1 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:16,439 Speaker 1: Thanks, Welcome to Danielle with the Stars. I am Danielle Fischl, 2 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:21,160 Speaker 1: a TV director, a podcaster Forever Topanga, and a mom 3 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:25,079 Speaker 1: of two. Currently, though I am learning how to ballroom 4 00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:27,920 Speaker 1: dance one step at a time. You will be seeing 5 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:30,440 Speaker 1: me on season thirty four of Dancing with the Stars, 6 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:34,879 Speaker 1: premiering September sixteenth on ABC and Disney Plus. And throughout 7 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:39,479 Speaker 1: the process, I am recording this podcast chronicling my journey, 8 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:44,199 Speaker 1: giving you the inside story of one celebrities quest for 9 00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:47,920 Speaker 1: a Mirror Ball Trophy. So I am in the mix 10 00:00:48,040 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 1: as we speak, practicing every day for the debut episode, 11 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:54,320 Speaker 1: a night that will mark the first time I've danced 12 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:56,600 Speaker 1: in front of an audience since I recited a poem 13 00:00:56,640 --> 00:00:59,160 Speaker 1: for Corey and applied lipstick across my face on Boy 14 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:02,720 Speaker 1: Meets World at twelve years old. Not kidding, I am 15 00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:07,319 Speaker 1: so excited for my very first Danielle with the Stars guest. 16 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:10,680 Speaker 1: He is one of the most beloved professional dancers from 17 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:14,520 Speaker 1: the show, first appearing on season twenty eight in twenty nineteen, 18 00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:18,360 Speaker 1: and he is now paired with me for season thirty four. 19 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:22,760 Speaker 1: Please welcome to the podcast, Pasha Pashkov, Thank. 20 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:23,440 Speaker 2: You, Hi. 21 00:01:23,560 --> 00:01:26,399 Speaker 3: First so I just realized Danielle with the Stars is 22 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:29,039 Speaker 3: still the DWTS. Correct, I see what she did? 23 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 1: Oh wow, yeah, See we're smart around here. We know 24 00:01:32,319 --> 00:01:36,039 Speaker 1: what we're doing. Okay. So my first question that I've 25 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:38,840 Speaker 1: wanted to ask since day one, but I figured doing 26 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 1: it in the presence of thousands was probably a better idea. 27 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 1: When we met on last Tuesday a few days ago, 28 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 1: you had no idea who I was. 29 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:49,280 Speaker 3: Did you I did? Oh? 30 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:49,600 Speaker 1: You did? 31 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:51,640 Speaker 3: I did? Okay. So this is the thing, right, You 32 00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:57,440 Speaker 3: have rumors obviously circulating around, you know, approximately who's going 33 00:01:57,480 --> 00:01:59,920 Speaker 3: to be on the cast. Nothing he's ever confirmed. Yeah, 34 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 3: but there are rumors. 35 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 1: There are rumors circulators, right. 36 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:05,600 Speaker 3: So of course you started to dig into everyone, yes, 37 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:10,280 Speaker 3: doing your research. Yes. So when we had some people 38 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:13,120 Speaker 3: who got announced a couple of months before, of course 39 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 3: you already know a little bit about them. We sat 40 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:19,560 Speaker 3: down to watch a few episodes of Secret Lives of 41 00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:23,639 Speaker 3: Woman Wives when two cast members from that show. 42 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:25,320 Speaker 1: Game Let Me Leave It and Jen Affleck had been 43 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:27,680 Speaker 1: announced a few months ago from that show, Yes, Robert 44 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:30,800 Speaker 1: Irwin had been announced, and Alex correct, Yes, yes, so 45 00:02:30,840 --> 00:02:31,840 Speaker 1: you did your research on that. 46 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:35,680 Speaker 3: We did the research, Yes, and then when we heard 47 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 3: that you might be on the show, my wife went 48 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:42,519 Speaker 3: crazy because she's a huge fan and she's like every 49 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 3: boy wanted to be with her, every girl wanted to 50 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:48,040 Speaker 3: be her. And she's like, you have to watch it 51 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:50,280 Speaker 3: because you haven't seen it, and she goes, I would 52 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 3: love to watch it with you, because she's like it's 53 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 3: been a while since I watched, and she's like, I 54 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:58,120 Speaker 3: would love to like relive that. So I literally binged 55 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:01,360 Speaker 3: watch like several episodes right away. So for me, like 56 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:04,280 Speaker 3: I knew exactly who you were when you walked into 57 00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:04,520 Speaker 3: the room. 58 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:06,880 Speaker 1: Okay, so when I walked in, you were like expecting 59 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 1: what you got. 60 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 3: You weren't like who no, oh yeah, yeah, absolutely, yeah 61 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:15,040 Speaker 3: I knew exactly yeah yeah, and you exactly. And you're like, 62 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:18,760 Speaker 3: you know, like your character is so iconic and I 63 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:20,680 Speaker 3: don't know, I just like I can tell that you're 64 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:25,000 Speaker 3: loved by millions, you know. And there's so many people 65 00:03:25,040 --> 00:03:27,399 Speaker 3: who were saying, oh my god, I literally grew up 66 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:30,960 Speaker 3: with her. That's how they feel. So I'm like, it's 67 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 3: good to dance with someone you know that people can 68 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:36,280 Speaker 3: connect to like that, you know, And I'm sure there 69 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 3: are things that we're going to use from the show 70 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 3: or can use from the show. 71 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 1: Yes, I'm hoping so so many great things are gonna 72 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 1: be amazing, you know, little easter eggs or you know, 73 00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:50,640 Speaker 1: little throwbacks that will make people, you know, relive those 74 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 1: moments when they used to watch you on the a 75 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 1: TV's so many people who work as an actor or 76 00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:01,480 Speaker 1: in any sort of performer type thing, but especially actors 77 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:05,320 Speaker 1: sometimes get really offended when they're only known for one 78 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:09,880 Speaker 1: character and they're like, I've done more things. I just 79 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:13,120 Speaker 1: have never felt that way. I feel so lucky that 80 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:16,040 Speaker 1: Tapanga was the character I got to play. And even 81 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:18,640 Speaker 1: if I'm never known for anything else, like, what a 82 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:22,839 Speaker 1: massive blessing that I, at twelve years old, found a 83 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 1: role in a character that I'll be known for forever. 