October 10, 2025 • 52 mins
She may have been one of the first pros eliminated from Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars, but there’s no doubt that Britt Stewart is a fan favorite.
Britt sits down with Danielle to talk about the love bug that is Baron Davis, how she became a DWTS pro, and the show-mance that she never saw coming…
Plus, Britt sets the record straight on why everyone seems to have an opinion on her and Emma’s partners. It’s time to get acquainted with one of the best, on a new Danielle with the Stars!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Welcome to Danielle with the Stars.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
I am Danielle Fischl, a TV director, podcaster, forever topanga,
and a mom of two.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
But nowadays I am an aspiring.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Ballroom dancer competing on the thirty fourth season of Dancing
with the Stars, and all the while, I am continuing
to record a podcast forever immortalizing my attempt to be
the twenty twenty five Len Goodman Mirror Ball Trophy winner.
And every week I am podcasting for a leg up
through a bruised leg up by talking to pros, former contestants,
(00:46):
and even some of my peers, accepting any and all
advice in hopes that my national TV dream of a
perfect score could soon come true. And today I am
being spoiled with expertise because my guest is a fan
favorite Dancing with the Stars superstar who joined the show
in twenty sixteen, later becoming the first black female pro
(01:08):
dancer in the show's history. She began on Troop, then
just a year later, was partnered with figure skater Johnny Weir,
a celebrity she took all the way to the semifinals,
but since then she has ridden a bit of a
Dancing with the Stars roller Coaster, paired with Karate Kidd
and Cobra Kai star Martin Cove, TV actor Daniel Durant,
former NFL player Adrian Peterson, Legacy Hollywood named Eric Roberts,
(01:32):
and then this season she was with a teddy bear
who was eliminated in week two, the ray of Light
known as Baron Davis. I think it's safe to say
she has not had it easy, but yet through it all,
her star has shown brighter than ever. Her infectious smile
and undeniable talent has stood out to everyone who watches,
(01:55):
and now I get the chance to know her on
a deeper level while also picking her brain about my
own journey. Please welcome to Danielle with the Stars. A
total pro, a trooper, and someone who can make anyone shine.
It's brit Stewart.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Oh my goodness, Hello, you're the Queen of introductions. Can
you just come with me everywhere?
Speaker 2 (02:16):
I will anywhere you want to go. Just let me
walk in. Before you give a little intro, I'll shorten it.
I'll make it a little tighter, you know.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Yeah, if I could just have that in like a
ball of a daily affirmation, I'll let you keep the paper.
I am so happy you agreed to do this podcast.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
I have been trying to have you as a guest
literally since day one of the podcast.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
You were at the very top of my list. Thank you.
I'm so excited to be here, and I know I'm
just excited to talk to you. You're so sweet and
interacting with you at the rehearsal studio and everything. It's
just I'm excited to go on a deeper level. Yes,
me too.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
I wish we were here talking just because we were
still both rehearsing together. In no universe did I anticipate
that we would be sitting down for this podcast after
you and Baron had been eliminated, just during week two.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
It was absolutely flabbergasting to me.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
Was it as shocking to you as it was to
I think everyone else?
Speaker 1 (03:20):
It actually was? And I try to say that without
any ego involved, But I feel like if you're a
fan of the show, if you are, if you've watched
it for you know, it's been on air for twenty years, yes,
if you watch it, and then of course being part
of it, you kind of you kind of have a
(03:41):
feeling of who's going to go home or you have
like a few options and I really I didn't think
that we would go home week one. No, I knew
it was going to be difficult because this year is
the cast is I don't know if we've ever had
this competitive of a cast. I mean, if you don't
(04:02):
have dance experience, you have social media following, or you
have both, and so you know, I knew it was
going to be an uphill climb for us. But in
my mind, I was like, if I can get Baron
to week three, even week four, people are going to
fall exactly him. Yes he does. He has so much charisma,
(04:24):
his personality, his smile, his sense of humor, and so
much of that just takes a little bit of him
getting comfortable for him to reveal it. And so you knew,
like your work was going to be. How do I
get him comfortable enough out there to start letting more
of that shine?
Speaker 2 (04:42):
And really, yeah, it's just I was I was already
seeing it. But I feel like I got to Baron
and I connected very early on. We connected in New
York during Good Morning America. We ended up as being
somehow the only two cast members on the pro bus.
There were two different hotels and the rest of the
cast somehow got on the right bus to go to
(05:04):
their hotel, and we ended up on the professional dancer
bus and you guys all got dropped off first, and
so it was just Baron and I for maybe a
ten minute bus ride, and just in normal conversation, we
were like.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
Oh, you're one of my We're you're one of my people.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
And from that moment on, every time I knew he
was there, we made a point of finding each other,
checking in with each other. He was always so generous
with his advice, asking me how I was feeling, showing
me different stretches.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
We did our first show and tell.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Yeah, we together, and that was such a special moment,
and I was so I had no idea what to expect.
And you the work you put in with him, and
you can't hit you guys danced your first dance too.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
You can't touch this, and he just came alive. I. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
I think he's just such a special person and it
is not at all surprising to me that the two
of you connected. Did you guys connect the same way
it feels Barren and I connected?
