Brandon Kelly Armstrong (born June 5, 1994) is an American professional Latin and ballroom dancer best known for his appearances on the reality competition series Dancing with the Stars.
Early life Brandon Kelly Armstrong was born on June 5, 1994, in San Francisco, California. He identifies as mixed race; he is half African American and half Polynesian. Armstrong was adopted at birth by a white military family and was raised Mormon in Napa, California. He moved to Lehi, Utah and began dancing when he was twelve years old; he trained with Corky Ballas, Shirley Ballas, and Mark Ballas. After graduating from high school, Armstrong served a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Little Rock, Arkansas and Memphis, Tennessee.
Dancing with the Stars Armstrong started working on the reality competition series Dancing with the Stars as a troupe member on season 24, and remained in that role until season 26. He was promoted to pro in season 27 and was partnered with singer-songwriter Tinashe. Despite consistently receiving high scores and praise from the judges, they were eliminated during the fourth week of competition on October 15, 2018, finishing in tenth place.
In season 28, Armstrong was partnered with Mary Wilson of the girl group the Supremes. They were the first couple to be eliminated from the season, finishing in twelfth place; Armstrong's lowest placement to date. In season 29, Armstrong was partnered with television host Jeannie Mai. They withdrew from the competition on November 2, 2020, after Mai was hospitalized for epiglottitis. In season 30, Armstrong was partnered with actress Kenya Moore. They were eliminated during the sixth week of competition on October 25, 2021, finishing in tenth place.
In season 31, Armstrong was partnered with singer-songwriter and actress Jordin Sparks. They were eliminated during the seventh week of competition on October 31, 2022, finishing in ninth place. For season 32, Armstrong was partnered with social media personality and singer Lele Pons. They were eliminated during the seventh week of competition on November 7, 2023, finishing in eighth place.
Armstrong had a breakthrough performance in season 33 with his partner, television actress and singer Chandler Kinney. Despite inconsistent remarks from the judges, especially from Carrie Ann Inaba and Derek Hough, the couple earned both the highest cumulative points and the first perfect score, of the season. Armstrong and Kinney are the first Black couple in Dancing with the Stars history to advance to the finale. Their freestyle routine to "Hellzapoppin'" and "Move On Up" was the show's first performance to feature an ensemble cast of all-Black dancers. Armstrong and Kinney ultimately finished in third place on November 26, 2024; Armstrong's highest placement to date.
For season 34, Armstrong was partnered with Lauren Jauregui of the girl group Fifth Harmony. They were unexpectedly eliminated during the third week of competition on September 30, 2025, finishing in twelfth place. For season 35, Armstrong was partnered with Summer House star Ciara Miller. Despite receiving their highest score, they were unexpectedly eliminated during the fourth week of competition on October 6, 2026, finishing in twelfth place.
Performances Season Partner Place 27 Tinashe 10th 28 Mary Wilson 12th 29 Jeannie Mai 9th 30 Kenya Moore 10th 31 Jordin Sparks 9th 32 Lele Pons 8th 33 Chandler Kinney 3rd 34 Lauren Jauregui 12th 35 Ciara Miller 12th
+Highest and lowest scoring per danceDancePartnerHighestPartnerLowestArgentine tangoChandler Kinney30Kenya Moore24Cha-cha-chaChandler Kinney30Mary Wilson15ContemporaryJordin Sparks27Kenya Moore21FoxtrotChandler Kinney29Ciara Miller15FreestyleChandler Kinney30JazzJordin Sparks26Ciara Miller21JiveChandler Kinney30Tinashe23MarathonLele Pons4Jordin Sparks3Paso dobleChandler Kinney27Jeannie MaiLele Pons25QuickstepJordin Sparks21RumbaTinasheKenya Moore27Jordin Sparks21SalsaChandler Kinney29Jeannie Mai18SambaLele Pons21TangoJordin Sparks27Ciara Miller18Viennese waltzChandler Kinney29Jeannie MaiKenya Moore22 Scores out of 40 are adjusted to a 30-point scale
Season 27 with celebrity partner Tinashe WeekDanceSongJudges' scoreTotalResultInabaGoodmanTonioli1Jive"I'm a Lady" — Meghan Trainor87823Safe2Argentine tango"New Dorp. New York." — SBTRKT, feat. Ezra Koenig98926No EliminationCha-cha-cha"Circus" — Britney Spears98926Safe3Rumba"2 On" — Tinashe, feat. Schoolboy Q 99927Safe4Tango"Hit Me with Your Best Shot" — Pat Benatar98926 Eliminated