84 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:28,640 Speaker 1: So anything we can do to lean into the nostalgia 85 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:30,560 Speaker 1: of that or the Tapanga of it all, or the 86 00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:32,440 Speaker 1: boy meets World of it all, I am all four. 87 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 3: But also that one character. It's not like it's a 88 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:39,720 Speaker 3: one two hour on movie. It's years and years and 89 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:43,840 Speaker 3: years you know of that character and character development, you know, 90 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:46,960 Speaker 3: and especially that that character starts at such a young 91 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:49,680 Speaker 3: age and you go all the way to marriage. You 92 00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:52,920 Speaker 3: know what I mean. It's like it's your your whole chunk, 93 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:54,800 Speaker 3: a huge chunk of your life over there. 94 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:55,360 Speaker 1: Yeah. 95 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:59,040 Speaker 3: And it's been on what's seven seven. 96 00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 1: Seven years ninety three to two thousand and then when 97 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:02,400 Speaker 1: we did the reboot Girl Meets World, we did that 98 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:05,159 Speaker 1: for three years, so we even have you know, almost 99 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:08,559 Speaker 1: we have a decade, a decade of to Panga lore. 100 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:11,520 Speaker 1: I guess well, we are in New York right now, 101 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:16,280 Speaker 1: in the absolute whirlwind that is the Good Morning America announcement. 102 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:20,120 Speaker 1: How does this season or does this season feel any 103 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 1: different to you than your previous five or six seasons? 104 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:30,360 Speaker 3: You feel? Okay, this is one of those shows where, 105 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:33,240 Speaker 3: no matter how many seasons you've been on, you can 106 00:05:33,279 --> 00:05:39,080 Speaker 3: never possibly be fully ready because every time it's brand new. 107 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:44,320 Speaker 3: You have a brand new partner, with brand new personality, ability, 108 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:48,640 Speaker 3: story and everything. Right, So every time it's a brand 109 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 3: new experience, right. And also the competition who are going 110 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:55,160 Speaker 3: against is brand new. Right when we used to compete 111 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:58,880 Speaker 3: in ballroom dancing. You know, we're the same partnership, We 112 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:03,880 Speaker 3: know who we're competing against for years right here. Every 113 00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:05,800 Speaker 3: year it's a brand new show for us. 114 00:06:05,839 --> 00:06:07,880 Speaker 1: I don't even think about that. Yeah, when you're competing 115 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 1: in ballroom dancing, you're used to seeing the same faces 116 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:13,240 Speaker 1: every weekend. You know what their strengths and weaknesses are. 117 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:15,560 Speaker 1: Now on this show, like, you can do all the 118 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:17,719 Speaker 1: prep you can do for your own physical body, but 119 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:19,680 Speaker 1: by the time you arrive there, like depending on who 120 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:22,480 Speaker 1: your celeb is and who the other celebs are, everything 121 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:23,919 Speaker 1: changes exactly. 122 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:27,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, and what you know, like what makes sense for 123 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:30,960 Speaker 3: us in terms of the song choices and the creative choices. 124 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:33,000 Speaker 3: So it's one of those things where I think you 125 00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:37,920 Speaker 3: cannot possibly really prepare. But with every season, you feel 126 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:42,880 Speaker 3: that you're gaining more experience, you know, and that gives 127 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:45,680 Speaker 3: you more confidence going into a new season because you're like, Okay, 128 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:49,440 Speaker 3: I've done a few I know what to expect, I 129 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:52,679 Speaker 3: have my strategy, you know, So this helps I feel 130 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:58,559 Speaker 3: like going with that good baggage is helping mentally for sure. 131 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:00,680 Speaker 1: How important do you think song choices are? 132 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:02,720 Speaker 3: I think they are vital. 133 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:06,159 Speaker 1: Really, yeah, And do you think that's because the audience 134 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:08,680 Speaker 1: needs to be able to connect to the song or like, 135 00:07:08,760 --> 00:07:09,080 Speaker 1: do you. 136 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:13,080 Speaker 3: Think both the audience and us, because first of all, 137 00:07:13,120 --> 00:07:15,080 Speaker 3: we're the ones dancing, right, and if it is a 138 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:17,680 Speaker 3: song that is hard to dance to, you just don't 139 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:20,200 Speaker 3: feel like dancing to it, right, you know, you feel 140 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:23,360 Speaker 3: like you're forcing a dance onto a specific song. That's 141 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:24,119 Speaker 3: not a good start. 142 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:25,200 Speaker 1: No, it's not a good feeling. 