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Oh? Yes. You know what I love about Baron is
he comes forward as his authentic self, always and so
I feel like if he's met with that same energy,
it's hard to not be connected with him. Yeah. I
think he's also an extremely curious person. So if he
(06:18):
like sees oh oh, he wants to try to get
to know you and try to you know, and also
be present in an experience and be present in whatever
he is doing. And so, you know, I knew Baron
and I would get along because during our first meet
he was like, I'm just here to learn something new,
(06:40):
to challenge myself, to be vulnerable. And that's my type
of people. I you know, for me'm I do wear
I don't wear my heart on my sleeves, actually, but
I am very sensitive, okay, and I try to I
don't try. I lead my life with authenticity. And one
(07:03):
of my mottos for life is to be a consistent student,
to always be a student, to always learn ooh. I
love that. And so when I first met him, I
was like, Okay, this is going to be this is
going to be fun. And then he has a sense
of humor on top of it, so you know, we
connected very quickly. I joke with him, I'm like, I
don't know if you manifested getting a sister, a little
(07:26):
sister in this life. But you have one. Now, you
have one, now your stuff. Yeah, we definitely connected. Did
it surprise you at all.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
To see the amount of support online? Yes, it did,
because there is quite a swell of justice for Baron.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
There is a swell. And I know it doesn't I
know it doesn't make it better, right, but I wanted
to make sure that he knew that is not normal,
especially in the beginning, like especially the first few eliminations.
It's not that's not typical. You know. Even though he
(08:03):
was only on the show for two weeks, he made
an impact.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Totally, which is a huge deal, and people saw in
him the same thing we see, which was just if
just a few more weeks, everyone would have been you
would have blossomed like a flower and everyone would have
been able.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
So it does. It feels like a robbery.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
The America, Canada, the world was cut short of being
able to know the Baron we know is just right
below that surface. And it's interesting that people were able
to see it. And so it just makes me say,
where were the vote?
Speaker 1 (08:40):
I know, Wow, it's so frustrating. It is what it is. Yeah,
and you can't change it. I know, and and one
of those people. You know, even though I'm like, it
was too short, all these things, I'm you know, I again,
I'm sensitive, so I felt all my feelings. At the
end of the day, I still believe that that is
(09:02):
what was meant to happen, right, So right, because what
if it's meant for you, it will be yours yours.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Yeah, and so you may not know exactly the why
of it happening, but you know that, Okay, it is
what it's supposed to be. So that's I mean, that's
a wonderful perspective to have and anything you do in.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
Life looking forward.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Had you guys continued, what were some of the things
you were looking forward to for some of the theme weeks?
Speaker 1 (09:27):
Do you want to share any of that? Actually?
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Would love great because I'm dying to know. I want
to know what your vision was for him.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
Yeah, so something super simple. We were supposed to have
a tango this week. And his frame was actually the
best frame that I've like. His frame was incredible, Oh
gorgeous frame on day one. Yes, so not only were
we robbed of Baron, but he we were robbed of
his gorgeous But that's okay. Okay, I was really looking
(09:58):
forward to we were going to do a West coast
like La True la hip hop for his dedication week.
Oh man, I still want to see it. Yeah, And
so I you know that that would just have been
a big celebration of not only like Los Angeles where
(10:20):
he's from, it was going to be a celebration of
his kids and almost this generational this generational celebration of
what he is curating for his children, and you know,
within that with hip hop and everything, also the celebration
of black culture too. Wow. So I was really looking
(10:41):
for I had a lot of ideas for Baron. Actually,
you know, he's a he's a businessman too, So I
was even thinking like, how can I dive into this
like structured business world of what you normally think of
what a businessman is and our eyes in America, But
how he deltely is not defined by what that stereotype is,
(11:04):
and he's this mega businessman. So I was playing around
with ideas with that, and oh I love that. I
had some dreams.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
Any any chance we could get you guys to still
put that together for that dedication week.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
I feel like that dedication week everyone needs that. Yeah, Okay,
let me you know what, let me give him a call.
Let's do what we can do. I called him yesterday.
I called him yesterday. I wanted to check in. He
was like, you know, I kind of want to come visit.
And I was like, I mean, you know, you know
what that's actually breaking my heart. Maybe the most is
he's really upset.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
He he.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
Oh, he misses it. And I don't think people realize
when you really take a chance on something, when you
really open yourself up to an experience, it takes a
lot of vulnerability. And so he's, yeah, he's he's missing you.
Let me know how I can help you. Let me
know what I can do. I want to we need
(12:01):
to rent a space, set a space.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
I just want I want you guys to be able
to go out on your terms, pick you know, for
you to have like, Okay, I didn't get to I
didn't get to make.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
The decision that we left on week two.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
But here's a week that was going to mean something
black to black culture, to your children, to music, to him.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Let's do it anyway, Let's do it anyway. Why not?
Why not?
Speaker 2 (12:28):
Why not put it together, have fun with it own,
have it for himself, because he did say when I
talked to him yesterday, he was.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Like, you know, I just I guess I'm not a dancer.
And I was like, surprise, you are? You are?
Speaker 2 (12:42):
And he started dying. He was like, yeah, you know what,
You're right, Surprise I am. I was like, you are?
Speaker 1 (12:49):
You were? So I don't know.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
I just want to see I just want to I
want to see it. I want there to be I
want there to be a nice button that feels like
there's some owner.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
I love that for you both. Thank you.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
So I don't know what I can do, but anything
is very want I want to do.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
Now.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Outside of the obvious, have you kept in touch with
a lot of your partners over the years, I.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
Actually have, Well, we all know the very obvious there,
That's what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Outside of the obvious, the one who you recently married
and lived with. Because I'm thinking about moving in with Pasha,
and yes, so you should.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
I think maybe you should. Maybe you should just purchase
a commune and then you know your families can just
actually love that idea.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Yeah, communal living either for each other, raise the children
in the group.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
I think that's smart. Yeah, I haven't talked to them
about it. Oh, I think it's a great idea. Yeah,
I think so. Maybe fine. You know, I'm still really
good friends with my very first partner, Johnny Weir. He
was actually a bridesmaid and the photos wonderful, and he
is just you know, we instantly clicked, okay, instantly, and
(14:04):
you know, I call him doodle. He calls me Bruce.