Season 28 with celebrity partner Mary Wilson WeekDanceSongJudges' scoreTotalResultInabaGoodmanTonioli1Foxtrot"Baby Love" — The Supremes65617No Elimination2Cha-cha-cha"Think" — Aretha Franklin55515 Eliminated
Season 29 with celebrity partner Jeannie Mai WeekDanceSongJudges' scoreTotalResultInabaHoughTonioli1Salsa"Tell It to My Heart" — Taylor Dayne66618No Elimination2Cha-cha-cha"Roses" — Saint Jhn66618Safe3Viennese waltz"Married Life" — Michael Giacchino77822Safe4Tango"Seven Nation Army" — The White Stripes 77721Safe5Jazz"Like a Virgin" — Madonna88824Safe6Rumba"You Gotta Be" — Des'ree88925Safe7Paso doble"Maneater" — Nelly Furtado89825 Bottom Two Notes
Season 30 with celebrity partner Kenya Moore WeekDanceDance / SongJudges' scoreTotalResultInabaGoodmanHoughTonioli1Foxtrot"Kiss Me More" — Doja Cat, feat. SZA766726No Elimination2Cha-cha-cha"Hot Stuff" — Donna Summer666624Safe3Tango"Womanizer" — Britney Spears77721 Bottom Two4Contemporary"How Far I'll Go" — Auliʻi Cravalho 778729No EliminationViennese waltz"Dangerous Woman" — Ariana Grande778830 Bottom Three5Rumba"There Are Worse Things I Could Do" — Stockard Channing999936Safe6Argentine tango"Take My Breath" — The Weeknd888832 Eliminated Notes
Season 31 with celebrity partner Jordin Sparks WeekDanceSongJudges' scoreTotalResultInabaGoodmanHoughTonioli1Cha-cha-cha"I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" — Whitney Houston766726Safe2Quickstep"Hound Dog" — Elvis Presley767727Safe3Rumba"Licence to Kill" — Gladys Knight777829Safe4Jazz"Remember Me" — Benjamin Bratt988934Safe5Salsa"Let's Get Married (ReMarquable Remix)" — Jagged Edge, feat. RUN888933SafeContemporary"No Air" — Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown989935Hustle & Lindy Hop Marathon"Hot Stuff" — Donna Summer"Jump, Jive an' Wail" — The Brian Setzer Orchestra36Foxtrot"You Make Me Feel So Young" — Michael Bublé988943Safe7Tango"Oogie Boogie's Song" — Ed Ivory & Ken Page999936 EliminatedTeam Freestyle"The Witches Are Back" — Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker & Kathy Najimy889833 Notes
Season 32 with celebrity partner Lele Pons WeekDanceSongJudges' scoreTotalResultInabaHoughTonioli1Tango"El Tango de Roxanne" — from Moulin Rouge!67619Safe2Samba"Gasolina" — Daddy Yankee77721Safe3Cha-cha-cha"Super Freak" — Rick James76727Safe4Rumba"Can You Feel the Love Tonight" — Elton John77822Safe5Contemporary"I'll Stand by You" — The Pretenders88824Safe6Paso doble"Bloody Mary" (TikTok Remix) — Lady Gaga88933SafeHustle & Charleston Marathon"Stayin' Alive" — Bee Gees"Grim Grinning Ghosts" — Kris Bowers47Salsa"Whenever, Wherever" — Shakira98833 EliminatedTeam Freestyle"Gangnam Style" — Psy10101040 Notes
Season 33 with celebrity partner Chandler Kinney WeekDanceSongJudges' scoreTotalResultInabaHoughTonioli1Tango"Hot to Go!" — Chappell Roan87823No Elimination2Rumba"What Was I Made For?" — Billie Eilish88824Safe3Cha-cha-cha"It's Tricky" — Run-DMC99936No EliminationJive"We're Not Gonna Take It" — Twisted Sister88833Safe4Contemporary"I Hope You Dance" — Lee Ann Womack88832Safe5Paso doble"We Own the Night" — Cast of Zombies 9 9 9 27SafeTeam Freestyle"I 2 I" — Tevin Campbell & Rosie Gaines999276Viennese waltz"Secret" — Denmark + Winter 9 10 1029Safe7Argentine tango "Para Te" — Appart10101030SafeInstant Cha-cha-cha"Apple" — Charli XCX101010308Salsa"Spicy Margarita" — Jason Derulo & Michael Bublé1091029No EliminationFoxtrot"Too Sweet" — Hozier91010299Jive"Apt." — Rosé & Bruno Mars10101030Third PlaceFreestyle "Hellzapoppin’" — Eyal Vilner Big Band"Move On Up" — Curtis Mayfield10101030 Notes
Season 34 with celebrity partner Lauren Jauregui WeekDanceSongJudges' scoreTotalResultInabaHoughTonioli1Tango"Yes, And?" — Ariana Grande 7613No Elimination2Foxtrot"Lovefool" — The Cardigans77721Safe3Cha-cha-cha"Work from Home" — Fifth Harmony, feat. Ty Dolla Sign66618 Eliminated Notes
Season 35 with celebrity partner Ciara Miller WeekDanceSongJudges' scoreTotalResultInabaHoughTonioli1Foxtrot"Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" — Whitney Houston55515Safe2Tango"No Broke Boys" — Disco Lines & Tinashe66618Safe3Cha-cha-cha"Never Too Much" — Luther Vandross66618 Safe4Jazz"Emotions" — Mariah Carey77721 Eliminated
Personal life Armstrong began dating social media manager Brylee Ivers in 2021 after meeting through Instagram. They got engaged on March 7, 2022, and were married on July 30, 2022, in the mountains of Draper, Utah.
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