143 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:27,440 Speaker 3: But then even if you find a song that you 144 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:31,040 Speaker 3: feel good dancing to, the audience needs to relate to 145 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:33,440 Speaker 3: it as well. Either they recognize it, or they just 146 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:36,520 Speaker 3: feel the vibe of the song, or you make them 147 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:38,200 Speaker 3: fall in love with the song that they've never heard. 148 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 3: You know, that's an option too, But definitely, definitely for 149 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:44,920 Speaker 3: us and for the audience. 150 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:48,720 Speaker 1: Okay, you have been on the show now for several seasons. 151 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:54,360 Speaker 1: Does has this fan speculation and paparazzi gotten better or worse? 152 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 1: I was shocked by the amount of attention and effort 153 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:04,440 Speaker 1: we had to put into maintaining a secret identity for 154 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 1: you know, about a week. Are you used to that 155 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:09,600 Speaker 1: at this point that it feels crazy? Was it more 156 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:10,520 Speaker 1: this year than usual? 157 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:13,360 Speaker 3: No? We we do this every year since the beginning. 158 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:15,440 Speaker 3: We've been hiding all the time, you know, leading up 159 00:08:15,440 --> 00:08:19,320 Speaker 3: to the premiere. But I gotta say that I think 160 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:22,920 Speaker 3: in the past few seasons the show I feel like 161 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:26,440 Speaker 3: it had a rebirth, you know, and it got like this, 162 00:08:26,560 --> 00:08:32,480 Speaker 3: new demographics, new audience, new fans, and there are definitely 163 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:37,280 Speaker 3: more eyes on us and definitely more attention, and it's 164 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:39,400 Speaker 3: closer attention. And that's why I think there were so 165 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:44,800 Speaker 3: many speculations and leagues online because people are really paying attention, 166 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:46,880 Speaker 3: and they are paying attention to every detail. You know, 167 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:50,000 Speaker 3: you pass by, they catch a photo you fully covered, 168 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:51,800 Speaker 3: but they see your ring and they know who's ring 169 00:08:51,840 --> 00:08:54,520 Speaker 3: it is, you know, or they see bracelets and I 170 00:08:54,559 --> 00:09:00,360 Speaker 3: mean minor obvious. They say, yeah, yeah, it's hard to 171 00:09:00,559 --> 00:09:04,360 Speaker 3: hide this one, but yes, like so becoming more away 172 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:06,920 Speaker 3: and hiding, you know, onto the sleeve so people don't 173 00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:08,560 Speaker 3: see you bracelets or something else. 174 00:09:08,679 --> 00:09:22,760 Speaker 2: It's so crazy. 175 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:26,559 Speaker 1: So I am very, very very sore. 176 00:09:28,440 --> 00:09:29,600 Speaker 2: I'm extremely achy. 177 00:09:29,640 --> 00:09:31,840 Speaker 1: My neck is killing me. I feel a little better 178 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:33,760 Speaker 1: today than I did yesterday, but I've had to go 179 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:38,320 Speaker 1: get regular massages. I've had to be stretching. How how 180 00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:41,080 Speaker 1: do you do this all the time? How do you 181 00:09:41,240 --> 00:09:44,160 Speaker 1: stay in this kind of shape to be working this 182 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:46,240 Speaker 1: hard day after day, week after week. 183 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:50,160 Speaker 3: Well, I think when we used to compete, we were 184 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:56,040 Speaker 3: in this kind of like mold three hundred and sixty 185 00:09:56,040 --> 00:09:58,960 Speaker 3: five this a year, So once you're in it, it 186 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:01,840 Speaker 3: feels like it's a norm, and I think you kind 187 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:04,520 Speaker 3: of get used to it. On Dancing with the Stars, 188 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:07,520 Speaker 3: you know, we have a three month season, then we 189 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:12,520 Speaker 3: have tour prep, then four months or three months tour, 190 00:10:13,040 --> 00:10:16,280 Speaker 3: and then we have this huge gap between the tour 191 00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:19,960 Speaker 3: and the season, right And of course everybody does the 192 00:10:20,040 --> 00:10:23,760 Speaker 3: own thing. Somebody does something dance related, somebody does something 193 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:27,160 Speaker 3: not dance related. Personally, me, I do stuff that is 194 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:29,520 Speaker 3: not dance related. So for me right now, going back 195 00:10:29,559 --> 00:10:32,920 Speaker 3: into the season, our first three or four rehearsals that 196 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:36,600 Speaker 3: we had so far, you know, I felt sore, like 197 00:10:36,720 --> 00:10:38,600 Speaker 3: I was like, oh my god, I need to stretch, 198 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:40,560 Speaker 3: I need to warm up, I need to get back 199 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:43,760 Speaker 3: into I mean, I was trying to get back into shape, 200 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:46,080 Speaker 3: you know, to get ready. But no matter how much 201 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:50,240 Speaker 3: you work out, you know, you still building like big 202 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:52,680 Speaker 3: muscle groups, you know, like at the gym or whatever. 203 00:10:52,840 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 3: Dancing is different because it's like you use these small 204 00:10:56,520 --> 00:10:59,640 Speaker 3: little muscle groups that you don't really usually use at 205 00:10:59,640 --> 00:11:02,040 Speaker 3: the gym, you know, and it's a brand new workout 206 00:11:02,080 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 3: and I know it, and I go through this every time, 207 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:06,960 Speaker 3: but you do need a couple of weeks of adjustment 208 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:10,880 Speaker 3: to get back into it, just simply by dancing, dancing, dancing, dancing. 209 00:11:10,640 --> 00:11:14,520 Speaker 1: I told Jensen, I said, the the little fibers at 210 00:11:14,559 --> 00:11:17,240 Speaker 1: the base of my skull, all the way down to 211 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:20,080 Speaker 1: the little tendons in between my toes, all of the 212 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:22,679 Speaker 1: body parts in between their hurt. But yes, it's like 213 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:25,520 Speaker 1: it's like muscle groups I didn't even really know existed. 214 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:29,319 Speaker 1: So we've been practicing for one week, which is actually 215 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:33,120 Speaker 1: only meant four days of rehearsal. At this point, I 216 00:11:33,160 --> 00:11:35,880 Speaker 1: need you to be very honest here, how am I doing? 