It's a thing so cute. What are those nicknames? Doodle?
So I don't know, I just started calling him doodle.
He's so cute, like he's a little doodle. He is
just a doodle, and I it's just so now it's
his nickname. Later to find out his family, any they
(14:27):
call anything that's cute doodle. Really, yes, And I had
no idea. I just started calling him doodle. I know that.
I know that's weird.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
That's oh yeah, that's a sole connection. Yes, oh oh,
one thousand percent is a sole connection. And then he
calls me Bruce because apparently I'm like very sometimes I
can be aggressive when I count the chat shaw oh,
which was I don't know.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
He just he would be like four. I would sometimes
go four and he was like, oh, okay, Bruce. Bruce
is out I sent him in one of our you
know how we get the camera blocking photos. Oh my
mouth was like doing something crazy, Like I was obviously
mid scream, you know, leading bar on the floor, and
I I like zoomed in very close in. I was like, doodle,
(15:18):
Bruce is back. Check out this photo of Bruce. Check
out Bruce. Those photos I don't. I don't love a
lot of them. No, no, it's like mid motion thing,
weird things. I saw the one with your hair hilarious.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
Okay, great, yeah, so good. Yeah, hair was all over
the place there. I also with my leg bruise. Wouldn't
The day that I did the cartwheel, I was wearing
shorts and it was like, you know, mid cartwheels, by
the way.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
Just not going to be attractive, no period. It's just
legs everywhere.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
And then like dark Bruce in my upper thigh. I
was like, guys, did we could we not have just
not snapped the camera during that moment. But you know, okay,
I wanted to talk to you a little bit about
your Disney roots because that is something we share. You
are a principal dancer in all three of the High
School musical films, all directed by Kenny Ortega.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
Were you intimidated working with such an icon at a
young age? Oh, this is quite embarrassing. I have to
tell you. I didn't know who Kinny was. You were like,
was it weird for me? No? I was like, Okay,
hey dude, Hey, what's up? No, hey, broch Okay, this
is great. No. I so I didn't go through the
(16:30):
normal audition process. Okay, they were. I happened to be
in New York at a national dance competition. It's called
New York Sky Dance Lions, and one of the co choreographers,
Bonnie's Story. She has a daughter same age as me,
and we were both there alone without our big dance studios,
and we bonded in the rehearsal process, and Bonnie saw
(16:55):
me dance, and randomly we were on the same subway
after like an late night rehearsal. Okay, with my I
was with my mom. Kelly, her daughter same age as me,
was with Bonnie and she just looks at us and
she goes, this is going to be absolutely insane. But
I'm filming a movie this summer in Utah with Kenny
(17:15):
ar Otega, and we're looking for one more dancer, one
more female dancer. And I really I've already called Kenny,
you are it. You would have to come straight from
New York to Utah, but you can. You can live
with me and my family and the girls, the whole thing.
And my mom and I were like, oh, okay, god, yeah, girls,
(17:39):
we'll think about it. Yeah. And so then you know,
I was like, I'm supposed to be staying and assisting
this choreographer named Brian Friedman at the Broadway Dance Center
after New York whose I don't know Kenneyega Artega in
Utah and Utah you know, I from Colorado. So it's okay,
you know, it's not too far off, but still, and
(18:01):
you know you're in New York. I'm in New York.
I'd have to go without my parents, like all all
these things. So I called Brian Friedman, who I was
meant to assist in his classes and his master classes,
and he goes, Britt, you, Kenny or Tega, you have
to go ends up. Brian Friedman his first job was
(18:24):
as a dancer as a child was Newsi's and Kenny
or Teja choreographed newsies and so he was like, this
is kismet, that this is happening. This would be your
first professional job. You have to go, and so I went,
and you know, High School Musical was not supposed to
be what it was. It was six weeks. It was
(18:44):
low budget Disney Channel Channel film that became this cultural phenomenon. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
I can't believe how many things in your life are
all connected.
Speaker 1 (18:57):
It's it's actually wild.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
Do you notice in the moment or are you the
type of person who, with with some space and time,
looks back and then finds the connections or you do
you notice as they're happening, You're like, oh, here's a
here's a thing, here's a sign.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
No, they just kind of happen. I mean, same thing
with Dancing with the Stars. I got the audition from
being in a rehearsal, had no idea, absolutely no idea.
Just again, these big moments feel quite kismet in my life.
I feel very blessed in that way.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
You've got guides, I do, Yeah, I do. We've got
guides and they're they're.
Speaker 1 (19:36):
They're doing their work. They're doing their work, and then
you're like, oh, thanks, and.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
You are prepared at the right place at the right time,
and wow, it's pretty great. You have danced with Janet Jackson, Rihanna,
Selena Gomez, Nick Jonas as a dancer on tour. Do
(20:05):
you ever get sick of hearing the songs? Because that
would be an occupational hazard. You're losing a lot of
bops in your life.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
Can you still listen to all the music of the
people you've danced for? So the longest I've danced for
an artist is three years, and I was with Katie
Perry for three years, wild three years. Three years, and
I'm actually proud to say I did not get sick
of her music. Okay, great, good? Those are boy, They're boppy,
(20:33):
They're great. But I'm very shocked by my answer, really honestly.
And I can still listen to Teenage Dream and still
love it. I love it. It takes me back a little bit. Yeah,
that's a little nostalgia for you. Okay, Well that's good.
That makes me happy. Is there a dream musician you
would want to tour with? You know what? I think?
(20:56):
I'm gonna be honest, I don't know. I don't think so.
I think as far as a dancer goes, touring with
Katie for that long was such a full experience. I mean,
I got to go all over the world. We did.
I was in her super Bowl performance, like I got
to do so with her, and then like after I
(21:17):
danced for Jana Jackson, I was like, what else is there? Yeah?
