1 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:20,880 Speaker 1: Hello, everybody. I am Daniel Fischel, TV director, podcaster, mom 2 00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:24,439 Speaker 1: of two, and a multi time answer on Jeopardy under 3 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:27,880 Speaker 1: the name of my nineteen nineties family sitcom character to 4 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:32,120 Speaker 1: Panga Lawrence. But if you've been like millions of Americans 5 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:34,400 Speaker 1: over the past few months, then you might recognize me 6 00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:37,040 Speaker 1: as a competitor on season thirty four of Dancing with 7 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:40,400 Speaker 1: the Stars, the reality competition show. I was just recently 8 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:43,559 Speaker 1: eliminated from making it all the way to the Elite 9 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:46,360 Speaker 1: eight and along the way. Even now that I've been 10 00:00:46,479 --> 00:00:51,120 Speaker 1: ceremoniously removed, I am recording this podcast, creating a journal 11 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 1: of sorts detailing my life changing journey from zero dance 12 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 1: experience to some dance experience. Even if I didn't find 13 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:02,880 Speaker 1: myself hoisting the Len Goodman mirror Ball trophy above my 14 00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:06,759 Speaker 1: head and victory, I do still have this here microphone. 15 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:10,680 Speaker 1: I've been talking with pros, former contestants, fellow season thirty 16 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:14,680 Speaker 1: four cast members, and wildly talented behind the scenes geniuses 17 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 1: in order to further understand the worldwide phenomenon that is 18 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:21,679 Speaker 1: Dancing with the Stars, and this week I am chatting 19 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:25,000 Speaker 1: with one of the most crucial components of that machine. 20 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:27,920 Speaker 1: During my time on the show, so many aspects of 21 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:32,679 Speaker 1: how It's run is both fascinating and basically unbelievable. And 22 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 1: as a part of the Celebrated Costumes division, she helps 23 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:39,319 Speaker 1: run a team that makes everyone dancing look like a 24 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:43,240 Speaker 1: million bucks, even when their footwork taps out around a 25 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:43,880 Speaker 1: few thousand. 26 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:44,959 Speaker 2: And keep in. 27 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:48,040 Speaker 1: Mind she is in charge of creating new costumes week 28 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:52,280 Speaker 1: after week for at one point over a dozen different couples, 29 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:56,600 Speaker 1: sometimes in theme, sometimes shinier than a Christmas tree, sometimes 30 00:01:56,720 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 1: numerous looks per show, all in less than The pressure 31 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:04,960 Speaker 1: is immense, and yet every episode is filled with not 32 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:09,360 Speaker 1: only beautiful outfits, but choice is made with care and elegance. 33 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:11,920 Speaker 1: If you have only a few hours and need a 34 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:15,919 Speaker 1: donkey costume that is both TV ready and danceable, well, 35 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:19,600 Speaker 1: thankfully for allan, there's only one team on TV who 36 00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 1: can pull something like that off. You can't step in 37 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:24,920 Speaker 1: the ballroom without looking the part, which is why this 38 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:28,000 Speaker 1: week I am absolutely honored to be speaking with a 39 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:32,120 Speaker 1: true backstage legend of the show, someone who has proven 40 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 1: to accomplish the impossible week after week, year after year. 41 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:40,800 Speaker 1: It's Emmy nominated costumer Daniella Schwentner. 42 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 2: Daniella hold out, Hi, Hi, Hi technology working. 43 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:51,000 Speaker 1: No, you the fabulous, you were here, You're ready, you 44 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 1: know exactly how to work the camera. You look gorgeous 45 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:54,240 Speaker 1: as per usual. 46 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:56,720 Speaker 2: I don't know about that. It's been a rough day 47 00:02:56,760 --> 00:02:59,800 Speaker 2: to day, has it? You know this room? Bells? 48 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:00,359 Speaker 1: I do? 49 00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:01,240 Speaker 2: I know that room. 50 00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:06,960 Speaker 1: I've stood there in many a hamstring brace yes in Yeah, 51 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:10,120 Speaker 1: thank you so much for coming on the podcast. I 52 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:14,160 Speaker 1: know just how grueling your schedule is as you approach 53 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:18,080 Speaker 1: the semifinals, but I would like the audience to understand 54 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:22,520 Speaker 1: this a little bit. How many costumes are you making 55 00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:25,880 Speaker 1: for just this week with the twentieth anniversary of the 56 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:28,239 Speaker 1: show taking place Tuesday night. 57 00:03:28,919 --> 00:03:31,919 Speaker 2: Well, you know, this is a mix now of things 58 00:03:31,919 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 2: that we restructure, things that we shop, things that we make. 59 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:40,880 Speaker 2: So custom make is probably I don't I really don't know. 60 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:44,800 Speaker 2: It's it's double dances. So with seven couples, I think 61 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 2: we are right now, so fourteen custom make from scratch, 62 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 2: But then a lot of things that just need to 63 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 2: be restructured, you know, and that's sometimes just as much 64 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 2: work as making it from you know, scratch, because our 65 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:00,320 Speaker 2: stuff has rhinestones. Every alteration they have to peel of 66 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:04,360 Speaker 2: rhinestones off, you know, scripts have to be changed. So 67 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:07,080 Speaker 2: it's it's still a pretty big big. 68 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 1: It's a big undertaking even if you buy something. 