trebunskaya probably ranked higher in England, and no one on the show are as accomplished as these three:Charlotte Jorgensen, Louis Van Amstel and Karina Smirnoff. They are among the top dancers in the world, and ABC is lucky to have them. Nick Kosovich and Lena Kosovich were US champions, not shabby either, and Tony Dovolani and Elena Grinenko are of course current US Rhythm champions.