This was pretty cool. Yeah, exactly, I'm good. So I
don't know about dance. Yeah, maybe if I could, like
choreograph for somebody.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
Maybe I love that is that you're where your sites
are starting to send you.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
You know, I'm a little bit I'm I'm a limitless
dreamer and I've always believed that choreography would still be
my connection to dance after I stopped dancing. So yeah,
I talked to Mandy Moore the other day.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
We and I interviewed her and she was telling me
a little bit about her process for choreographing the tour
and how, you know, some of it she's a planner.
Some of it needs to start now, but also she
needs to see how the season ends up.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
And is there now that you have some unexpected free time.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
Does Mandy ever ask you to come in and help
think of things, put things together, being that you are
clearly so good at.
Speaker 1 (22:16):
What you do, thank you not typically Actually that sort
of process really happens once we're in the rehearsal process. Okay,
I mean Mandy is like my I actually call her
one of like my fairy dance godmothers because she had
such a massive part in bringing me on to Dancing
with the Stars. Oh yeah, Like that rehearsal that I
(22:38):
was talking about was her rehearsal, and she put me in.
She actually asked me to dance with Derek in a
moment that I wasn't supposed to dance with him, but
he needed a partner and that we were filming a
wide and that's what got sent to all of the
producers and the networking sects, and that's how I got
my audition for Troop Wow. And so she just kind
(23:00):
of made all the puzzle pieces of the puzzle come together,
and she really helped and supported me in that journey.
But you know, sometimes she'll she usually during a season,
will sit down with each of the pros that are
going on tour and just talk about some of the
things that we really are either feeling inspired by or
(23:23):
feeling like, hey, I did a cha chaw last tour.
I don't necessarily need to do a cha cha, but
maybe I can do a rumba this year. That is
our involvement in her creation process, and then things she yes, absolutely,
things unfold and develop within the rehearsal process. It's actually
(23:44):
I'm actually really glad that you asked me this, because
there's this rumor going around that Emma and I request
to have partners that get eliminated early so that we
can have involvement. Can you imagine being the time.
Speaker 2 (23:58):
I mean, in order to be a part of this
show and to even do remotely well in it, you
have to be competitive.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
Can you imagine being a professional dancer who's involved in
a show where you're going to try to win a
mirror ball by teaching a celebrity who most of the
time knows very little about dance, and then being like,
I only want to do it for like a couple
of weeks.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
Can you give me?
Speaker 2 (24:22):
I mean, that's ah, that's a crazy rumor.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
It is crazy. But Emma is the host, she's one
of the co hosts of the tour on it, and
then I'm dance captain when we go on tour, But
my work doesn't really start until we get out.
Speaker 2 (24:36):
Until you get out on the road, but at least
you know where the impetus for that rumor started. You
guys have special names and roles attached to the tour
that maybe other people do not have, and so.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
There was a little bit of an assumption made.
Speaker 2 (24:50):
But so, okay, you do not actually have a hand
in the choreography until you're in the actual tour and
things flourish on their own, collaboratively exactly, okay. Uh. And
so with your origin on Dancing with the Stars, producers
saw you in this wonderful world of Disney show, right
and that rehearsal okay, and they ask you to audition
for Troop. You get the job, but you didn't have
(25:13):
any experience.
Speaker 1 (25:14):
In ballroom dancing, right, okay.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
And so this is an important question for some of us,
very relevant to me at least.
Speaker 1 (25:22):
How did you get so good so fast? And can
I have it? You know what? It's First of all,
I feel like I was always meant to do this
style of dance because it didn't come I don't want
to it didn't come easy, but I loved it right away.
(25:47):
I also feel like, you know, I was on True.
I was on True for five seasons actually, okay, And
so it gave me time to become a student. So
as I was doing true my first season, I was
also training simultaneously, okay, And then when I got into
(26:08):
the world and learned more about the ballroom world, I
was like, this is completely different from the type of
dance and the community that I grew up in, and
I really wanted to not only show respect to the
art form, to the dance style, but to also my peers.
So I ended up competing in pro am as well
(26:30):
to really like, not for the not for the accolade,
not for anything other to dive deeper into the culture
of ballroom because it is it is unique all on
its own. Yeah, it's completely different than how I was
raised in the dance world.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
Right, That's what Mandy was saying too. Mandy was saying,
it doesn't matter how well versed you are in contemporary
or modern or jazz or hip hop, it does not matter.
Speaker 1 (27:00):
It's a totally different thing. It's wild. Yeah, it's wild.
I actually love teaching kids that have ballet, contemporary, jazz,
tap hip hop training to do ballroom because I know
exactly how it feels. And sometimes I'll look at them
and I'll say, I know this feels crazy, Yeah, I
know this is this is this is exactly opposite from
what your ballet teacher is teaching you right now. But
(27:23):
this is why, this is how we initiate a movement
like this in ballroom. Yeah, I kind of geek out
on it a little bit. I love that. I love
that you geek out on it. I feel like Pasha
geeks out on it too. Oh. I think Pasha geeks
out more than I do.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Okay, okay, yeah, yeah, I was just saying I feel
like Pasha's definitely geeking out, and I'm like, okay, you
really love this.
Speaker 1 (27:42):
He loves it. Yeah. I love Pasha's dedication. He's always practicing,
always perfecting, always, and I feel like you guys are
a very good match. We are, We are a very
good match.
Speaker 2 (27:54):
He's been saying in interviews that he thought he was
a perfectionist until he met me, and now he feels
like he can let go of that title.
Speaker 1 (28:01):
I was like, no, no, no, no, definitely not.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
What did it mean then for you when you in
twenty twenty were asked to become the first black female
pro on Dancing with the Stars, What did it mean
to you?