69 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, in the end, I think now we're looking at 70 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:16,240 Speaker 2: over two hundred costumes, you know, easily for just one week, 71 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:20,720 Speaker 2: you know, oh my gosh. Yeah, because we just had 72 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:24,200 Speaker 2: a show which unfortunately you left us. I know, I 73 00:04:24,279 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 2: left you, guys. I was so sad, I know, and 74 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 2: then the Christmas Special and now the twentieth where we 75 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:33,080 Speaker 2: have so many returning people. So it's it's definitely been 76 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:33,520 Speaker 2: a week. 77 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:36,600 Speaker 1: But yeah, we roll with it, and you and you 78 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 1: somehow find found time to say, how about this Sunday 79 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:43,159 Speaker 1: at three pm? I can fit in a podcast. Maybe 80 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:45,040 Speaker 1: you have a you maybe you enjoy the pain. 81 00:04:45,839 --> 00:04:48,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, I guess. So, yeah, this worked out kind of. Okay, 82 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:51,080 Speaker 2: we have a dress rehearsal in an hour, so I think, okay, 83 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:52,800 Speaker 2: half hour, I can sneak away. 84 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:56,440 Speaker 1: Perfect have my radio on so in case some emergency 85 00:04:56,440 --> 00:04:59,560 Speaker 1: emergency happens. But okay, I want to start at the 86 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:02,600 Speaker 1: very beginning. Were you a kid who was making dresses 87 00:05:02,640 --> 00:05:05,320 Speaker 1: for your dolls? When did you start to have an 88 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:06,320 Speaker 1: eye for fashion. 89 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:09,520 Speaker 2: I was more the kid who told her grandmother but 90 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:15,200 Speaker 2: all a little bit. I didn't necessarily all make them myself. 91 00:05:15,240 --> 00:05:17,960 Speaker 2: But my grandma was a seamstress, and so I did 92 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:21,240 Speaker 2: grow up with sewing and all. But I always was 93 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:24,159 Speaker 2: a little bit like my ideas were a little bigger 94 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:27,320 Speaker 2: than what I could sew myself. So I very early 95 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 2: on had people help me with that process because I'm 96 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:33,200 Speaker 2: more the idea person. I draw it, you know, as 97 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:36,520 Speaker 2: you know, I find the fabriak, I figure out with 98 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:39,040 Speaker 2: you guys the rope map of what we're doing, and 99 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:42,000 Speaker 2: then I have we have a fantastic team here, you 100 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:45,120 Speaker 2: know if fought who cuts everything and puts it together 101 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:47,640 Speaker 2: for me in the workroom, and then the ladies who 102 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:50,760 Speaker 2: you know helped put it together and rhinestone and so 103 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:53,560 Speaker 2: it's a big it's a big group of people who 104 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:55,960 Speaker 2: help with this here. 105 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:58,600 Speaker 1: You know, Yes, and your relationship and friendship with a 106 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:03,400 Speaker 1: thought is one of my most favorite memories and experiences 107 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:05,440 Speaker 1: of my time on Dancing with the Stars. The way 108 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 1: you two work together with so much respect and admiration 109 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:12,840 Speaker 1: for one another and the exchange of ideas. I just 110 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:18,400 Speaker 1: love both you ladies so much. Okay, So I love 111 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:23,920 Speaker 1: that you are basically the big idea person and you 112 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:26,760 Speaker 1: don't so much consider yourself to be the technician, the 113 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:29,640 Speaker 1: actual person able to make your dream come true. Although 114 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:31,160 Speaker 1: you do know how to sew, but that's not what 115 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:33,560 Speaker 1: you don't spend your time doing that so much anymore. 116 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:37,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think, you know, I think my career always 117 00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:41,080 Speaker 2: took me into the design area, and then there were 118 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:43,440 Speaker 2: people who were just you know, you have to do 119 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 2: something over and over to be really good at it, 120 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:48,400 Speaker 2: you know. I mean, yes, there's a lot of people 121 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:50,919 Speaker 2: who can do things, but to be really good, you 122 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:53,039 Speaker 2: have to do it a lot. And I have a 123 00:06:53,080 --> 00:06:57,400 Speaker 2: team that is really good. So and there's also on 124 00:06:57,440 --> 00:07:00,160 Speaker 2: a show like this, no time, you know, between all 125 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:02,520 Speaker 2: the meetings we have to do in the fabric shopping 126 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:05,800 Speaker 2: in the fittings and and you know, the sketches and 127 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:09,440 Speaker 2: talking to everybody about the sketches. You know, there's not 128 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:12,440 Speaker 2: enough hours in the day for one person to do everything, 129 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:16,320 Speaker 2: you know, So we I mean, obviously there's you know, 130 00:07:16,640 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 2: Steven leads the boys, I lead the girls, and and 131 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:23,160 Speaker 2: we you know, then you have to delegate. There's fantastic 132 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:27,440 Speaker 2: shoemakers that help us out. There's a man's tailor, there's women's. 133 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:31,200 Speaker 2: You know, there's so many difficult hands on deck, all hands, 134 00:07:31,280 --> 00:07:33,120 Speaker 2: a lot of hands on every hand is needed. 135 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:36,480 Speaker 1: You know, yes, how did this become a career for you? 136 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:38,080 Speaker 1: Did you go to school for. 137 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 2: I did that? I did know. I always wanted to 138 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:45,720 Speaker 2: be in fashion, and I always was, you know, drawn 139 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:48,840 Speaker 2: to that. I went to school for it. I got 140 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:54,200 Speaker 2: a fashion design and Merchandising degree, which really means not 141 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:56,440 Speaker 2: that much when you get in the real world. But 142 00:07:56,600 --> 00:08:00,920 Speaker 2: I actually started as a stylist, and you know, one 143 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 2: day I decided I wanted to know more than just 144 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:08,960 Speaker 2: purchasing clothes, and you know, I wanted to actually know 145 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:12,800 Speaker 2: how to create them. And I was lucky I ended 146 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:16,080 Speaker 2: up on shows that allowed that to learn that. And 147 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 2: then I landed here with with no dance experience whatsoever. 