217 00:11:36,360 --> 00:11:40,000 Speaker 3: You're doing great? Okay, I was. You know, usually when 218 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:42,439 Speaker 3: we're starting, you know, we're starting with a two three 219 00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:46,079 Speaker 3: week prep for the premiere, which is a lot longer 220 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:49,079 Speaker 3: than you know it will be during the season when 221 00:11:49,080 --> 00:11:50,800 Speaker 3: we're going to have only a few days in between 222 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:55,760 Speaker 3: each show. So I kind of was going in like, okay, 223 00:11:55,760 --> 00:11:57,880 Speaker 3: we're not going to rush. We'll take it slowly. You know, 224 00:11:58,040 --> 00:12:01,000 Speaker 3: I'll get to know you see how you learn the choreo, 225 00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:03,040 Speaker 3: and we'll go from there because we have some time. 226 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:06,480 Speaker 3: So I prepped the choreo, and what I was very 227 00:12:06,559 --> 00:12:08,480 Speaker 3: happy about is that you picked it up and learned 228 00:12:08,559 --> 00:12:10,959 Speaker 3: very fast. So for me, I was like, okay, that's 229 00:12:10,960 --> 00:12:13,439 Speaker 3: a good sign. You know, if you can learn the coreer, 230 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:16,000 Speaker 3: you know in a couple of days, that means going 231 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:18,880 Speaker 3: into the season will be able to you know, learn 232 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:21,200 Speaker 3: the career and then still have time to clean and 233 00:12:21,280 --> 00:12:25,839 Speaker 3: improve and work on our performance aspect, because I think 234 00:12:25,880 --> 00:12:29,559 Speaker 3: the hardest thing is when you have someone as a 235 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:32,760 Speaker 3: partner who cannot remember the courrier, because then you know 236 00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:38,720 Speaker 3: you're going into the performance first of all, really stressed 237 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:42,440 Speaker 3: out because you don't know if if they will remember. Yeah, 238 00:12:42,520 --> 00:12:45,680 Speaker 3: you know, that's one thing, but also if it takes 239 00:12:45,720 --> 00:12:48,760 Speaker 3: the entire week just to learn the choreo, then obviously 240 00:12:48,760 --> 00:12:51,880 Speaker 3: you have no time to improve it, you know, to 241 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:55,960 Speaker 3: work on the performance aspect, on the some maybe technical 242 00:12:56,040 --> 00:12:58,680 Speaker 3: things you know, to make it look sharper and cleaner 243 00:12:58,679 --> 00:13:00,079 Speaker 3: and more exciting, because. 244 00:12:59,880 --> 00:13:03,960 Speaker 1: Just remembering the steps is actually like twenty percent of 245 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:06,320 Speaker 1: what ends up coming through with the dance, Like just 246 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:09,560 Speaker 1: knowing the moves is not enough. So I know, I 247 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:11,800 Speaker 1: said to you and are like on our first day 248 00:13:11,880 --> 00:13:14,800 Speaker 1: that my goal was that every week we had at 249 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:18,439 Speaker 1: least one day where you got to be super nitpicky 250 00:13:18,480 --> 00:13:20,520 Speaker 1: that we felt like we knew it, You knew that 251 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:22,880 Speaker 1: I knew it so well that you could be like 252 00:13:23,080 --> 00:13:25,720 Speaker 1: that pinky is not where it should be. Like, I 253 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:27,520 Speaker 1: wanted at least a full day for you to just 254 00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:30,920 Speaker 1: nitpick me. So that's still my goal. I'm still going 255 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:32,880 Speaker 1: to maintain that, even though we're not going to have 256 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:35,320 Speaker 1: three weeks every time, I still want to have at 257 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:37,720 Speaker 1: least half a day where you can be nitpicky with me. 258 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:43,280 Speaker 1: So anyone who's watched the show over the last several 259 00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:46,400 Speaker 1: years will know that you have maybe been given some 260 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:53,360 Speaker 1: challenging partners. How do you stay positive when you are 261 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:57,839 Speaker 1: maybe showing up every week knowing that your partner isn't 262 00:13:57,840 --> 00:14:00,000 Speaker 1: as fully invested in it as you would like them 263 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:00,320 Speaker 1: to be. 264 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:06,560 Speaker 3: Well, the thing is, and I realized that pretty quickly, 265 00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:11,160 Speaker 3: is that we as pros. Yes we're not guaranteed that 266 00:14:11,160 --> 00:14:14,840 Speaker 3: we're going to be back next season, but if we are, 267 00:14:14,920 --> 00:14:16,720 Speaker 3: there is a chance for us to do the show 268 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:20,640 Speaker 3: for several seasons, right, and like this is my seventh 269 00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 3: season for example, Right, so I got a chance to 270 00:14:23,480 --> 00:14:27,440 Speaker 3: always redo if, like you know, if I have a 271 00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:30,080 Speaker 3: not a good experience or not a good result or 272 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:33,240 Speaker 3: whatever it is, right, But if you look from the 273 00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 3: celebs perspective, there's only one chance you do the show 274 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:40,640 Speaker 3: once and that's it, right. So the inspiration behind it 275 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:45,800 Speaker 3: is that when they leave the competition, no matter the result, 276 00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:48,320 Speaker 3: no matter what, I want them to look back at 277 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:51,760 Speaker 3: it and say, I had the best experience. I had 278 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:53,920 Speaker 3: the time of my life, and I will remember this 279 00:14:53,960 --> 00:14:56,520 Speaker 3: as a positive experience no matter what. Yeah, you know, 280 00:14:56,640 --> 00:14:59,560 Speaker 3: and I'll have something to look back on, you know 281 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:02,920 Speaker 3: that's live online probably forever, and be proud of it. 282 00:15:03,280 --> 00:15:07,000 Speaker 3: So that's what motivates you, because you understand that this 283 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:10,840 Speaker 3: is their only chance to do specific I mean they 284 00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:13,520 Speaker 3: do other things, but specifically this. Yeah, there's only one 285 00:15:13,920 --> 00:15:15,280 Speaker 3: time you get to do this, So I just want 286 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:16,400 Speaker 3: them to have the best time. 287 00:15:16,520 --> 00:15:18,440 Speaker 1: Oh well, you're really good at that because you do 288 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:21,680 Speaker 1: make it very fun. I was telling Jensen how much 289 00:15:21,720 --> 00:15:25,200 Speaker 1: I laughed when I said, you said very good after 290 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:27,960 Speaker 1: I did a dance and I said, oh no, it 291 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:29,960 Speaker 1: was mid. I could definitely do better, and you said, 292 00:15:30,040 --> 00:15:33,440 Speaker 1: then stop giving me this mediocre and do better. 293 00:15:33,480 --> 00:15:36,200 Speaker 2: And then you said, what if that's the only thing 294 00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:39,320 Speaker 2: we started diagnosing? 