Speaker 1 (28:14):
Oh? My goodness, Well, it was very overwhelming and it
was also unexpected, so I did five seasons on Troop
and the season before season twenty eight he actually got
rid of the Troop. And right before that season, I
had re auditioned to become a pro, and I remember
at the time, the showrunner different than Conrad called me,
(28:36):
and he was straight up from the beginning. He's like,
I don't want to sugarcoat anything. This call is not
going to be good. Oh man, yeah, I know he was.
He basically said, we were very impressed with your audition,
we love you, but we're not going to promote you
to be a pro. And then on top of that,
we're getting rid of Troop this season, so out of
the job.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
Yeah, not only do you not get the job you want,
but the job you have you don't have it exactly.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
And so then I, just like any industry dancer does,
or I should say, anyone in this industry, does you Okay,
you feel what you pi it and you pivot immediately.
And that's exactly what I did. I just did. I
just called my agent.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
I was like, get me look exactly exactly, tell us
what find me.
Speaker 1 (29:25):
Some work exactly. And the work that I did in
that year actually ended up being really great. It was
and I think it all prepared me to become a pro.
And I'm actually very grateful for that time off because
I think if I would have become a pro immediately
after Troop, I would have been too close to it.
(29:46):
I would have been like, I don't know. It gave
me a little bit of a fresh perspective and just
a breath.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
Yeah, a breath of Yeah, a nice little breath away
from something which is also something you do and dance.
Speaker 1 (29:58):
Yes, yes, you have to. Times you just have to
not practice, just need to. I call it marination. You
need to let it marinate and get some sleep sometimes. Yeah,
not always, not if you're just being lazy. Yeah, there's
a different there's a big difference. Yeah, yeah, yeah, difference.
So and then, of course in twenty twenty the world
(30:18):
shut down, so you know, I was also like we
were still isolated when I when I learned that I
was going to become a pown, did you learn that
you were going to become op?
Speaker 2 (30:28):
This is now I want to hear the flip side,
because you had the conversation that started off with guess what,
this is bad news. I'm just warning you now it's
going to be a bad conversation. What was the flip
side of that conversation.
Speaker 1 (30:40):
So Dina texted me and she just simply asked, can
you can you do a video call at this time?
And I was like, okay, okay, yeah, I guess of
course sure. I mean even if I wasn't in isolation,
I would have dropped everything too, Like when Dina text you,
(31:00):
when this.
Speaker 2 (31:01):
Is Dina Cats for those of you who may not know,
Dina CAATs executive producer, casting, really very very very high
up head honcho, lots of decisions being made by Dina exactly.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
And so I said yes, anytime, whatever. Yeah. So then
we get onto a zoom and she tells me that
I'm becoming a pro and I actually I was like,
I think I was in such shock. I was almost
emotionless because I was like just say yes, yeah, that
just happy and yes, yes. And then I called my mom.
(31:38):
I was like, I lost it when I called my mom.
Of course I lost it. Yeah, And I was just
filled with so much gratitude. And then after that, I
was like, oh my gosh, I'm not only is you know,
this dream of mine coming true, but now I'm becoming
you know, this representation that has not existed until now
(31:58):
tell you and you know it's the representation has been
in the celebrity Partners, but never as a dancer, which
is so important. And it was very overwhelming, very exciting.
And then when I got there for the premiere, I
(32:18):
had a little baby like not freak out, but I
felt very overwhelmed, and I felt very much like I
was putting a ton of pressure on myself to be
perfect and to be right. Now. I have to be
at all. Now, I have to be at Allah. And
that season, I'm so grateful I was partnered with Johnny
(32:40):
that season. Johnny is so there is no other human
in this world that is like Johnny Weir, and he
taught me so much in that season. I always led
with authenticity, but sometimes in moments of fear or moments
of anxiety, I would I would just little myself, make
(33:02):
myself small. And I just learned in that moment that
all I have to do is show up as myself
and that would be the perfect representation because that's all
I have, is me. I don't need to do anything
other than just show up and be me exactly. And
so wonderful that you had a partner that was able
to recognize you doing it and to be able to
point it out to you and say, don't do that.
Speaker 2 (33:24):
You know again, such a wonderful like the things that
happened that have happened for you in your life, Like
what a perfect first partner for you, What a gift. Yes,
probably a decision made by Dina, by the way, Yes
it was.
Speaker 1 (33:37):
And yeah, he was like, just let your bruce, your
inner bruce fly, everybody, let your inner bruce out. Fine,
let your inner bruce go. I love it.
Speaker 2 (33:48):
I ask every guest this because I know that there
are sort of two camps on the subject. One that is,
one camp is totally fine with celebrities coming in having
previous dance experience, and then the other camp, who think
the premise of the show should be to teach newbies.
Speaker 1 (34:07):
Where do you fall on the subject. It is so interesting.
I'm gonna say this, ooh, this is actually a little
bit difficult for me because I've actually, outside of Johnny, who,
even though he's a figure skater, never took a dance class,
I've actually never had a partner with previous dance experiences.
(34:29):
So I come from that side of it. I see
my peers with partners with dance experience, and they're able
to have like a lot of creative freedom. I'll say, yeah,
so that is I could see some people on one
(34:51):
side saying, Okay, like you can like really produce some things.
There's not as many like limitations or what have you.
But I still go back in the heart of the
show is teaching someone how to dance? Yeah, and is
teaching someone the very beginning and what that journey is like,
(35:13):
you know, and some you know, if you go to
past season, some of those people that won that had
zero dance experience, Oh my gosh, how rewarding, I know,
how incredible to see them from their first days of
rehearsals and then at the finale doing their freestyle like
a proper dancer. Right, That is the heart of the show.