148 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:21,600 Speaker 2: You know, I was like, I didn't know a possible 149 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:23,480 Speaker 2: from a chart show and I started here. I was like, 150 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:29,200 Speaker 2: what's that? You know, I'm sure you learned the dance 151 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:31,480 Speaker 2: has taught a lot, and I learned a lot, and 152 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:34,160 Speaker 2: you know, so it was an interesting journey to be 153 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:35,320 Speaker 2: here where I am now. 154 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:37,960 Speaker 1: And you actually started on scripted shows. Right, it was 155 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:40,480 Speaker 1: one of your first shows, Charmed, which is a pretty 156 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:41,560 Speaker 1: costume heavy show. 157 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:45,440 Speaker 2: Yes, that was my first show that I designed. Towards 158 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:47,800 Speaker 2: the end, I took it over from another design. Eventually 159 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:50,960 Speaker 2: I supervised and then I designed it. Yeah. It was, 160 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:54,439 Speaker 2: you know, another one where I really got to learn 161 00:08:54,520 --> 00:08:58,400 Speaker 2: how to you know, make a fantasy costume, things that 162 00:08:58,440 --> 00:09:01,000 Speaker 2: aren't just out there, you know, just gone to shop 163 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:05,559 Speaker 2: a banjee or you know whatever crazy demon our producers 164 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:09,520 Speaker 2: back then came up with. So yeah, So that was that. 165 00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:12,880 Speaker 1: And so you joined Dancing with the Stars in two 166 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:18,200 Speaker 1: thousand and nine. How did this opportunity come about to you? 167 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:21,920 Speaker 2: You know? It was actually funny enough. I think it 168 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:25,720 Speaker 2: was partially s Steven because Stephen was an intern on 169 00:09:26,720 --> 00:09:31,120 Speaker 2: Charmed with me. And then I left town for New 170 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:33,040 Speaker 2: Mexico and did a show there for three and a 171 00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:35,800 Speaker 2: half years, and then I came back and I was like, 172 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:39,200 Speaker 2: I need a job, and he was like, well, it's 173 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:41,880 Speaker 2: not a design job. I actually started as a key 174 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:46,040 Speaker 2: on this show, which was not I had been designing 175 00:09:46,080 --> 00:09:48,320 Speaker 2: for I don't know how many years, probably eight years 176 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:50,520 Speaker 2: at that point, but I had lost sort of my 177 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:53,120 Speaker 2: contacts here in town, and everybody was telling me I 178 00:09:53,160 --> 00:09:57,079 Speaker 2: was committing career suicide because you don't go backwards in Hollywood. 179 00:09:57,240 --> 00:10:01,360 Speaker 2: And I was like, well, but I learned something, and 180 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:03,880 Speaker 2: you know, learning something is always better than sitting at 181 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:07,080 Speaker 2: home waiting for a phone call. Yes, so I ended 182 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:10,920 Speaker 2: up joining this team, and I don't know, it happened 183 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:13,560 Speaker 2: that they needed a designer for the Chooster Show and 184 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:16,640 Speaker 2: you're of us, and they're like, you're a designer, design it, 185 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:21,600 Speaker 2: and then eventually I became, you know, it became part 186 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:24,240 Speaker 2: of the girls designing the whole thing. 187 00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:28,040 Speaker 1: I love that. I love that, you know, because sometimes 188 00:10:28,120 --> 00:10:31,560 Speaker 1: it is you'll get advice from people and you think, oh, 189 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:34,520 Speaker 1: am I doing the wrong thing, but your instincts told 190 00:10:34,559 --> 00:10:37,440 Speaker 1: you no, and also your desire to work and to 191 00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:40,960 Speaker 1: learn something, and you thought, okay, worst case scenario, I 192 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:43,160 Speaker 1: go and work on a show and it's it's not 193 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:46,000 Speaker 1: up to my standard of what I have been doing 194 00:10:46,040 --> 00:10:47,480 Speaker 1: for the last eight years, but I'm going to learn 195 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:50,160 Speaker 1: something new. I'm going to enjoy it, and then look 196 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:52,600 Speaker 1: what happens. Like that's such a good lesson for people 197 00:10:52,679 --> 00:10:55,200 Speaker 1: to trust your instincts sometimes, you know, I think. 198 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:57,800 Speaker 2: So because I really look back on that decision, and 199 00:10:58,280 --> 00:11:01,480 Speaker 2: it was I really never think that way, you know, 200 00:11:01,559 --> 00:11:03,960 Speaker 2: But listening to others, you're like, is this really bad 201 00:11:04,040 --> 00:11:07,080 Speaker 2: if I do this? You know, people think I go 202 00:11:07,280 --> 00:11:10,360 Speaker 2: really backwards, But for me, it was like I'm always 203 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:13,000 Speaker 2: intrigued when I learned something new, and this was not 204 00:11:13,120 --> 00:11:15,400 Speaker 2: a jeans and T shirt show, you know, I was like, 205 00:11:15,559 --> 00:11:19,200 Speaker 2: obviously something, if nothing else, just how to rhinestone, which 206 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:23,959 Speaker 2: I did back then, I'm of rhinestoning, and yeah, I 207 00:11:24,400 --> 00:11:26,640 Speaker 2: think that's the thing, you know, And now looking back, 208 00:11:26,679 --> 00:11:29,200 Speaker 2: I mean eighteen years on the show, I'm like, my 209 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:31,640 Speaker 2: life would have gone a totally different direction if I 210 00:11:31,679 --> 00:11:32,559 Speaker 2: hadn't taken the. 211 00:11:32,520 --> 00:11:35,480 Speaker 1: Show right exactly, life changing moment for you right there, 212 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:38,720 Speaker 1: real fork in the road. Okay, I wanted to speaking 213 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:41,680 Speaker 1: of the rhinestoning, I have seen some of the rhinestoning 214 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:47,319 Speaker 1: taking place outside. I think, is it really every individual 215 00:11:47,679 --> 00:11:50,560 Speaker 1: hand place and glued rhinestone? 216 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:56,120 Speaker 2: Yes, every single one is placed and yeah by hand. 217 00:11:56,400 --> 00:12:01,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, that is must be the most time consuming work. 218 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:04,600 Speaker 2: Well, we have gotten pretty good at it. You know, 219 00:12:04,679 --> 00:12:08,439 Speaker 2: we have a system down. We use glues ve enges 220 00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:12,280 Speaker 2: in our girls. So again, as something you do a lot, 221 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:14,840 Speaker 2: you get very good and fast ed, you know so. 222 00:12:15,600 --> 00:12:18,520 Speaker 2: But yeah, obviously that's a big element of the show, 223 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:22,520 Speaker 2: which is why we have to push the girls through early. 224 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:24,920 Speaker 2: As you know, when you come for your first fitting, 225 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:28,480 Speaker 2: things don't look all that great yet they're just about 226 00:12:28,520 --> 00:12:31,200 Speaker 2: to get a shell on you. To get a you know, 227 00:12:31,280 --> 00:12:34,000 Speaker 2: make sure we have a guideline because we need at 228 00:12:34,040 --> 00:12:36,080 Speaker 2: the back end so much time to write stone it 229 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:38,680 Speaker 2: so it does look beautiful, you know. That is what 230 00:12:38,800 --> 00:12:42,080 Speaker 2: takes our costumes then out of like the ordinary into 231 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:44,200 Speaker 2: the spectacular. You know, it's the stones. 