295 00:15:39,360 --> 00:15:42,320 Speaker 1: I thought, because you are not that way at all. 296 00:15:42,480 --> 00:15:45,040 Speaker 1: It was so funny to me though you have a 297 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:47,960 Speaker 1: very you have such a great personality. You make learning 298 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:51,520 Speaker 1: very easy, You make learning very fun. So it's so 299 00:15:51,640 --> 00:15:53,400 Speaker 1: nice that to hear that you make sure everybody has 300 00:15:53,400 --> 00:15:56,320 Speaker 1: a great experience, because of course they do. So season 301 00:15:56,360 --> 00:16:00,200 Speaker 1: thirty two with Ariontomatics, you have your best finish in 302 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:03,160 Speaker 1: your first perfect thirty and getting to the finals and 303 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:07,720 Speaker 1: then you guys placed third. How did that season feel 304 00:16:07,720 --> 00:16:10,520 Speaker 1: different to you? Did it feel good from the very beginning? 305 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:13,000 Speaker 3: It did feel good from the very beginning. Yes, I 306 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:16,080 Speaker 3: think we had a good connection from the start. I 307 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:21,640 Speaker 3: think Arianna came in from obviously a very public and 308 00:16:22,040 --> 00:16:30,640 Speaker 3: you know, huge sandal. Yeah and you say sandal scandal, yes, 309 00:16:30,680 --> 00:16:34,040 Speaker 3: so like did you say sandal? So what happened is 310 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:37,160 Speaker 3: I felt like she came in with this fighter energy, 311 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:40,680 Speaker 3: you know, there was like fire underneath her feet, and 312 00:16:41,120 --> 00:16:44,640 Speaker 3: I felt like she had something to prove, you know, 313 00:16:44,760 --> 00:16:47,160 Speaker 3: and that like showed up in her work ethic and 314 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:49,840 Speaker 3: how she showed up you know, like every day. So 315 00:16:49,880 --> 00:16:52,040 Speaker 3: for me, I felt from the beginning like she's here 316 00:16:52,080 --> 00:16:55,440 Speaker 3: for the right reason. She's here you know, with some 317 00:16:55,560 --> 00:16:58,320 Speaker 3: kind of an intention and we're going to use that 318 00:16:58,400 --> 00:16:59,640 Speaker 3: to fuel the entire season. 319 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:03,240 Speaker 1: Great, ooh, I love that. If you had to give 320 00:17:03,400 --> 00:17:06,720 Speaker 1: just one routine as an example something of yours, someone 321 00:17:06,800 --> 00:17:09,919 Speaker 1: wants to see your favorite dance front to back, what 322 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:13,119 Speaker 1: would you suggest? And is it one where you're dressed 323 00:17:13,160 --> 00:17:14,600 Speaker 1: like a tiger with Carol Baskin? 324 00:17:18,320 --> 00:17:24,600 Speaker 3: Is it a two part question? Answer? Well, you know what, 325 00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:29,239 Speaker 3: let's put it this way. It's a definitely a very 326 00:17:29,280 --> 00:17:32,719 Speaker 3: recognizable moment, and it's definitely an icebreaker in a lot 327 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:35,400 Speaker 3: of my conversations. When people start talking to me at 328 00:17:35,440 --> 00:17:39,560 Speaker 3: the restaurants or something, they're like, hey, because guess what 329 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:45,960 Speaker 3: that thing Tiger king was so huge at the moment. Yeah, 330 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:49,760 Speaker 3: it was. That was the COVID year, right, Yeah, so 331 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:54,399 Speaker 3: I feel like everybody knew about it. Everybody tweeted about 332 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:57,040 Speaker 3: it when we danced. I remember Lady Gaga posting a 333 00:17:57,119 --> 00:18:00,919 Speaker 3: story and saying welcome to twenty twenty. So so yeah, 334 00:18:01,160 --> 00:18:04,160 Speaker 3: so yes, what, I would not change a thing? 335 00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:05,679 Speaker 1: Okay, great, I love that. 336 00:18:05,760 --> 00:18:11,960 Speaker 3: But is that the routine that I'm super proud of? Well, 337 00:18:12,359 --> 00:18:13,400 Speaker 3: let's put it in the top three. 338 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:16,400 Speaker 1: Okay, do you have a top one? 339 00:18:17,320 --> 00:18:21,560 Speaker 3: Yes? Top one was a fox trut with Arihanna in 340 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:25,200 Speaker 3: the semi final. Okay, and that was the perfect thirty, 341 00:18:25,359 --> 00:18:27,840 Speaker 3: the first perfect thirty, But that was not the reason 342 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:29,720 Speaker 3: it was not. It's just like one of those where 343 00:18:30,359 --> 00:18:34,600 Speaker 3: everything aligned, where it looked good, it felt good, we 344 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:39,240 Speaker 3: had time, good time practicing it, choreographing, we had a 345 00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:41,479 Speaker 3: good song, there were a lot of musical things that 346 00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:45,280 Speaker 3: were able to show off that like choreographically, really enjoyed it. 347 00:18:45,320 --> 00:18:46,879 Speaker 3: So it was one of those where like, you know, 348 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:50,159 Speaker 3: everything in line and it felt good, looked good, and 349 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:53,479 Speaker 3: got a good score. So it's like perfect thirty across 350 00:18:53,480 --> 00:18:53,800 Speaker 3: the board. 351 00:18:53,920 --> 00:18:55,320 Speaker 1: You can't touch that now. 352 00:18:55,920 --> 00:18:57,360 Speaker 2: I am very vocal in. 353 00:18:57,400 --> 00:19:01,480 Speaker 1: Admitting that I have no real dances experience going into 354 00:19:01,560 --> 00:19:05,680 Speaker 1: the show. Does that put us at a total disadvantage? 355 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:09,240 Speaker 1: Who's the partner you've had who's had the most experience. 356 00:19:12,280 --> 00:19:18,480 Speaker 3: I don't think I had anyone who had a dance experience. Okay, yes, 357 00:19:18,640 --> 00:19:24,000 Speaker 3: I don't think I had anyone. Everybody had something different 358 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:30,480 Speaker 3: to offer. Kate Flannery, she came from like she's an actress, 359 00:19:30,520 --> 00:19:35,840 Speaker 3: but I think she did like theater and yeah something 360 00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:39,359 Speaker 3: in college, so she had a little bit of like 361 00:19:39,440 --> 00:19:42,199 Speaker 3: that you know, she was good, very musical, so we 362 00:19:42,359 --> 00:19:48,080 Speaker 3: use that and Arianna again musical theater. So there was 363 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:52,359 Speaker 3: a some sum but it's not really dance experience, you know. 364 00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:54,880 Speaker 3: But the good thing about it that I do like now, 365 00:19:54,920 --> 00:19:59,560 Speaker 3: it's always challenging, right when you go against someone who 366 00:19:59,640 --> 00:20:03,240 Speaker 3: does have dance experience. But at the same time, I 367 00:20:03,280 --> 00:20:05,960 Speaker 3: always say, you know, if we have to look at things, 368 00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:09,000 Speaker 3: you know, glass half full, when you're coming in with 369 00:20:09,080 --> 00:20:14,720 Speaker 3: no dance experience, we can start fresh. There are no 370 00:20:14,840 --> 00:20:17,560 Speaker 3: bad habits. Yeah, right, so we can like start fresh 371 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:20,920 Speaker 3: and learn things the right way. That's a good thing. 