(35:35):
And I almost think it's like it's a little bit
more rewarding. Yeah in my eyes. Yeah, you're right. And
and certainly.
Speaker 2 (35:44):
For you as the pro to be able to see
like I did that you know, of course the celebrity
had to put in the work, but like you were
able to figure out how to communicate to somebody in
a language they do not speak, to become fluent.
Speaker 1 (36:01):
Yes, in this language in a short amount of time
and zero time, zero time.
Speaker 2 (36:07):
I mean, I mean, I'm talking about how crazy the
schedule is. Four hours a day is just not enough
time to really get everything across. I mean, Pasha talks
a lot about teaching and layers. You know, like the
first day is really just you are in your brain
one hundred percent of the time making sure you can
try to remember the steps. That's day one goal, Day
(36:28):
one goal. Can you just remember the steps? And then
after that it's like, Okay, that's honestly going to end
up only being worth about ten percent.
Speaker 1 (36:36):
Of this whole thing.
Speaker 2 (36:38):
If that's all we got, we're not going to have much,
and that's crazy. So that you're like, now I gotta
start doing the steps bigger, wider, grander, more this, and now.
Speaker 1 (36:47):
I got a twist while I'm doing them, and now
I gotta perform while I'm doing it.
Speaker 2 (36:50):
Now I have to be in my heart and not
in my head. The fact that you guys are able
to do it with total dumb dums like myself. I
do not know how you do what you do, but
I will say my biggest takeaway so far, and only
however many weeks I've been a part of the show
is how truly remarkable.
Speaker 1 (37:10):
You guys are you are. You are the stars of
Dancing with the.
Speaker 2 (37:15):
Stars, and you keep spirits high and you are patient
and you don't I mean, I would be losing my
marbles if I would be losing my marbles.
Speaker 1 (37:26):
I don't know how you guys do it, but you're incredible.
I mean, I will say I was so pleasantly surprised
that first time we did a show and tell with you, Okay,
I mean I thought you blew me away. Really, yes,
thank you. Yes, I would say, like, just just trust
in your process because it's it's paying off, like it
(37:48):
is to me to watch you go out on the
ballroom floor and do what you do with no previous
experience is absolutely remarkable, Like, thank you. I remember that
first show and Tell. I looked at you and I
was like, you are the epitome of this show, and
you gave all of us a very nice pep talk.
Speaker 2 (38:08):
It was, And I went home and I specifically told
my husband, I said, britt.
Speaker 1 (38:12):
Just gave us the nicest talk.
Speaker 2 (38:14):
You know, because every we all pretty much nailed that
first Show and Tell.
Speaker 1 (38:19):
We were all nervous.
Speaker 2 (38:20):
We had never done this before we're about ready to
show our dances for the first time. And even though,
of course were there are things we all could have
done better or little things that were missed. Sure, but
nobody fell apart, which is kind of the expectation is like,
let's do this so that you get your fall apart
moment now, and nobody really fell apart. And then we
were all just looking at each other like we just
did that. And at the end of it, you were like,
(38:42):
I just have to give I have to tell you,
you guys are what the heart of.
Speaker 1 (38:46):
This show is.
Speaker 2 (38:47):
And it meant a lot to us who were in
that room, and so thank you. It's just it goes
to show what a special person you are. So in
season thirty one, let's talk about the fact that you
(39:11):
were paired with actor Daniel Durant. You place fifth, your
best showing to date. But most importantly, did you ever
say I will never have a showmance on Dancing.
Speaker 1 (39:23):
With the Stars And did you actually believe that? I
actually believe you did. Yes, I you know. And no
judgment too, I mean I can't obviously I can't judge
because I had a show. We know that judgment I mean, yeah,
but I just you know, I think also starting in
the industry at such a young age, at fifteen, I
think I saw a lot of showmances, right, and I
(39:45):
kind of know that that's not for me. That's not
for me. I like to keep my work and my
love separate totally. And funny with Daniel, he's the same way,
because you know, you can have an intimate scene or
a love scene, or a character or whatever, but then
you go home and you that was your character. You
left that at home totally, or you left that at
(40:05):
the studio, whatever it is. And so we both had
the same mindset entering into work.
Speaker 2 (40:13):
Right, this is a business. It's a business, and we're
gonna be friends. Of course we have to have chemistry, yes,
but that's where it ends.
Speaker 1 (40:19):
Yes, And I knew we had chemistry. We both knew
that we had chemistry from the beginning. But it wasn't
it wasn't really like, it wasn't romantic romantic, it wasn't
like intimate in that sort of way. And it's so
funny the way Daniel says it is hilarious, Like American
sign language is extremely expressive and sometimes like if I
(40:41):
was to interpret what he was signing, it'd be like, oh,
I did it. I was not attracted to her at all.
I didn't even I didn't even I didn't even never
even that. I'm like, whoa easy settle down, settle down,
you can still appreciate, yes, exactly. But we really just
in that process we became teammates. First, like we just
(41:06):
had this goal and we just we we wanted to
have a great team have fun together. And you know,
I'm way more competitive than he is, but he was
still very competitive. Yeah, and then we actually became legitimately
friends and we would go get ivs and with his interpreter,
we were like to do, yes, we don't. Who doesn't
(41:29):
go get IV's with their friends anyone not in LA.
That sounds very weird to anyone not here, but for us.
We did a cold plunge contrast therapy IV's red light.
I said, you know, a casual friend date. And then
we got eliminated and we didn't see each other, and
(41:51):
we started texting, and then one day he was it
was actually in his trailer. He was just it was
it was after we got eliminated and his interpreter stepped
out and he was like staring at me. And I
looked at him and I was like, why are you
looking at me like that? And all he signed was
I think you know exactly why I'm looking at you,
and I said I do and same but and then
(42:17):
and then we were like and I was like, I
gotta go figure out my life. And then we went
to dinner and then nothing happened. And then I think
both of us were so hesitant because we had been
with each other every single day. Dancing with the Stars
is extremely intense. I don't know if we thought it was.