232 00:12:44,640 --> 00:12:47,000 Speaker 1: So speaking of that that first fitting, let's go through 233 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:49,080 Speaker 1: a typical week for you, and I know the week's change, 234 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:50,960 Speaker 1: especially as you get later into the season and now 235 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:53,120 Speaker 1: there become you know, group dances and two dances and 236 00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:55,400 Speaker 1: three dances. Let's start kind of at the beginning of 237 00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:59,120 Speaker 1: a season. What does a week look like for you? 238 00:12:59,160 --> 00:13:01,720 Speaker 1: At the very beginning? How does how does the week start? 239 00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:03,160 Speaker 1: You get the idea for the theme? 240 00:13:04,080 --> 00:13:07,360 Speaker 2: Well, you know, we we obviously we are in team 241 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:10,960 Speaker 2: with the producers. I mean, there is a creative normally 242 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:15,000 Speaker 2: given to us that kind of explains what the story 243 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:19,200 Speaker 2: should be, what lighting we're doing, what maybe what story 244 00:13:19,280 --> 00:13:21,640 Speaker 2: we want to convey, you know, in the first in 245 00:13:21,679 --> 00:13:24,560 Speaker 2: the beginning, you know, normally we want to introduce our talent, 246 00:13:24,679 --> 00:13:27,320 Speaker 2: you know, the new celebrities that come on. If they 247 00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:30,320 Speaker 2: I mean, if they're a sports person, we want to 248 00:13:30,400 --> 00:13:33,160 Speaker 2: not given not to the sport therein for example, or 249 00:13:33,480 --> 00:13:36,600 Speaker 2: you know for everybody, or you had, like eventually on 250 00:13:36,640 --> 00:13:39,000 Speaker 2: the show a number where it was a not to 251 00:13:39,679 --> 00:13:43,400 Speaker 2: your show, and so you know, so every week has 252 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:46,000 Speaker 2: those elements, and then you do the research or you 253 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:50,320 Speaker 2: talk to you know, you and your partner, and there's 254 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:54,280 Speaker 2: there's so much dialogue involved until we get to a 255 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:57,640 Speaker 2: costume because we you know, there's the music, there's a 256 00:13:57,679 --> 00:14:00,400 Speaker 2: story we want to tell, there's what producers want it 257 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:03,440 Speaker 2: to look like. Then we need to think for the women, 258 00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:06,240 Speaker 2: what skirts right for you? What can you do and 259 00:14:06,280 --> 00:14:09,679 Speaker 2: not do in that? What is your choreography? Then it's 260 00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:12,040 Speaker 2: normally for me, a sketch you know that I show 261 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:14,720 Speaker 2: you and we look at a fabric that I think 262 00:14:14,840 --> 00:14:17,280 Speaker 2: is right for what we talked about, and then it 263 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:20,240 Speaker 2: goes through the motions, it gets cut, it gets put together, 264 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 2: it gets fit for the first time. Then after the 265 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:25,840 Speaker 2: first time, it goes back it gets you know, fine 266 00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:29,880 Speaker 2: tuned to the point where we start winstoning it and 267 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:32,360 Speaker 2: then we fit it again then and dances. 268 00:14:32,880 --> 00:14:35,560 Speaker 1: And you are always working on more than one week 269 00:14:35,600 --> 00:14:39,560 Speaker 1: at a time, because that first sketch and meeting happens 270 00:14:39,640 --> 00:14:43,560 Speaker 1: at least one full week before the week you're talking about. 271 00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:47,640 Speaker 1: But plus, when you're in production, you're actually doing the 272 00:14:47,680 --> 00:14:51,800 Speaker 1: fittings for the current outfit that you're wearing. So there's 273 00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:56,040 Speaker 1: never a time where you're not thinking about multiple costumes 274 00:14:56,880 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 1: for every single celebrity. 275 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:04,040 Speaker 2: Yes, for every girl dance and every female celebrity. That 276 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:06,560 Speaker 2: that's true, and Dad was Dad. We're kind of used to. 277 00:15:06,600 --> 00:15:10,040 Speaker 2: What was the challenge this time was we had this 278 00:15:10,240 --> 00:15:13,000 Speaker 2: Christmas special also, so it was times when we had 279 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:16,720 Speaker 2: three shows in our heads, and you know that it 280 00:15:16,760 --> 00:15:19,200 Speaker 2: gets a little confusing at times. You're like, but show, 281 00:15:19,520 --> 00:15:21,840 Speaker 2: what are you talking about? What show are you talking 282 00:15:21,880 --> 00:15:23,720 Speaker 2: about right now? Oh wow? 283 00:15:23,760 --> 00:15:26,840 Speaker 1: And you of course obviously know all the materials that 284 00:15:26,920 --> 00:15:32,440 Speaker 1: make those costumes also danceable, because we're also limited by 285 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:34,560 Speaker 1: the fact that we have to be able to move. 286 00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:37,840 Speaker 1: And so you know, thankfully you've been doing this long 287 00:15:37,920 --> 00:15:41,040 Speaker 1: enough that everything's made in a way that even though 288 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:44,120 Speaker 1: you are very sucked in. You can still dance in it, 289 00:15:44,200 --> 00:15:46,440 Speaker 1: you can still breathe in it. There's usually room for 290 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:49,440 Speaker 1: a mic pack, which is everyone's favorite conversation, where's the 291 00:15:49,480 --> 00:15:53,480 Speaker 1: mic pack going? Fun little tidbit for our listeners. Most 292 00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:57,920 Speaker 1: of the time, the pack itself is in your near 293 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:01,640 Speaker 1: your butt, very very very close to your your butt, 294 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:04,600 Speaker 1: and then occasionally, for whatever reason, it can't be near 295 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 1: your butt, it is in your breast, like in your 296 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:12,600 Speaker 1: bra area, which is not everyone's favorite spot. Although I 297 00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:16,080 Speaker 1: actually preferred it to the one in my butt. I 298 00:16:16,600 --> 00:16:18,400 Speaker 1: did not like the butt. 299 00:16:18,200 --> 00:16:26,520 Speaker 2: Back like you like, what's the least offensive place exactly. 300 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:29,960 Speaker 1: So Also, I know this is not a very sexy topic, 301 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:33,480 Speaker 1: but networks don't love spending tons of money, even on 302 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:35,960 Speaker 1: a massive hit show like Dancing with the Stars, So 303 00:16:36,080 --> 00:16:40,320 Speaker 1: you still have to make all of this costuming for 304 00:16:40,440 --> 00:16:44,480 Speaker 1: all of these people happen within a budget, right, Yes, 305 00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:45,600 Speaker 1: But I. 306 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:49,440 Speaker 2: Have to say that's been really good on the show 307 00:16:49,520 --> 00:16:53,160 Speaker 2: for okay, because I think everybody understands that besides the 308 00:16:53,280 --> 00:16:56,680 Speaker 2: dance and the dancer, the only other thing you really 309 00:16:56,800 --> 00:17:00,120 Speaker 2: see full on all the time is the costume. And 310 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:03,680 Speaker 2: also it really does help the dance, so much, you know, 311 00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:08,240 Speaker 2: and when you have a beautiful flowing walt skirt versus 312 00:17:08,320 --> 00:17:11,639 Speaker 2: you know, I mean, we really do spend on the 313 00:17:11,680 --> 00:17:14,600 Speaker 2: good fabric there and the stes and rather than you know, 314 00:17:15,600 --> 00:17:18,359 Speaker 2: our producers are very good that way. They understand that 315 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:21,520 Speaker 2: we really do need to make it look beautiful, you know, 316 00:17:21,640 --> 00:17:24,959 Speaker 2: because a big part of the beauty is how it 317 00:17:25,040 --> 00:17:27,800 Speaker 2: moves and how it fits and how it looks on 318 00:17:27,840 --> 00:17:31,600 Speaker 2: you guys. You know that's great good. I'm so glad. 319 00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:34,560 Speaker 1: I'm so glad they're not waving a check book over 320 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:36,480 Speaker 1: your head, going you can't do this. I will say 321 00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:38,720 Speaker 1: I never felt that way in any of in any 322 00:17:38,720 --> 00:17:41,280 Speaker 1: of the fittings. I never felt like there was something 323 00:17:41,320 --> 00:17:44,240 Speaker 1: we wanted or asked for and the response was anything 324 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:46,760 Speaker 1: other than yes, we can do that. Speaking of which 325 00:17:47,119 --> 00:17:50,040 Speaker 1: I had to give you credit on my on my podcast. 