372 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:25,880 Speaker 3: But as long as they're at least some basic things 373 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:29,359 Speaker 3: in place, like having some rhythm, having rhythm, you know, 374 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:33,360 Speaker 3: being able to hear the beat and the music, being balanced, 375 00:20:33,359 --> 00:20:36,359 Speaker 3: being coordinated, because things like, yes, you can teach the 376 00:20:36,440 --> 00:20:40,360 Speaker 3: dance steps, but it's very hard to teach coordination if 377 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:43,560 Speaker 3: somebody is not coordinated right, or like if you're not balanced. 378 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:47,160 Speaker 3: Balance is not something you can teach in a week, right, 379 00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:50,440 Speaker 3: Coordination is not something you can teach in a week. 380 00:20:50,480 --> 00:20:52,880 Speaker 3: So I feel like as long as there are some 381 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:57,240 Speaker 3: like basic fundamental things that are there, then the rest 382 00:20:57,440 --> 00:20:58,600 Speaker 3: the rest you can work with. 383 00:20:58,960 --> 00:21:01,840 Speaker 1: I found that there are like there's really two camps 384 00:21:01,880 --> 00:21:05,360 Speaker 1: when it comes to thoughts on dance experience, one who 385 00:21:05,359 --> 00:21:08,200 Speaker 1: think it's totally fine for people with years of dance 386 00:21:08,280 --> 00:21:10,840 Speaker 1: experience to compete on Dancing with the Stars, and then 387 00:21:10,880 --> 00:21:13,399 Speaker 1: the other camp that really thinks celebrity should come in 388 00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:16,000 Speaker 1: not really knowing much of anything and learn how to dance. 389 00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:19,840 Speaker 1: Do you think it's fair to come in with dance experience? 390 00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:24,919 Speaker 3: I think that those camps why they're like that is 391 00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:29,080 Speaker 3: because I think originally when the show started, I feel 392 00:21:29,080 --> 00:21:32,960 Speaker 3: like majority of celebs that were on the show where 393 00:21:33,640 --> 00:21:36,280 Speaker 3: without any dances, okay, And I think like the whole 394 00:21:36,359 --> 00:21:41,040 Speaker 3: point and all the stories were about how they're learning 395 00:21:41,160 --> 00:21:43,920 Speaker 3: from scratch, right, and I'm talking like a big majority 396 00:21:43,920 --> 00:21:46,880 Speaker 3: of the celebs didn't have the dance experience, and then 397 00:21:46,920 --> 00:21:50,640 Speaker 3: it became a mix, right, And then that's when I think, 398 00:21:50,680 --> 00:21:54,160 Speaker 3: like the there was like a little division, and I 399 00:21:54,200 --> 00:22:02,480 Speaker 3: think that it's I think it's impossible, you know, to 400 00:22:02,680 --> 00:22:06,840 Speaker 3: have like a great cast, you know, for a season, 401 00:22:06,880 --> 00:22:10,680 Speaker 3: and have fourteen couples and make sure that everybody has 402 00:22:10,880 --> 00:22:14,120 Speaker 3: zero of any experience, you know, because even if it's 403 00:22:14,119 --> 00:22:17,040 Speaker 3: not dance experience, I feel like there are still things 404 00:22:17,119 --> 00:22:20,120 Speaker 3: that already different from the get go, Like, for example, 405 00:22:20,440 --> 00:22:24,199 Speaker 3: an athlete is coming in with a different set of 406 00:22:24,280 --> 00:22:29,720 Speaker 3: skills than an actor, right, or somebody who is used 407 00:22:29,720 --> 00:22:32,560 Speaker 3: to performing in front of the live audience versus somebody 408 00:22:32,600 --> 00:22:35,920 Speaker 3: who's used to where you can do several takes, or 409 00:22:37,520 --> 00:22:39,560 Speaker 3: let's say even like if we compare the athletes, like 410 00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:43,159 Speaker 3: if you compare football players versus basketball players, right, Like, 411 00:22:43,200 --> 00:22:45,080 Speaker 3: there are a lot of football players on the show, 412 00:22:45,520 --> 00:22:48,040 Speaker 3: and you could tell that they were very, very light 413 00:22:48,080 --> 00:22:51,240 Speaker 3: and quick on their fead, right, so when they were 414 00:22:51,240 --> 00:22:54,960 Speaker 3: doing the jives and quick steps, they were always phenomenal, Right, 415 00:22:55,400 --> 00:22:59,280 Speaker 3: And then I don't know, like I feel like, you know, 416 00:22:59,359 --> 00:23:03,760 Speaker 3: everybody comes in already, not really even because everybody comes 417 00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:07,280 Speaker 3: in with different set of skills from different fields of life. 418 00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:10,359 Speaker 3: But on top of that, now we also have like 419 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:14,840 Speaker 3: some people who actually come with dance experience. So yes, 420 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:17,600 Speaker 3: but at the same time, we have to remember that 421 00:23:17,920 --> 00:23:20,840 Speaker 3: at the end of the day, it's not just the judges, 422 00:23:20,960 --> 00:23:24,399 Speaker 3: is the audience exactly, And then if the audience wants 423 00:23:24,440 --> 00:23:28,720 Speaker 3: to see a non dancer improve, then you will have 424 00:23:28,760 --> 00:23:29,959 Speaker 3: the advantage. 425 00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:33,879 Speaker 1: That's right, exactly, It's up to them to decide. A 426 00:23:33,920 --> 00:23:36,359 Speaker 1: big story this year is the return of Mark ballas 427 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:38,600 Speaker 1: a prior champion and a bit of an icon on 428 00:23:38,640 --> 00:23:42,680 Speaker 1: the show. What are your strategic feelings about this big 429 00:23:42,720 --> 00:23:44,400 Speaker 1: news this season? Are you and Mark close? 430 00:23:45,480 --> 00:23:50,960 Speaker 3: Mark and I have very close So he's like our brother. 431 00:23:51,359 --> 00:23:57,119 Speaker 3: His mom was mine and Denny's teacher main teacher. So 432 00:23:58,600 --> 00:24:03,960 Speaker 3: a lot of people on the show, Derek, Julianne, Mark, 433 00:24:04,880 --> 00:24:08,520 Speaker 3: Danny and I we were all trained by Mark's mom. Yeah, 434 00:24:08,600 --> 00:24:13,360 Speaker 3: she's a legend in the Bordern world. She goes by 435 00:24:13,359 --> 00:24:17,040 Speaker 3: a nickname the Latin Queen. Oh, sorry, the Queen of Latin. 436 00:24:17,600 --> 00:24:20,200 Speaker 3: My bad. I think the Queen of Latin because Latin dancing. 437 00:24:20,800 --> 00:24:26,240 Speaker 3: And yeah, so she's uh, she's incredible and because of that, 438 00:24:26,280 --> 00:24:28,080 Speaker 3: we have very very close connection with Mark. 439 00:24:28,280 --> 00:24:29,439 Speaker 1: Oh, that's so great. 440 00:24:30,040 --> 00:24:33,400 Speaker 3: And our kids have play dates tois Oh how many 441 00:24:33,480 --> 00:24:34,800 Speaker 3: kids does he have one? 442 00:24:35,320 --> 00:24:35,679 Speaker 2: Yeah? 443 00:24:35,720 --> 00:24:38,840 Speaker 3: And his name is Banksy and he's I think half 444 00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:40,720 Speaker 3: a year younger than Nikita. 445 00:24:40,960 --> 00:24:56,480 Speaker 1: Nikita so cute. So based on the partnerships that we 446 00:24:56,600 --> 00:25:00,239 Speaker 1: know for this season thirty four, who are you you 447 00:25:00,280 --> 00:25:03,480 Speaker 1: considering to be our biggest competition ourselves? 448 00:25:04,320 --> 00:25:07,719 Speaker 3: Is this a very is this a very politically correct answer, 449 00:25:08,080 --> 00:25:12,960 Speaker 3: Yes it is no, but honestly, yeah, it's honestly ourselves, 450 00:25:13,119 --> 00:25:16,280 Speaker 3: you know. I think the biggest thing is the distraction 451 00:25:16,440 --> 00:25:20,400 Speaker 3: by the competition, not keeping your eyes on your own 452 00:25:20,440 --> 00:25:23,480 Speaker 3: paper are the biggest mistakes we can do, you know, 453 00:25:23,560 --> 00:25:26,600 Speaker 3: because every week is going to be different. Every week 454 00:25:26,600 --> 00:25:30,040 Speaker 3: people will have different dance styles, you know, and one 455 00:25:30,080 --> 00:25:32,040 Speaker 3: week you have room, but somebody has a quick step, 456 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:34,240 Speaker 3: next week you have a quick time, somebody has a 457 00:25:34,440 --> 00:25:38,520 Speaker 3: positive doubles. So it's hard to compare directly to begin 458 00:25:38,600 --> 00:25:43,280 Speaker 3: with because of different styles and everything. And yeah, you 459 00:25:43,320 --> 00:25:45,600 Speaker 3: can get carried away and get too much in your head. 460 00:25:45,680 --> 00:25:48,560 Speaker 3: So I think the biggest competition is ourselves and just 461 00:25:48,600 --> 00:25:53,600 Speaker 3: like staying focused on doing our personal best and then 462 00:25:53,720 --> 00:25:57,840 Speaker 3: the rest is going to be up to the universe 463 00:25:58,320 --> 00:25:59,560 Speaker 3: and the audience. 