Speaker 2 (42:33):
Real right, You're like, was that because we were kind
of forced to be in a room together for that
many hours?
Speaker 1 (42:40):
Or is this legitimate? Will it survive outside of the
pressure cooker? Yes? And then he the first time he
kissed me, he asked, oh so sweet, like can I
kiss you? And then we kiss and both of us
were like this.
Speaker 2 (42:57):
Yes, oh so well, you guys, I mean, you've started
the falling in love process on the show, but you
didn't technically fall in love on the show. It's not
like the cameras were around and you were like, pretend
we're just friends. You guys really were just partners with
the same goal in mind. Who became legitimate friends, and
(43:17):
then after you were eliminated, actually fell in love. Yeah,
oh gosh, I love your love stories so much. For
your wedding, were people intimidated to get on the dance floor?
Speaker 1 (43:29):
I thought about that the minute. The minute I knew
you were getting married.
Speaker 2 (43:32):
I was like, how do normal people dance at a wedding?
For incredible dancers?
Speaker 1 (43:38):
I would, I'd be like, I'm just gonna set this
one out, you know, It's so funny. It was actually
our family and friends that weren't dancers that were dancing
the most. Wow, which is hilarious. That's great. I also
think Daniel and I for our first dance, we didn't
do anything like choreographed or anything. We just slow danced.
We just went out there, and so I think we
set the tone pretty like this is gonna be chill.
(43:59):
It's going to be We're not gonna put on a
whole thing. No.
Speaker 2 (44:02):
A lot of the fans of the show feel like
some of the pros get regularly paired with celebrities that
maybe on the outside, don't seem as though they're gonna
go as far. Do you feel like the sharing of
celebrity talent is generally fair or how It's such a
(44:27):
hard question to ask because I know the casting process
has so many factors that go into it. But when
you hear fans say like, come on, how come some
people seem to get ringers year after year and other
people seem to get whatever the opposite of a ringer
is here after you?
Speaker 1 (44:44):
What are your thoughts on that. I do think that
when pairing comes that Honestly, that's kind of a hard question.
But I do think, you know, when parings do happen,
I think everything is considered. I can only speak for myself,
(45:07):
and I don't know if I've I don't actually I know,
I don't think I've had a ringer, and I do
feel like I want that chance, you know, I don't
know if I've had that chance. I do think Baron
could have been a dark horse. Again, if we he
could have potentially been a dark horse, But again, it
(45:28):
was very very competitive. I would actually argue that Daniel
was a bit of a dark horse. They are, you know,
if we're he had an incredible story, but you know,
he the challenge of dancing when you're deaf can be
(45:50):
and for Daniel, he's profoundly deaf, so deaf is very
vast in what the community is. You can be like doctory.
It's a huge spectrum and Daniel's profoundly deaf. So he
People don't realize how hard he worked on the show
because he had to learn everything. He had to learn
the choreography, but then he had to learn the rhythm.
He had to memorize when something was fast and when
something was slow. Wow, I didn't even think about any
(46:12):
of that stuff. Yeah, but he does have this like
very I always call it an internal metronome that for
some reason, he shocked me every single week. But you know,
he in his season he came on. If we're talking
about just social media, just numbers, yeah, he came onto
that season which was stacked with Charlie Demilio, Wayne Brady,
(46:35):
Chandela has a huge social social media following. I know
I'm missing some other people, Oh Jordan's sparks, like Selma Blair.
He came in with fifty thousand Instagram followers and we
made it fifth to fifth place, so he I would
actually consider Daniel to be a underdog for horse for sure,
(46:59):
But yeah, I don't. I don't know if I have
gotten a ringer yet. Actually I know you have not
gotten a ring and you're ready for them. My gosh,
I'm so ready. Yeah, I'm so ready. Yeah, I'm ready
for you to have that too.
Speaker 2 (47:12):
I'm ready for you to be like you know what,
I actually like having somebody with a little dance experience.
It's uh feels pretty good. I mean, maybe I'd just
like to pitch that maybe for season thirty five you
get like Usher.
Speaker 1 (47:26):
I mean, you know, it's crazy. One of my friends
had a dream that I would that I was going
to be paired with Usher, And that's really weird that
you just said that. It's that's wild. I don't think
Esher would ever do the show, but maybe maybe what
I bet I don't know him. I bet you everybody
we are calling baron the minute we leave here. One
(47:47):
to figure out when he can get in a rehearsal
space with you for this dedication week dance that I'm
gonna somehow facilitate, and two to see if he knows Usher.
Also side note, do you know.
Speaker 2 (47:58):
Okay I am going to ask for I'm not asking
for any sort of leg up here because all of
my competition could listen to this podcast, But if you
had to reveal the biggest strategy that you have learned
over the last six seasons of Dancing with the Stars,
what would it.
Speaker 1 (48:16):
Be, I would actually putting dancing scores, you know, social
media trends, all of that aside. I think it's actually
the connection with your partner. I think if you can
find that that connection, which I believe you and Pasha have.
(48:39):
You guys, you have an amazing camaraderie with each other
yea and support and it's also very cute to see.
Speaker 2 (48:46):
Like.
Speaker 1 (48:48):
Danny and Dylan and the four of you. And if
you can find that essence, I feel like that people
fall in love with that, people want to root for
that as well. You know, talking from experience, you know,
my best seasons have been with people that I also
have a big connection with Johnny Johnny Daniel and that
(49:09):
grew within the show. Yeah, so that would be my
one big advice to you, which I think that you're
already doing. I feel like again I said it you.