326 00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:51,800 Speaker 1: I know you heard it a while back. There was 327 00:17:52,800 --> 00:17:57,959 Speaker 1: when we did for the Cha Cha I we originally 328 00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:01,280 Speaker 1: Daniella wanted to have straps on the dress and she 329 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:05,000 Speaker 1: wanted it to feel feel different than my promo hot 330 00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:07,720 Speaker 1: pink dress that I had worn. And I loved my 331 00:18:07,880 --> 00:18:10,919 Speaker 1: promo dress so much, and it was a halter and 332 00:18:10,960 --> 00:18:13,840 Speaker 1: so I reached out to Danielle and I was like, 333 00:18:13,920 --> 00:18:15,840 Speaker 1: can we do a halter? I just felt like that 334 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:18,760 Speaker 1: was so comfortable and I loved the way it looked, 335 00:18:18,840 --> 00:18:22,800 Speaker 1: and she was like, yes, we can do that, and 336 00:18:22,840 --> 00:18:25,240 Speaker 1: she told me her reasons why she wanted to do 337 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:26,520 Speaker 1: the straps, and I was like, I think I still 338 00:18:26,520 --> 00:18:29,040 Speaker 1: want to do a halter. She said okay, And then 339 00:18:29,240 --> 00:18:32,040 Speaker 1: the night of the show, I put that dress on 340 00:18:32,440 --> 00:18:37,800 Speaker 1: and it weighed so many rhinestone pounds and it just 341 00:18:38,080 --> 00:18:40,439 Speaker 1: was completely hanging on me and we all watched it 342 00:18:40,520 --> 00:18:44,000 Speaker 1: during dress rehearsal and I immediately took it off and 343 00:18:44,040 --> 00:18:48,200 Speaker 1: said I was wrong. I was wrong, Danielle, I apologize. 344 00:18:48,240 --> 00:18:50,760 Speaker 1: I need to have straps put on this. And within 345 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:53,560 Speaker 1: an hour I had a dress that had the straps 346 00:18:53,600 --> 00:18:56,600 Speaker 1: that Daniella originally wanted on the dress, and it fit 347 00:18:56,720 --> 00:19:01,480 Speaker 1: and worked so much better. So never never doubt you. 348 00:19:01,480 --> 00:19:04,280 Speaker 1: You You've been doing this a very long time. You 349 00:19:04,359 --> 00:19:07,080 Speaker 1: know what you're doing. Uh, And I just I wanted 350 00:19:07,119 --> 00:19:09,520 Speaker 1: to apologize again for thinking I knew better. 351 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:13,240 Speaker 2: Oh please, though you didn't calculate in that that dress 352 00:19:13,720 --> 00:19:17,119 Speaker 2: weigh seven thousand more pounds than the Troma dressed because 353 00:19:17,160 --> 00:19:20,560 Speaker 2: I was all beaded fringe, and those are our heaviest dresses. 354 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:23,280 Speaker 2: And especially when you move, you know, and you start 355 00:19:23,359 --> 00:19:27,399 Speaker 2: moving with beaded fringe, it just pulls poles and poles 356 00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:30,520 Speaker 2: and poles. Yes, that is true. That was an easy fix. 357 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:33,679 Speaker 2: And you know the I mean, we do try to 358 00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:37,639 Speaker 2: make everybody. You know, if somebody really loves something, I 359 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:40,640 Speaker 2: will always give it a try until you can see 360 00:19:40,640 --> 00:19:42,399 Speaker 2: maybe that it doesn't work. Then we fix it, and 361 00:19:42,480 --> 00:19:43,199 Speaker 2: then you fix it. 362 00:19:43,240 --> 00:19:46,320 Speaker 1: Then you go, okay, I already had those straps made up, Danielle, 363 00:19:46,760 --> 00:20:02,199 Speaker 1: I was ready to go. Do you look forward to 364 00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:04,760 Speaker 1: the theme weeks every week? Does the having a theme 365 00:20:05,040 --> 00:20:08,560 Speaker 1: help you with creativity or does it sometimes feel a 366 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:09,320 Speaker 1: bit like a burden? 367 00:20:09,920 --> 00:20:13,119 Speaker 2: Yes? And no exactly. I mean, I think theme weeks 368 00:20:13,119 --> 00:20:16,159 Speaker 2: are good sometimes because they give us all a roadmap. 369 00:20:16,200 --> 00:20:18,360 Speaker 2: There's not so much like, oh, we could do this 370 00:20:18,480 --> 00:20:20,720 Speaker 2: or that or the other. You know, it's where you 371 00:20:20,800 --> 00:20:25,000 Speaker 2: when you when you design for an individual dancer, because 372 00:20:25,040 --> 00:20:27,520 Speaker 2: there's so many options you could go with, you know, 373 00:20:27,800 --> 00:20:33,439 Speaker 2: so the the theme weeks definitely limit that down. But 374 00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:38,320 Speaker 2: I personally I am not a fan of copying anything, 375 00:20:38,520 --> 00:20:42,600 Speaker 2: you know, so that's why sometimes I don't love that 376 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:45,800 Speaker 2: when I have to copy with another designer, design doesn't 377 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:49,119 Speaker 2: feel like as fun to me, you know, And especially 378 00:20:49,160 --> 00:20:52,199 Speaker 2: when it's like like Disney, where it's really supposed to 379 00:20:52,240 --> 00:20:55,560 Speaker 2: be correct, you know, like look like that character, so 380 00:20:55,640 --> 00:20:59,680 Speaker 2: you're copying pretty exact. That is that has its other 381 00:20:59,800 --> 00:21:01,960 Speaker 2: child challenges. You know. It's kind of like you look 382 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:04,879 Speaker 2: at a color for ten times a day and you're like, 383 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:06,879 Speaker 2: is it really to write blue? Is really to write blue? 384 00:21:07,080 --> 00:21:09,439 Speaker 2: Is it a little shade? Darker, lighter than you know? 385 00:21:09,960 --> 00:21:15,199 Speaker 2: So that has that challenge. But I mean both, you know, 386 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:18,800 Speaker 2: the show has both and both we you just roll 387 00:21:19,960 --> 00:21:21,439 Speaker 2: roll with that, with all of it. 388 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:24,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, I want to talk to you a little bit 389 00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:27,600 Speaker 1: about Prince Week because I was very excited that if 390 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:30,280 Speaker 1: I made it to Prince Week, we were doing bat 391 00:21:30,400 --> 00:21:33,199 Speaker 1: Dance we were going to do and I was so 392 00:21:33,359 --> 00:21:36,720 Speaker 1: excited about it because in the video for bat Dance, 393 00:21:37,160 --> 00:21:41,439 Speaker 1: Prince is wearing a purple joker suit, and I just 394 00:21:41,520 --> 00:21:44,000 Speaker 1: knew I was going to be able to hand over 395 00:21:44,119 --> 00:21:47,679 Speaker 1: that inspiration to you and that you were going to 396 00:21:47,720 --> 00:21:52,920 Speaker 1: come up with something incredible for that week. So what 397 00:21:53,040 --> 00:21:56,840 Speaker 1: are you what aspects of Prince Week in particular, are 398 00:21:56,880 --> 00:21:59,439 Speaker 1: you looking forward to what inspiration are you taking? 