# Brandon Armstrong (dancer)

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 10th place.
In season 28, Armstrong was partnered with Mary Wilson of the Supremes. They were the first couple to be eliminated from the season, finishing in 12th 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 10th 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 9th 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 8th 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.
| 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 |

### Season 27

Celebrity partner: Tinashe
| Week | Dance / Song | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Total | Result |
| Week | Dance / Song | Inaba | Goodman | Tonioli | Total | Result |
| 1 | Jive / "I'm a Lady" | 8 | 7 | 8 | 23 | No elimination |
| 2 | Argentine tango / "New Dorp. New York" | 9 | 8 | 9 | 26 | No elimination |
| 2 | Cha-cha / "Circus" | 9 | 8 | 9 | 26 | Safe |
| 3 | Rumba / "2 On" | 9 | 9 | 9 | 27 | Bottom two |
| 4 | Tango / "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" | 9 | 8 | 9 | 26 | Eliminated |

### Season 28

Celebrity partner: Mary Wilson
| Week | Dance / Song | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Total | Result |
| Week | Dance / Song | Inaba | Goodman | Tonioli | Total | Result |
| 1 | Foxtrot / "Baby Love" | 6 | 5 | 6 | 17 | No elimination |
| 2 | Cha-cha / "Think" | 5 | 5 | 5 | 15 | Eliminated |

### Season 29

Celebrity partner: Jeannie Mai
| Week | Dance / Song | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Total | Result |
| Week | Dance / Song | Inaba | Hough | Tonioli | Total | Result |
| 1 | Salsa / "Tell It to My Heart" | 6 | 6 | 6 | 18 | No elimination |
| 2 | Cha-cha / "Roses" | 6 | 6 | 6 | 18 | Safe |
| 3 | Viennese waltz / "Married Life" | 7 | 7 | 8 | 22 | Safe |
| 4 | Tango / "Seven Nation Army" | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 | Safe |
| 5 | Jazz / "Like a Virgin" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 24 | Safe |
| 6 | Rumba / "You Gotta Be" | 8 | 8 | 9 | 25 | Safe |
| 7 | Paso doble / "Maneater" | 8 | 9 | 8 | 25 | Bottom two (later withdrew) |

### Season 30

Celebrity partner: Kenya Moore
| Week | Dance / Song | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Total | Result |
| Week | Dance / Song | Inaba | Goodman | Hough | Tonioli | Total | Result |
| 1 | Foxtrot / "Kiss Me More" | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 26 | No elimination |
| 2 | Cha-cha / "Hot Stuff" | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 24 | Safe |
| 3 | Tango / "Womanizer" | 7 | 7 | N/A$^1$ | 7 | 21 | Bottom two |
| 4 | Contemporary / "How Far I'll Go" | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 29 | No elimination |
| 4 | Viennese waltz / "Dangerous Woman" | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 30 | Bottom three |
| 5 | Rumba / "There Are Worse Things I Could Do" | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 36 | Safe |
| 6 | Argentine tango / "Take My Breath" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 32 | Eliminated |
$^1$ Derek Hough was absent so score was given out of 30.

### Season 31

Celebrity partner: Jordin Sparks
| Week | Dance / Song | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Total | Result |
| Week | Dance / Song | Inaba | Goodman | Hough | Tonioli | Total | Result |
| 1 | Cha-cha / "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 26 | Safe |
| 2 | Quickstep / "Hound Dog" | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 27 | Safe |
| 3 | Rumba / "Licence to Kill" | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 29 | Safe |
| 4 | Jazz / "Remember Me" | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 34 | Safe |
| 5 (Night 1) | Salsa / "Let's Get Married (ReMarquable Remix)" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 33 | Safe |
| 5 (Night 2) | Contemporary / "No Air" Hustle & Lindy Hop Marathon / "Hot Stuff" & "Jump, Jive an' Wail" | 9 Awarded | 8 3 | 9 Extra | 9 Points | 35 38 | Safe |
| 6 | Foxtrot / "You Make Me Feel So Young" | 9 | 8 | 9$^1$ / 8 | 9 | 43 | Safe |
| 7 | Tango / "Oogie Boogie's Song" Team Freestyle / "The Witches Are Back" | 9 8 | 9 8 | 9 9 | 9 8 | 36 33 | Eliminated |
$^1$ Score given by guest judge Michael Buble.

### Season 33

Celebrity partner: Chandler Kinney
| Week | Dance / Song | Theme | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Total | Result |
| Week | Dance / Song | Theme | Inaba | Hough | Tonioli | Guest | Total | Result |
| 1 | Tango / "Hot to Go!" | Premiere | 8 | 7 | 8 | | 23 | No elimination |
| 2 | Rumba / "What Was I Made For?" | Oscars | 8 | 8 | 8 | | 24 | Safe |
| 3 | Cha-cha / "It's Tricky" | Soul Train | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9$^1$ | 36 | No elimination |
| 4 | Jive / "We're Not Gonna Take It" | Hair Metal | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9$^2$ | 33 | Safe |
| 5 | Contemporary / "I Hope You Dance" | Dedication | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8$^3$ | 32 | Safe |
| 6 | Paso doble / "We Own the Night" | Disney | 9 | 9 | 9 | | 27 | Safe |
| 6 | Team Freestyle / "I 2 I" | Disney | 9 | 9 | 9 | | 27 | Safe |
| 7 | Viennese waltz / "Secret" | Halloween Nightmares | 9 | 10 | 10 | | 29 | Safe |
| 8 | Argentine tango / "Para Te" | 500th Episode Celebration | 10 | 10 | 10 | | 30 | Safe |
| 8 | Instant Cha-cha / "Apple" | 500th Episode Celebration | 10 | 10 | 10 | | 30 | Safe |
| 9 | Salsa / "Spicy Margarita" | Semifinals | 10 | 9 | 10 | | 29 | No elimination |
| 9 | Foxtrot / "Too Sweet" | Semifinals | 9 | 10 | 10 | | 29 | No elimination |
| 10 | Jive / "APT" | Finals | 10 | 10 | 10 | | 30 | 3rd place |
| 10 | Freestyle / "Hellzapoppin" & "Move On Up" | Finals | 10 | 10 | 10 | | 30 | 3rd place |
$^1$ Score awarded by guest judge Rosie Perez
$^2$ Score awarded by guest judge Gene Simmons $^3$ Score awarded by guest judge Mark Ballas

## 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.