464 00:25:59,640 --> 00:26:03,560 Speaker 1: Yes, judges, now to a very important question. Is your 465 00:26:03,640 --> 00:26:06,600 Speaker 1: life going to be easier or harder for you now 466 00:26:06,640 --> 00:26:10,280 Speaker 1: that you are partnered with Danielle and married to Daniella. 467 00:26:11,280 --> 00:26:16,159 Speaker 3: Well, I think it's you said that you don't go 468 00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:19,280 Speaker 3: like your your short is either Danielle, so sorry your 469 00:26:19,480 --> 00:26:22,840 Speaker 3: d or you just go by the full name Danielle. Well, 470 00:26:22,960 --> 00:26:28,320 Speaker 3: the fun fact is my wife's name in passport actually 471 00:26:28,320 --> 00:26:32,359 Speaker 3: spelled with an ead as well. Yes, yes, so she 472 00:26:32,480 --> 00:26:34,560 Speaker 3: was supposed to be Daniella from the get go. That's 473 00:26:34,600 --> 00:26:38,399 Speaker 3: what her mom wanted and they misspelled it and she 474 00:26:38,520 --> 00:26:43,600 Speaker 3: has never changed it. So everywhere and to everyone, she's Daniella, 475 00:26:44,240 --> 00:26:47,040 Speaker 3: and no one ever calls her by the full name. Ever. 476 00:26:47,359 --> 00:26:51,000 Speaker 3: She always goes by Danny. So, but her passport name 477 00:26:51,080 --> 00:26:55,640 Speaker 3: is exactly like yours. You have double l yeah, yeah, 478 00:26:55,640 --> 00:26:59,240 Speaker 3: so it's spelled exactly the same. Yeah, everything the same. Yeah, 479 00:26:59,280 --> 00:27:02,320 Speaker 3: but it's so so you go as d or Danielle 480 00:27:02,359 --> 00:27:04,880 Speaker 3: and she's Danny so yeah, so at. 481 00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:06,760 Speaker 1: Least no matter where you go, whether you're at work 482 00:27:06,880 --> 00:27:07,920 Speaker 1: or a yeah, yes. 483 00:27:07,840 --> 00:27:10,320 Speaker 3: Like someone, Yeah, you don't even hear like I thought, 484 00:27:10,520 --> 00:27:14,600 Speaker 3: but this we have we have two weekneys. 485 00:27:14,960 --> 00:27:16,800 Speaker 1: Yes, we have a Jenna and a Jenna, yes, and 486 00:27:16,840 --> 00:27:18,080 Speaker 1: we have Danielle and Danielle. 487 00:27:18,200 --> 00:27:20,080 Speaker 3: Yes. Yes, So it's like a lot of close names. 488 00:27:20,119 --> 00:27:23,199 Speaker 3: But I think, because you know, I never haven't I 489 00:27:23,240 --> 00:27:26,240 Speaker 3: haven't heard this year yet somebody, you know, like say 490 00:27:26,440 --> 00:27:28,480 Speaker 3: the name and I'm like, who are they talking to? 491 00:27:28,560 --> 00:27:31,639 Speaker 3: Because everybody nobody calls Danny by. 492 00:27:31,520 --> 00:27:33,719 Speaker 1: Her full name exactly, So that'll be easy for you. 493 00:27:33,800 --> 00:27:34,200 Speaker 2: Okay. 494 00:27:34,520 --> 00:27:37,840 Speaker 1: In twenty twenty three, you and Danny were in the 495 00:27:37,920 --> 00:27:40,919 Speaker 1: finals together, and you guys were the first married couple 496 00:27:40,960 --> 00:27:42,920 Speaker 1: to ever make it to the finals. 497 00:27:42,640 --> 00:27:44,399 Speaker 3: Right, Yes, to the finals together? 498 00:27:44,520 --> 00:27:47,840 Speaker 1: Yes, okay, what was that like competing against your beautiful wife? 499 00:27:48,480 --> 00:27:51,480 Speaker 3: It was interesting because leading up to the final, in 500 00:27:51,640 --> 00:27:55,879 Speaker 3: every single package and every single OTF, in every single 501 00:27:55,960 --> 00:27:59,840 Speaker 3: interview that we did, press everything, that was the question. 502 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:01,680 Speaker 3: You know, everybody's like, oh, you guys are going to 503 00:28:01,760 --> 00:28:04,199 Speaker 3: go against each other, and how do you feel and everything. Well, 504 00:28:04,240 --> 00:28:08,200 Speaker 3: the thing is, we choreograph everything together. Yeah, we choreograph 505 00:28:08,280 --> 00:28:10,840 Speaker 3: and we help each other. Right, We come from rehearsals 506 00:28:10,880 --> 00:28:13,679 Speaker 3: and we show each other the videos from the rehearsals, 507 00:28:13,720 --> 00:28:16,159 Speaker 3: and we want to hear each other's feedback. So we 508 00:28:16,359 --> 00:28:20,479 Speaker 3: bet we've been like that right entire time. So it 509 00:28:20,520 --> 00:28:23,480 Speaker 3: doesn't again, it doesn't feel like a competition. And again 510 00:28:23,720 --> 00:28:26,920 Speaker 3: this is sounds like a politically correct answer, but it's 511 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:30,080 Speaker 3: truly how it is, Like we just truly support each other, 512 00:28:30,119 --> 00:28:34,919 Speaker 3: you know, unconditionally, and the goal is for both to 513 00:28:34,960 --> 00:28:38,560 Speaker 3: do their personal best with their partners in that finale 514 00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:41,960 Speaker 3: and then the rest again is already not up to us. Yeah, right, 515 00:28:42,040 --> 00:28:45,080 Speaker 3: So it didn't feel like a competition maybe because the 516 00:28:45,120 --> 00:28:48,080 Speaker 3: last second we're helping each other. You know, quick, what 517 00:28:48,120 --> 00:28:49,800 Speaker 3: do we do here? Oh? I want to know. 518 00:28:49,880 --> 00:28:52,200 Speaker 1: I want to hear all of Danny's feedback. Just give 519 00:28:52,200 --> 00:28:54,160 Speaker 1: her my number, just have her text me be like 520 00:28:54,200 --> 00:28:56,480 Speaker 1: Pasture just showed me the video. Here are my notes. 521 00:28:56,920 --> 00:28:58,600 Speaker 1: What do you two do after a live show? To 522 00:28:58,640 --> 00:28:59,160 Speaker 1: wind down? 523 00:29:00,120 --> 00:29:07,080 Speaker 3: We eat burgers, pizza, pasta, ice cream, a way footies. 524 00:29:08,080 --> 00:29:10,720 Speaker 3: We love to eat. And of course, you know, throughout 525 00:29:10,760 --> 00:29:13,720 Speaker 3: the season you want to fit into your costumes nicely, 526 00:29:14,160 --> 00:29:15,680 Speaker 3: and so you kind of like have to watch what 527 00:29:15,720 --> 00:29:18,480 Speaker 3: you eat. But then this is our because you know, 528 00:29:18,560 --> 00:29:21,560 Speaker 3: like the live show day is long. You know, we 529 00:29:21,640 --> 00:29:25,400 Speaker 3: have early cold times. I mean you'll experience it very soon. 530 00:29:25,520 --> 00:29:29,040 Speaker 3: You know. We have camera blocking, we have dress rehearsal. 531 00:29:29,200 --> 00:29:32,120 Speaker 3: It's nonstout the whole day. So by the time you 532 00:29:32,160 --> 00:29:35,800 Speaker 3: actually do the live show, you already danced several times, 533 00:29:35,800 --> 00:29:37,480 Speaker 3: and you've been there the whole day, and you've been 534 00:29:37,640 --> 00:29:40,960 Speaker 3: in your hair and makeup and costume and everything. So 535 00:29:41,760 --> 00:29:45,880 Speaker 3: once that show is done, we have the press line 536 00:29:46,040 --> 00:29:48,800 Speaker 3: and then this is when you can finally without and 537 00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:52,640 Speaker 3: relaxed and we feel like it's a reset to go 538 00:29:52,680 --> 00:29:55,520 Speaker 3: into the next week, so we need to like go 539 00:29:55,680 --> 00:29:58,680 Speaker 3: and do something where we don't think about the show. 540 00:29:59,280 --> 00:30:01,800 Speaker 3: We don't think about out the corrio for the you know, 541 00:30:01,880 --> 00:30:03,600 Speaker 3: I mean, the core is down for the next dance, 542 00:30:03,640 --> 00:30:06,640 Speaker 3: but like we don't, we don't think about anything show related, 543 00:30:06,680 --> 00:30:09,440 Speaker 3: and we we just go and we grab you know, 544 00:30:09,560 --> 00:30:12,600 Speaker 3: our favorite food, whatever we in a mood for that night, 545 00:30:13,040 --> 00:30:15,280 Speaker 3: and yeah, we just enjoy ourselves. 