399 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:03,199 Speaker 2: Well, you know, it was he also had such a 400 00:22:03,280 --> 00:22:07,040 Speaker 2: strong looked as like looks of we just really associate 401 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:10,520 Speaker 2: with with him, so we're trying to, of course take 402 00:22:10,560 --> 00:22:13,119 Speaker 2: an essence from all of that. So it's fun because 403 00:22:13,160 --> 00:22:22,000 Speaker 2: it's it's taking a very creative personality and persons and 404 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:25,400 Speaker 2: in trying to you know, put a spin on it 405 00:22:25,440 --> 00:22:28,520 Speaker 2: for dance room stars, which is always just an aspect 406 00:22:28,560 --> 00:22:31,119 Speaker 2: of that. So you take an element, you know. So 407 00:22:31,320 --> 00:22:34,159 Speaker 2: that's fun because there's so many elements. You know, sometimes 408 00:22:34,320 --> 00:22:36,840 Speaker 2: when we have a theme week or an artist that's 409 00:22:36,880 --> 00:22:39,119 Speaker 2: a little bit more limited. But I think we have 410 00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:42,480 Speaker 2: no limitations there really because there were so many different 411 00:22:42,760 --> 00:22:46,720 Speaker 2: cool looks that totally can use as inspiration and build 412 00:22:47,280 --> 00:22:50,240 Speaker 2: you know, build off of. So I think that's the 413 00:22:50,680 --> 00:22:54,119 Speaker 2: best part about it is that we don't land in 414 00:22:54,359 --> 00:22:56,320 Speaker 2: just one color theme or you know how we do 415 00:22:56,400 --> 00:22:58,960 Speaker 2: sometimes with certain theme weeks, like with Wicked we ended 416 00:22:59,040 --> 00:23:01,880 Speaker 2: up in all green pretty much, right, I don't think, 417 00:23:02,359 --> 00:23:05,439 Speaker 2: So this is a lot more you know, there's a 418 00:23:05,440 --> 00:23:09,320 Speaker 2: lot more versatility in the looks that we can emulate 419 00:23:09,359 --> 00:23:11,639 Speaker 2: there or take as a base for inspiration. 420 00:23:12,440 --> 00:23:15,520 Speaker 1: Now every year there are different theme weeks added, and 421 00:23:15,560 --> 00:23:17,720 Speaker 1: they change and everything, but one thing that pretty much 422 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:20,960 Speaker 1: remains constant is Halloween Week. What is your feeling on 423 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:22,840 Speaker 1: Halloween Week? Do you love it? Do you feel like 424 00:23:22,880 --> 00:23:24,440 Speaker 1: you have a lot of creativity that week? 425 00:23:26,320 --> 00:23:28,600 Speaker 2: Yeah? I do. I mean again a little bit after 426 00:23:28,680 --> 00:23:31,879 Speaker 2: eighteen years, you've done a lot for looks, you know, 427 00:23:32,080 --> 00:23:35,000 Speaker 2: which is on one hand grade because we can build 428 00:23:35,040 --> 00:23:37,639 Speaker 2: off those again. You know, like that's something that I 429 00:23:37,680 --> 00:23:41,120 Speaker 2: feel like I'm learning to do now, is how can 430 00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:44,200 Speaker 2: it take something I've done already and modified into something 431 00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:48,359 Speaker 2: that it's new and which helps a lot because then 432 00:23:48,440 --> 00:23:50,919 Speaker 2: you don't have to you know, you don't have to 433 00:23:50,960 --> 00:23:53,640 Speaker 2: start so much from scratch, but you can use your 434 00:23:53,680 --> 00:23:57,680 Speaker 2: time to elaborate on something like you know, our when 435 00:23:57,680 --> 00:24:01,199 Speaker 2: we started our skeletons a little more basic. Now they 436 00:24:01,200 --> 00:24:04,920 Speaker 2: are real bondes and different. You again, the learning process. 437 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:08,600 Speaker 2: You know, I love Halloween because it's you know, it's 438 00:24:08,680 --> 00:24:13,880 Speaker 2: it's fun and the looks are like a little bit 439 00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:16,840 Speaker 2: easy for us. Again when you have like something given 440 00:24:16,880 --> 00:24:18,960 Speaker 2: me know what a skeleton looks like? We know what 441 00:24:19,359 --> 00:24:23,960 Speaker 2: you know what those characters normally need to be whereas 442 00:24:24,040 --> 00:24:27,200 Speaker 2: you know, sometimes the hardest is something where you're completely 443 00:24:27,720 --> 00:24:30,600 Speaker 2: on your own with a look. Okay, I just want 444 00:24:30,600 --> 00:24:33,919 Speaker 2: a sexy Argentine tango, but that can be a million things, 445 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:36,400 Speaker 2: you know, Like then I need to really think, who 446 00:24:36,440 --> 00:24:38,800 Speaker 2: are you? What is your body? What do you like 447 00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:41,480 Speaker 2: on yourself? What have I learned about you? Or the 448 00:24:41,600 --> 00:24:45,160 Speaker 2: last few weeks of knowing you? You know, so I 449 00:24:45,240 --> 00:24:48,440 Speaker 2: will maybe give you a halta like I did in contempores, 450 00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:51,040 Speaker 2: because I know that dress will work that way, so 451 00:24:51,160 --> 00:24:53,480 Speaker 2: you know, you just but I feel I do more 452 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:56,480 Speaker 2: thinking when it's something original, you know, when it's something 453 00:24:56,600 --> 00:24:59,800 Speaker 2: that somebody doesn't tell me, Oh it has to look 454 00:24:59,880 --> 00:25:04,880 Speaker 2: like like this Disney character or like this Halloween character 455 00:25:05,119 --> 00:25:07,520 Speaker 2: or something. You know. I feel like we're more creative 456 00:25:07,960 --> 00:25:09,760 Speaker 2: when we don't have those guidelines. 457 00:25:10,720 --> 00:25:14,320 Speaker 1: And so then what does happen to these beautiful costumes, 458 00:25:14,359 --> 00:25:17,879 Speaker 1: these one of a kind costumes when the season is over? 459 00:25:18,400 --> 00:25:22,760 Speaker 1: Where do they go? Where do ballroom costumes go to rest? 460 00:25:23,119 --> 00:25:26,359 Speaker 2: They go into a storage area which is rather large, 461 00:25:26,440 --> 00:25:29,600 Speaker 2: and we keep most of it, I mean, because as 462 00:25:29,640 --> 00:25:32,640 Speaker 2: I said, you know, it's it's as we learn how 463 00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:36,320 Speaker 2: to build on things that exist, you know, with all 464 00:25:36,359 --> 00:25:40,680 Speaker 2: these teen dances group dances, we can bring things back 465 00:25:40,760 --> 00:25:43,520 Speaker 2: and modify them and you know, give them a new 466 00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:46,520 Speaker 2: life rather than it would be a shame. These costumes 467 00:25:46,520 --> 00:25:50,240 Speaker 2: are so time consuming, so expensive to make, it would 468 00:25:50,280 --> 00:25:52,480 Speaker 2: be horrible to just get rid of them. So of 469 00:25:52,520 --> 00:25:55,919 Speaker 2: course we all have you know, another life. We have 470 00:25:56,000 --> 00:25:58,639 Speaker 2: a dance and the stars tour, they go on that, 471 00:25:59,040 --> 00:26:03,240 Speaker 2: and then obviously we use things because it's the only 472 00:26:03,280 --> 00:26:06,159 Speaker 2: way to make the show happen, is you know, at 473 00:26:06,240 --> 00:26:08,639 Speaker 2: least we use a fully stone bodies and put a 474 00:26:08,640 --> 00:26:09,960 Speaker 2: different scord on it. 475 00:26:09,840 --> 00:26:13,640 Speaker 1: Or some of course, have you ever had an idea 476 00:26:13,800 --> 00:26:16,200 Speaker 1: for a theme on the show, maybe something they haven't 477 00:26:16,240 --> 00:26:18,920 Speaker 1: done yet, but as a costumer you would just die 478 00:26:18,960 --> 00:26:19,359 Speaker 1: to work on. 479 00:26:20,960 --> 00:26:25,679 Speaker 2: No, I actually haven't think you Spoto like we should 480 00:26:25,680 --> 00:26:29,399 Speaker 2: do maybe a fashion designer inspired, you know now like 481 00:26:30,200 --> 00:26:33,320 Speaker 2: Chanel and like there's you know, har money and that's 482 00:26:33,359 --> 00:26:36,960 Speaker 2: a great idea, Utia. I mean, obviously there would be. 483 00:26:37,080 --> 00:26:41,240 Speaker 2: It would be very fun to you know, go into 484 00:26:41,280 --> 00:26:45,399 Speaker 2: these different looks of these designers and make those like 485 00:26:45,480 --> 00:26:49,800 Speaker 2: something else since we're already looking allotted fashion for the show, 486 00:26:49,880 --> 00:26:52,760 Speaker 2: you know, because that's the that's the fun part. We 487 00:26:52,840 --> 00:26:55,760 Speaker 2: have kind of married fashion with dance more and more. 488 00:26:55,960 --> 00:26:58,600 Speaker 2: M So it'd be fun to maybe look into the 489 00:26:59,160 --> 00:27:02,400 Speaker 2: you know, into the different fashion houses that maybe take 490 00:27:02,440 --> 00:27:04,720 Speaker 2: inspiration from what their signature looks are. 491 00:27:05,040 --> 00:27:06,320 Speaker 1: Oh, that's such a great idea. 492 00:27:06,400 --> 00:27:06,879 Speaker 2: I love that. 493 00:27:08,080 --> 00:27:10,720 Speaker 1: Is there one costume in particular that you look back 494 00:27:10,760 --> 00:27:14,600 Speaker 1: on and you think, I cannot believe we pulled that off? 495 00:27:16,480 --> 00:27:19,480 Speaker 2: No, there's many and many every week. I feel that sometimes, 496 00:27:19,480 --> 00:27:26,120 Speaker 2: but I honestly not even kidding. No, I think these 497 00:27:26,240 --> 00:27:28,879 Speaker 2: years now are better. There were many years when I 498 00:27:28,960 --> 00:27:31,919 Speaker 2: had to learn about you know, you made mistakes and 499 00:27:31,960 --> 00:27:34,920 Speaker 2: things didn't work and you know that stuff. I feel 500 00:27:35,000 --> 00:27:38,560 Speaker 2: like there were definitely times when fixing something that I 501 00:27:38,760 --> 00:27:41,119 Speaker 2: just had to learn that that doesn't work for dance, 502 00:27:41,240 --> 00:27:43,639 Speaker 2: or that is not as good as I thought in 503 00:27:43,680 --> 00:27:46,600 Speaker 2: my head it would be. I think that were more 504 00:27:46,640 --> 00:27:50,320 Speaker 2: the times where we scrambled. Now, I feel we know more. 505 00:27:50,400 --> 00:27:54,119 Speaker 2: You know, we won't do certain things anymore because you 506 00:27:54,119 --> 00:27:55,399 Speaker 2: know they'll get us in trouble. 507 00:27:55,920 --> 00:27:59,879 Speaker 1: Yeah. While researching I was looking at some of the 508 00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:02,520 Speaker 1: costumes over your years on the show, and one of 509 00:28:02,520 --> 00:28:05,600 Speaker 1: my favorites was Lindsay Sterling and Mark Ballast for their 510 00:28:05,680 --> 00:28:07,959 Speaker 1: quick step dressed as butterflies. 511 00:28:08,160 --> 00:28:10,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, that heard one. 512 00:28:10,440 --> 00:28:14,919 Speaker 1: Dress was so beautiful. Do you have any favorites that 513 00:28:14,960 --> 00:28:17,600 Speaker 1: come to mind right away when you think of favorite costumes? 514 00:28:18,320 --> 00:28:20,840 Speaker 2: Well, there were there were some that stand out just 515 00:28:20,880 --> 00:28:23,320 Speaker 2: because they were kind of first on the show. You 516 00:28:23,359 --> 00:28:27,040 Speaker 2: know we did we did a dress actually for Sadie 517 00:28:27,119 --> 00:28:31,160 Speaker 2: robertson Long time back that we said it was all 518 00:28:31,240 --> 00:28:34,480 Speaker 2: rhinestones into a long skirt. So it was we we 519 00:28:34,680 --> 00:28:36,880 Speaker 2: counted was over twenty five thousand stones. 520 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:37,920 Speaker 1: Oh my oh god. 521 00:28:37,960 --> 00:28:41,120 Speaker 2: We were like, that's probably our most rhinestone dress ever, 522 00:28:41,360 --> 00:28:44,600 Speaker 2: which I think we have surpassed at this point, but 523 00:28:44,760 --> 00:28:48,280 Speaker 2: that stood out. I mean, I feel like the first 524 00:28:48,280 --> 00:28:51,080 Speaker 2: Flamenco pass. So we did stand out. You know, every 525 00:28:51,080 --> 00:28:53,800 Speaker 2: time you did we did something new that we hadn't 526 00:28:53,800 --> 00:28:56,480 Speaker 2: done before. That stands out in my mind a little 527 00:28:56,520 --> 00:29:00,320 Speaker 2: bit because we had to learn how to how does 528 00:29:00,360 --> 00:29:04,760 Speaker 2: that get put together? That's more thoughts doing, but also 529 00:29:05,000 --> 00:29:08,000 Speaker 2: what fabric do we use for that? You know, once 530 00:29:08,040 --> 00:29:09,880 Speaker 2: you have done it, you know all that worked or 531 00:29:09,880 --> 00:29:12,320 Speaker 2: it didn't work, and next time I won't do that anymore. 532 00:29:12,600 --> 00:29:16,440 Speaker 2: The first time you do any outfit is always you know, 533 00:29:16,600 --> 00:29:19,960 Speaker 2: you're like you have to learn something about it. Yeah. Absolutely. 534 00:29:32,960 --> 00:29:35,840 Speaker 1: The Lend Goodman tribute in twenty twenty three was also 535 00:29:36,120 --> 00:29:39,160 Speaker 1: such a tall task for you, and you made an 536 00:29:39,200 --> 00:29:43,360 Speaker 1: absolutely beautiful moment with the costuming. What was that assignment 537 00:29:43,480 --> 00:29:43,840 Speaker 1: like for you? 538 00:29:45,960 --> 00:29:49,400 Speaker 2: Well, you know, truthfully, that wasn't that hard because it 539 00:29:49,440 --> 00:29:54,160 Speaker 2: was it was a traditional ballroom number, you know, which 540 00:29:54,200 --> 00:29:56,960 Speaker 2: is something we did for a long time on the show, 541 00:29:57,000 --> 00:29:58,960 Speaker 2: and then we stopped doing it for a little bit. 542 00:29:59,080 --> 00:30:01,680 Speaker 2: So if it was fun to bring that back out, 543 00:30:01,720 --> 00:30:05,000 Speaker 2: and as I said, we had bases that we could 544 00:30:05,240 --> 00:30:08,400 Speaker 2: you know, add feathers to and just dress up. So 545 00:30:08,520 --> 00:30:11,840 Speaker 2: it's actually a little easier than people think it was. 546 00:30:12,000 --> 00:30:15,600 Speaker 2: You know, it looked brand and beautiful, but because we 547 00:30:15,640 --> 00:30:18,719 Speaker 2: were able to use existing things and just stress them 548 00:30:18,800 --> 00:30:23,160 Speaker 2: up and make them more spectacular, it was actually, you know, 549 00:30:23,440 --> 00:30:25,880 Speaker 2: it was almost better than starting from scratch with that 550 00:30:26,120 --> 00:30:29,080 Speaker 2: because it looked much richer once you added feathers and 551 00:30:29,160 --> 00:30:33,400 Speaker 2: more stones, and you know, you elaborated on address that existed. 552 00:30:33,520 --> 00:30:36,200 Speaker 2: It just took that into that world that made it 553 00:30:36,200 --> 00:30:37,160 Speaker 2: so special. I think. 554 00:30:38,520 --> 00:30:42,120 Speaker 1: So this Tuesday night, you have been handed another important 555 00:30:42,160 --> 00:30:46,560 Speaker 1: task to celebrate twenty years of Dancing with the Stars. 556 00:30:47,000 --> 00:30:49,440 Speaker 1: This podcast is going to be released after the show, 557 00:30:49,520 --> 00:30:52,080 Speaker 1: so you can feel free to spoil things. It won't 558 00:30:52,120 --> 00:30:55,720 Speaker 1: air until after. Talk about what everyone saw on what 559 00:30:55,880 --> 00:30:59,520 Speaker 1: was a very special night. How do you approach something 560 00:30:59,640 --> 00:31:03,120 Speaker 1: so bad like the twentieth anniversary of Dancing with the Stars. 561 00:31:04,200 --> 00:31:08,240 Speaker 2: Well, I think, you know, we have people come back 562 00:31:08,280 --> 00:31:11,920 Speaker 2: from the past, which is really great. I think again, 563 00:31:12,080 --> 00:31:18,360 Speaker 2: it's more volume. Derek is choreographing that opening, So I 564 00:31:18,440 --> 00:31:20,320 Speaker 2: work with Derek a lot, so I kind of know 565 00:31:20,440 --> 00:31:24,400 Speaker 2: what he likes, you know, overall, and I think it 566 00:31:24,480 --> 00:31:26,520 Speaker 2: took just one zoom to kind of figure out the 567 00:31:26,560 --> 00:31:29,120 Speaker 2: direction because we had to jump on it really fast 568 00:31:29,200 --> 00:31:32,760 Speaker 2: because we had to make like, I don't know, twelve 569 00:31:32,760 --> 00:31:35,240 Speaker 2: feather skirts, and you know, it was things that we 570 00:31:35,280 --> 00:31:37,920 Speaker 2: couldn't even handle out of our department here. It had 571 00:31:37,960 --> 00:31:41,000 Speaker 2: to go to other places. So then I try to 572 00:31:41,040 --> 00:31:44,800 Speaker 2: find ways where somebody can follow a pattern, you know, 573 00:31:45,000 --> 00:31:48,400 Speaker 2: rather than having to develop something. So it worked out 574 00:31:48,520 --> 00:31:51,560 Speaker 2: actually kind of well too for us, because we had 575 00:31:51,800 --> 00:31:54,360 Speaker 2: something here that I knew would work, and then we 576 00:31:54,600 --> 00:31:58,480 Speaker 2: just copied that in another workroom. And then it's just 577 00:31:58,640 --> 00:32:01,959 Speaker 2: you know, going through the motions and getting it, making 578 00:32:02,080 --> 00:32:05,760 Speaker 2: some and pulling some and you know, it's it's what 579 00:32:05,840 --> 00:32:09,440 Speaker 2: we do. It's it wasn't necessarily more work than other 580 00:32:09,800 --> 00:32:12,720 Speaker 2: other weeks. Maybe more because it's more bodies a little bit, 581 00:32:12,960 --> 00:32:17,520 Speaker 2: but overall again, I mean for us, every week has 582 00:32:17,560 --> 00:32:20,920 Speaker 2: been right, every week thing like that. So we're just 583 00:32:21,080 --> 00:32:23,560 Speaker 2: a lot of bodies to dress that is, you know. 584 00:32:23,880 --> 00:32:27,120 Speaker 2: Then it becomes actually more of a logistical problem too, 585 00:32:27,160 --> 00:32:30,280 Speaker 2: because they all have you all have to rehearse and 586 00:32:30,320 --> 00:32:32,080 Speaker 2: when do we fit it? You know, when do we 587 00:32:32,160 --> 00:32:34,600 Speaker 2: get people so we can put things on their bodies 588 00:32:34,640 --> 00:32:37,360 Speaker 2: so we can keep moving. That I think is the 589 00:32:37,480 --> 00:32:41,080 Speaker 2: highest challenge when there's so much going on that everybody's 590 00:32:41,120 --> 00:32:43,800 Speaker 2: so busy they can't come see us. And the further 591 00:32:43,840 --> 00:32:47,280 Speaker 2: we push it close to you know, going life, the 592 00:32:47,360 --> 00:32:51,120 Speaker 2: less time we have to fix it, make it, change it, 593 00:32:51,320 --> 00:32:53,600 Speaker 2: whatever it needs for it to be good, you know. 594 00:32:53,760 --> 00:32:56,400 Speaker 2: So that's the biggest stress. I feel that was the 595 00:32:56,440 --> 00:33:00,239 Speaker 2: stress of this week to get the Christmas special organized thing, 596 00:33:00,360 --> 00:33:03,600 Speaker 2: get the twenty is also at the same time organized 597 00:33:03,800 --> 00:33:06,760 Speaker 2: and having all this parallel going and trying to fit 598 00:33:06,840 --> 00:33:09,600 Speaker 2: it and see when somebody was available, like I'm throwing 599 00:33:09,640 --> 00:33:11,640 Speaker 2: U s onn you right now. Yeah, it wasn't even 600 00:33:11,640 --> 00:33:14,120 Speaker 2: full outfits anymore. It was like this top and then 601 00:33:14,320 --> 00:33:17,320 Speaker 2: for another time. Because it all was in the morek summer, 602 00:33:17,400 --> 00:33:19,640 Speaker 2: I'm like, Okay, this is how we're doing it this week. 603 00:33:19,920 --> 00:33:21,520 Speaker 2: This week is going to be piece by piece. 