546 00:30:15,280 --> 00:30:15,920 Speaker 2: Good for you. 547 00:30:16,120 --> 00:30:19,000 Speaker 1: I mean, there's I honestly, having just done four days 548 00:30:19,000 --> 00:30:22,160 Speaker 1: of rehearsal, there's nothing could sound worse than trying to 549 00:30:22,280 --> 00:30:25,400 Speaker 1: dance on like a full stomach. So on those show days, 550 00:30:25,440 --> 00:30:27,400 Speaker 1: I can only imagine that, like, not only are you 551 00:30:27,440 --> 00:30:30,120 Speaker 1: working such long hours, you're just kind of grazing. You're 552 00:30:30,160 --> 00:30:32,800 Speaker 1: like a couple of nuts here a banana, because like 553 00:30:33,480 --> 00:30:36,560 Speaker 1: all the bouncing around on a full stomach sounds terrible. 554 00:30:36,760 --> 00:30:39,760 Speaker 3: And you also, you on one hand, you want to 555 00:30:39,800 --> 00:30:42,480 Speaker 3: be hydrated, but on the other hand, with those costumes, 556 00:30:42,520 --> 00:30:45,200 Speaker 3: you know, it's not so easy to jump in and 557 00:30:45,200 --> 00:30:46,719 Speaker 3: out of them. We need to go to the bathroom. 558 00:30:46,800 --> 00:30:49,280 Speaker 3: So it's a it's got to be balanced. 559 00:30:50,200 --> 00:30:52,400 Speaker 1: What do you think your strength is as a partner. 560 00:30:52,880 --> 00:30:56,440 Speaker 3: My strength as a partner, I think I can pull 561 00:30:56,640 --> 00:31:01,560 Speaker 3: out the best of war what you have to offer. 562 00:31:02,400 --> 00:31:08,720 Speaker 3: And I think I come from a very old school 563 00:31:09,000 --> 00:31:13,719 Speaker 3: training bottom dancing, where the belief is that the leader 564 00:31:14,120 --> 00:31:18,959 Speaker 3: is the frame and the follower is the picture, right right, 565 00:31:19,400 --> 00:31:21,800 Speaker 3: So you present, you gotta be there for her, and 566 00:31:21,840 --> 00:31:25,920 Speaker 3: you present her and you make her shine. So since 567 00:31:26,840 --> 00:31:31,160 Speaker 3: this show is obviously about the celebrity, you know, learning 568 00:31:31,160 --> 00:31:35,200 Speaker 3: how to dance, so for me, I feel like because 569 00:31:35,320 --> 00:31:37,480 Speaker 3: I was trained like that and that was my mentality 570 00:31:37,520 --> 00:31:41,200 Speaker 3: instead of like look at me, you know, and I'm 571 00:31:41,240 --> 00:31:44,760 Speaker 3: the solo beautiful dancer. For me, it was always about 572 00:31:44,840 --> 00:31:48,080 Speaker 3: framing my partner, even when I used to compete back 573 00:31:48,120 --> 00:31:51,480 Speaker 3: in the day and with dancing with Danielle Denny. He's 574 00:31:51,520 --> 00:31:55,000 Speaker 3: gonna say Danielle full name. Wow. Really, I'm even myself 575 00:31:55,000 --> 00:32:00,360 Speaker 3: already losing track over here. But so for me, I 576 00:32:00,400 --> 00:32:04,400 Speaker 3: feel like I can frame my partner beautifully and make 577 00:32:04,400 --> 00:32:07,040 Speaker 3: her shine. So hopefully that's gonna be the case. 578 00:32:07,440 --> 00:32:08,960 Speaker 1: Do you think you have any weaknesses? 579 00:32:09,400 --> 00:32:11,680 Speaker 3: A lot of them. But I'm not gonna I'm not 580 00:32:11,680 --> 00:32:13,960 Speaker 3: gonna I'm not gonna tell no, I'm not gonna tell anybody, 581 00:32:14,000 --> 00:32:18,600 Speaker 3: you know what I mean, giving away like open an 582 00:32:18,640 --> 00:32:20,959 Speaker 3: open book over here, giving up all my cards. 583 00:32:21,880 --> 00:32:24,200 Speaker 1: What would you say? My strength as a partner. 584 00:32:23,960 --> 00:32:28,719 Speaker 3: Is your strength? You're oh, actually a lot of strength 585 00:32:28,960 --> 00:32:34,280 Speaker 3: right away. First of all, in terms of physicality, you 586 00:32:34,640 --> 00:32:39,880 Speaker 3: are in great shape, great flexibility, great balance, very strong, 587 00:32:40,600 --> 00:32:44,400 Speaker 3: very strong. In terms of mental you're coming in with 588 00:32:44,440 --> 00:32:48,120 Speaker 3: the right focus. So far, we had four days of rehearsals. 589 00:32:48,320 --> 00:32:51,000 Speaker 3: You were in that room for four hours working NonStop, 590 00:32:51,080 --> 00:32:55,120 Speaker 3: super focused and memorizing things very well. So you know, 591 00:32:55,320 --> 00:33:00,120 Speaker 3: very very focused. That's mental. And then personality wise, I 592 00:33:00,160 --> 00:33:03,480 Speaker 3: think you are just a joy to be around. I 593 00:33:03,560 --> 00:33:07,200 Speaker 3: love your you know, like your eyes are shining, big 594 00:33:07,320 --> 00:33:11,280 Speaker 3: smile all the time. So I think your strength is 595 00:33:11,320 --> 00:33:15,600 Speaker 3: going to be everybody falling in love with just with 596 00:33:15,680 --> 00:33:16,480 Speaker 3: that spark. 597 00:33:16,240 --> 00:33:16,600 Speaker 1: That you have. 598 00:33:16,880 --> 00:33:17,680 Speaker 2: Thank you. 599 00:33:17,720 --> 00:33:20,160 Speaker 1: Now you can tell everyone my weaknesses because it's their 600 00:33:20,240 --> 00:33:22,560 Speaker 1: mind and so you don't have to worry about protecting me. 601 00:33:22,720 --> 00:33:26,640 Speaker 3: What are my weaknesses? Okay, you said that your neck 602 00:33:27,040 --> 00:33:33,520 Speaker 3: is stiff. Stiff neck. So and we have week one. Oh, actually, 603 00:33:33,680 --> 00:33:35,760 Speaker 3: hold on, I'm not sure if I'm supposed to reveal. 604 00:33:38,120 --> 00:33:39,560 Speaker 1: We'll just that. 605 00:33:40,080 --> 00:33:43,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, we have deep week one and for that dance, 606 00:33:43,800 --> 00:33:47,880 Speaker 3: which can be several dances, you need very sharp head movements. 607 00:33:48,440 --> 00:33:51,080 Speaker 3: So therefore we need to make sure that that stiff 608 00:33:51,120 --> 00:33:55,200 Speaker 3: neck is not stiff anymore. There's another weakness that you 609 00:33:55,240 --> 00:34:00,880 Speaker 3: told me yourself, that you said every time like you 610 00:34:00,920 --> 00:34:03,120 Speaker 3: get tenseled something and goes into the shoulders. And of 611 00:34:03,160 --> 00:34:06,400 Speaker 3: course in dancing, we have to have long neck and posture. 612 00:34:06,920 --> 00:34:09,279 Speaker 3: So that is one thing that we're definitely gonna have 613 00:34:09,360 --> 00:34:12,319 Speaker 3: to improve and work on, but I have no doubt 614 00:34:12,400 --> 00:34:13,560 Speaker 3: we'll get there pretty fast. 615 00:34:13,719 --> 00:34:19,160 Speaker 1: Okay, all right, final question, what are your goals for 616 00:34:19,280 --> 00:34:22,560 Speaker 1: us this season? I may not have dance experience, but 617 00:34:22,680 --> 00:34:25,800 Speaker 1: you know I'm in it with the goal of trying 618 00:34:25,840 --> 00:34:28,520 Speaker 1: to win it. Yes, So what are your goals for 619 00:34:28,640 --> 00:34:29,760 Speaker 1: us this season? 620 00:34:29,880 --> 00:34:33,440 Speaker 3: I want to create as many memorial dances as possible 621 00:34:33,880 --> 00:34:38,759 Speaker 3: because I think, and when I say as many, the 622 00:34:38,840 --> 00:34:42,200 Speaker 3: more weeks obviously including the finality, the more dances. So 623 00:34:42,400 --> 00:34:46,280 Speaker 3: as many many memorial dances as possible, and I hope 624 00:34:46,760 --> 00:34:51,120 Speaker 3: that we get to do a freestyle. Yeah. So fun. 625 00:34:51,280 --> 00:34:53,719 Speaker 1: Pasha, thank you so much for being here for being 626 00:34:53,719 --> 00:34:56,680 Speaker 1: my first guest. I'm so excited that this news is 627 00:34:56,680 --> 00:34:58,480 Speaker 1: out now and we can share it with everybody because 628 00:34:58,520 --> 00:35:00,840 Speaker 1: I know it was really art secret. 629 00:35:01,080 --> 00:35:04,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, it was not fun, hiding, not fun at all. 630 00:35:04,200 --> 00:35:06,520 Speaker 1: Well, now the world knows, so thank you for being 631 00:35:06,520 --> 00:35:08,120 Speaker 1: here with us, and I'll see you at the party 632 00:35:08,120 --> 00:35:08,600 Speaker 1: in a little bit. 633 00:35:08,800 --> 00:35:10,120 Speaker 3: Yes, bye bye. 634 00:35:12,880 --> 00:35:16,280 Speaker 1: Danielle with the Stars Produced and hosted by Danielle Fischell. 635 00:35:16,440 --> 00:35:19,719 Speaker 1: Executive producers Jensen Carp and Amy Sugarman, Executive in charge 636 00:35:19,760 --> 00:35:23,920 Speaker 1: of production, Danielle Romo, Producer, editor and engineer Tara Sudbosch. 637 00:35:24,200 --> 00:35:27,239 Speaker 1: Theme song by Justin Siegel. Follow us on Instagram at 638 00:35:27,320 --> 00:35:30,200 Speaker 1: Danielle with Stars and vote for me