604 00:33:21,800 --> 00:33:25,120 Speaker 1: Yeah wow, you mentioned being you know, knowing Derek pretty 605 00:33:25,160 --> 00:33:26,600 Speaker 1: well and working closely with Derek. 606 00:33:27,520 --> 00:33:28,800 Speaker 2: Are there certain. 607 00:33:28,520 --> 00:33:32,360 Speaker 1: Pros that are very hands on about the costumes both 608 00:33:32,400 --> 00:33:36,200 Speaker 1: for them and their partner and others who are a 609 00:33:36,200 --> 00:33:39,160 Speaker 1: little more like, you're the expert, do whatever you want? 610 00:33:39,800 --> 00:33:43,720 Speaker 1: And if so, who are some of the more involved partners. 611 00:33:44,880 --> 00:33:49,320 Speaker 2: Well, I think it's definitely Derek Mark Val very involved, 612 00:33:49,520 --> 00:33:54,600 Speaker 2: you know. Then others are more like, you know, like 613 00:33:55,440 --> 00:33:58,800 Speaker 2: day La at asthmo duo thing. It depends, though, I 614 00:33:58,840 --> 00:34:01,840 Speaker 2: think it's I try to have a dialogue with everybody before, 615 00:34:01,960 --> 00:34:05,320 Speaker 2: you know. I'd never like to do a costume for 616 00:34:05,360 --> 00:34:09,240 Speaker 2: a celebrity women, for example, without checking with the pro 617 00:34:09,760 --> 00:34:15,000 Speaker 2: boy what's right for their dance because there's so many skirtstars. 618 00:34:15,040 --> 00:34:17,319 Speaker 2: I mean for the girls, the biggest part is the 619 00:34:17,360 --> 00:34:20,840 Speaker 2: skirt style. Am I doing the right thing for your choreography, 620 00:34:20,920 --> 00:34:23,560 Speaker 2: for your story, for what you want to express? If 621 00:34:23,560 --> 00:34:25,719 Speaker 2: I give you a soft flow, if skirt and you 622 00:34:25,760 --> 00:34:29,400 Speaker 2: want edgy, and yeah, then we're not. Like, it's not 623 00:34:29,480 --> 00:34:31,960 Speaker 2: going to work. And I need to know that, you know, 624 00:34:32,040 --> 00:34:35,160 Speaker 2: so I need to talk to the pro boys normally 625 00:34:35,480 --> 00:34:39,480 Speaker 2: all of them to some degree, to understand what are 626 00:34:39,520 --> 00:34:42,319 Speaker 2: you doing, what's right for your dance, what's right And 627 00:34:42,360 --> 00:34:45,880 Speaker 2: then I hope a lot of them trust me now 628 00:34:46,120 --> 00:34:49,120 Speaker 2: that I know what's right for their celebrity, for their body, 629 00:34:49,280 --> 00:34:52,520 Speaker 2: for you know that we're trying to make them understand. 630 00:34:53,280 --> 00:34:56,719 Speaker 2: You know, we're working with a person and they have 631 00:34:56,760 --> 00:34:59,000 Speaker 2: to like it on themselves, and they have to look 632 00:34:59,040 --> 00:35:01,000 Speaker 2: good in it, and they're body has to look good 633 00:35:01,040 --> 00:35:03,080 Speaker 2: in it, so you know, it's a lot. 634 00:35:02,960 --> 00:35:11,799 Speaker 1: Of moving parts. Finally, the show has somehow found a 635 00:35:11,880 --> 00:35:15,200 Speaker 1: whole new audience and here we are in the middle 636 00:35:15,239 --> 00:35:18,400 Speaker 1: of a very unexpected renaissance for Dancing with the Stars. 637 00:35:18,880 --> 00:35:22,320 Speaker 1: As someone who has been there and seen it all firsthand, 638 00:35:22,640 --> 00:35:24,759 Speaker 1: why do you think Dancing with the Stars has been 639 00:35:24,800 --> 00:35:27,080 Speaker 1: able to speak to so many generations? 640 00:35:28,600 --> 00:35:31,840 Speaker 2: Well, I think it's you know, first of all, it's 641 00:35:31,920 --> 00:35:37,440 Speaker 2: just really beautiful to the dancing music and you know, 642 00:35:38,160 --> 00:35:40,799 Speaker 2: the costume and everything. It is a little bit of 643 00:35:40,880 --> 00:35:45,319 Speaker 2: a fantasy world and most people do like dance and 644 00:35:45,760 --> 00:35:50,040 Speaker 2: music together. I think it's also we had, of course 645 00:35:50,640 --> 00:35:55,240 Speaker 2: a cast that came on lately that is heavily influencing 646 00:35:55,600 --> 00:35:58,839 Speaker 2: the younger generations, you know, so that brought a lot 647 00:35:58,880 --> 00:36:02,279 Speaker 2: of people I see, And I just think the reality 648 00:36:02,360 --> 00:36:05,080 Speaker 2: of it all, that this is a true reality show. 649 00:36:05,120 --> 00:36:08,400 Speaker 2: You can't fake it. You can't if you're not good 650 00:36:08,520 --> 00:36:10,760 Speaker 2: at dancing, or if you don't put in the time 651 00:36:10,800 --> 00:36:12,920 Speaker 2: to get good at it, and if you don't, if 652 00:36:12,920 --> 00:36:15,320 Speaker 2: the audience can't tell that you put in the time 653 00:36:15,360 --> 00:36:17,840 Speaker 2: to learn, and like, look at your journey. You know, 654 00:36:17,880 --> 00:36:21,839 Speaker 2: there's so much people have to learn and invest of 655 00:36:21,920 --> 00:36:24,759 Speaker 2: time and energy to be good at this show and 656 00:36:24,840 --> 00:36:27,000 Speaker 2: good at a dance and look good and have a 657 00:36:27,040 --> 00:36:30,120 Speaker 2: good performance. So I think people like to see that 658 00:36:30,280 --> 00:36:33,480 Speaker 2: because it is real. That's not something you can just 659 00:36:33,520 --> 00:36:36,880 Speaker 2: show up for and do. You have to actually really 660 00:36:38,400 --> 00:36:41,239 Speaker 2: be involved and do all the steps to get good 661 00:36:41,239 --> 00:36:44,560 Speaker 2: at it. And I think people like that they see that, 662 00:36:44,719 --> 00:36:47,160 Speaker 2: and it keeps it fresh and it keeps it interesting, 663 00:36:47,520 --> 00:36:49,799 Speaker 2: and you see people's journey and they have a good 664 00:36:49,800 --> 00:36:53,839 Speaker 2: week and a bad week, and it's just it's the 665 00:36:53,880 --> 00:36:57,480 Speaker 2: realness of it all. I think that really draws people in. 666 00:36:57,880 --> 00:37:00,279 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think you're right. I mean being well to 667 00:37:00,320 --> 00:37:03,319 Speaker 1: see where someone starts on day one and the attitude 668 00:37:03,400 --> 00:37:07,840 Speaker 1: or the energy that they have on day one versus 669 00:37:08,120 --> 00:37:11,160 Speaker 1: by week seven or week eight, and you see now 670 00:37:11,200 --> 00:37:13,479 Speaker 1: how far they've come in the relationship with their pro 671 00:37:13,560 --> 00:37:16,000 Speaker 1: and how that's developed. And yeah, it is like you, 672 00:37:16,440 --> 00:37:20,719 Speaker 1: it's impossible to not get sucked into the real story 673 00:37:21,080 --> 00:37:24,440 Speaker 1: of everyone who's on the show, and obviously you are 674 00:37:24,520 --> 00:37:27,440 Speaker 1: such an enormous part of that of showcasing us in 675 00:37:27,600 --> 00:37:32,200 Speaker 1: all the most beautiful, fantastic light. And so from the 676 00:37:32,200 --> 00:37:34,799 Speaker 1: bottom of my heart, just thank you so much for 677 00:37:34,920 --> 00:37:36,960 Speaker 1: the time we got to spend together and all the 678 00:37:37,040 --> 00:37:40,319 Speaker 1: wonderful work that you did for me. In particular, I'm 679 00:37:40,400 --> 00:37:43,200 Speaker 1: just so grateful. And I loved every single one of 680 00:37:43,200 --> 00:37:45,239 Speaker 1: my costumes. You already know that. I've already talked to 681 00:37:45,280 --> 00:37:48,480 Speaker 1: you about how I managed to have all those in 682 00:37:48,520 --> 00:37:52,160 Speaker 1: my closet. So we will talk about that more when 683 00:37:52,160 --> 00:37:54,319 Speaker 1: the season is over. I'm not going to bother you 684 00:37:54,360 --> 00:37:57,600 Speaker 1: with it before then. Danielle, thank you so much for 685 00:37:57,640 --> 00:37:58,239 Speaker 1: being here with me. 686 00:37:58,640 --> 00:38:02,640 Speaker 2: Thank you for having me law Bye Bye. 687 00:38:04,440 --> 00:38:07,880 Speaker 1: Danielle with the Stars Produced and hosted by Danielle Fischell 688 00:38:08,040 --> 00:38:11,279 Speaker 1: Executive Producers Jensen Carp and Amy Sugarman, Executive in charge 689 00:38:11,320 --> 00:38:15,480 Speaker 1: of production, Danielle Romo, producer, editor and engineer Tara Sudebosch. 690 00:38:15,760 --> 00:38:18,799 Speaker 1: Theme song by Justin Siegel. Follow us on Instagram at 691 00:38:18,920 --> 00:38:21,759 Speaker 1: Danielle with Stars and vote for me