I think casting you is incredible for the show, and
you're pleasantly surprising on the dance floor. You're dynamic, and
(49:33):
what's so exciting about you is you're going to see
your growth.
Speaker 2 (49:36):
I hope, so I really, I desperately need to start
getting better every week. And you know, we're doing such
drastically style different styles of dance that it's hard to go.
You know, well, if maybe if I were to do
a tango again in week four, I'd be like, oh,
look at the difference in tango week one versus week four.
But I'm struggling to be like, you know, they're all
so different. But I do think it'll start, It'll start
(50:00):
to be more apparent that I'm growing and learning.
Speaker 1 (50:04):
So so close to it. Yeah, you're staring at yourself
for four hours as your day.
Speaker 2 (50:09):
I don't even like to look at myself for two minutes,
much less for four hours.
Speaker 1 (50:13):
And I'm like, welcome to a dancer's brain. This is
why we have so many problems.
Speaker 2 (50:16):
No, seriously, Like every now and then, Pasha's like, okay,
let's do it toward the mirror, and.
Speaker 1 (50:20):
I'm like, really do we have to? No? Please, don't know.
But imagine our audience. They get to see you once
a week, I know, and so they you know, you're
so close to it. Yeah, So the audience's perspective is
we're seeing your like major big shifts each week. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (50:38):
Well, and I appreciate your advice also because I feel
like it's so perfect coming from you, because you are
such a person who, as you have said, and it's
very clear to anybody who meets you, you really do
truly lead with authenticity and that your advice about the
connection with your partner is something you can't fake. It's
(50:58):
something you have, it's some thing you nurture, it's something
if you have it, you use it to your advantage,
and it is it's such a It's about connecting authentically
with the other person in the room with you, who
you're creating with, and your storytelling with you know, it's
I've also I've been so surprised by how much dance
is just a story telling element. I had never thought
(51:22):
of in this in the entertainment industry, and now that
I get to be a part of it, it's such
a fun new thing to play with. And I know,
I already know I'm going to be not just a
better dancer at the end of this, but I really
believe I'm going to be a better person at the
end of this. I already am, and so much of
that has been because of you and your advice and
(51:44):
getting to know you, and I am so grateful that
you came and spent your time with me on this
podcast today.
Speaker 1 (51:50):
Thank you so much. Brit Oh, my goodness, thank you.
I think you're such a ray of light like you
just beam and so I'm so happy that I'm here.
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (51:59):
I hope this is this is not the end of
our journey. I can't wait to spend more time with you.
Yes please, Okay, thank you all for listening to this
episode of Danielle with the Stars. I'll see you next time.
Danielle with the Stars produced and hosted by Danielle Fischel.
Executive producers Jensen Carp and Amy Sugarman, Executive in charge
of production, Danielle Romo, producer, editor and engineer Tara Sudbosch.
Speaker 1 (52:22):
Theme song by Justin Siegel. Follow us on Instagram at
Danielle with Stars and vote for me
Welcome to Danielle with the Stars.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
I am Danielle Fischl, a TV director, podcaster, forever topanga,
and a mom of two.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
But nowadays I am an aspiring.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Ballroom dancer competing on the thirty fourth season of Dancing
with the Stars, and all the while, I am continuing
to record a podcast forever immortalizing my attempt to be
the twenty twenty five Len Goodman Mirror Ball Trophy winner.
And every week I am podcasting for a leg up
through a bruised leg up by talking to pros, former contestants,
(00:46):
and even some of my peers, accepting any and all
advice in hopes that my national TV dream of a
perfect score could soon come true. And today I am
being spoiled with expertise because my guest is a fan
favorite Dancing with the Stars superstar who joined the show
in twenty sixteen, later becoming the first black female pro
(01:08):
dancer in the show's history. She began on Troop, then
just a year later, was partnered with figure skater Johnny Weir,
a celebrity she took all the way to the semifinals,
but since then she has ridden a bit of a
Dancing with the Stars roller Coaster, paired with Karate Kidd
and Cobra Kai star Martin Cove, TV actor Daniel Durant,
former NFL player Adrian Peterson, Legacy Hollywood named Eric Roberts,
(01:32):
and then this season she was with a teddy bear
who was eliminated in week two, the ray of Light
known as Baron Davis. I think it's safe to say
she has not had it easy, but yet through it all,
her star has shown brighter than ever. Her infectious smile
and undeniable talent has stood out to everyone who watches,
(01:55):
and now I get the chance to know her on
a deeper level while also picking her brain about my
own journey. Please welcome to Danielle with the Stars. A
total pro, a trooper, and someone who can make anyone shine.
It's brit Stewart.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Oh my goodness, Hello, you're the Queen of introductions. Can
you just come with me everywhere?
Speaker 2 (02:16):
I will anywhere you want to go. Just let me
walk in. Before you give a little intro, I'll shorten it.
I'll make it a little tighter, you know.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Yeah, if I could just have that in like a
ball of a daily affirmation, I'll let you keep the paper.
I am so happy you agreed to do this podcast.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
I have been trying to have you as a guest
literally since day one of the podcast.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
You were at the very top of my list. Thank you.
I'm so excited to be here, and I know I'm
just excited to talk to you. You're so sweet and
interacting with you at the rehearsal studio and everything. It's
just I'm excited to go on a deeper level. Yes,
me too.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
I wish we were here talking just because we were
still both rehearsing together. In no universe did I anticipate
that we would be sitting down for this podcast after
you and Baron had been eliminated, just during week two.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
It was absolutely flabbergasting to me.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
Was it as shocking to you as it was to
I think everyone else?
Speaker 1 (03:20):
It actually was? And I try to say that without
any ego involved, But I feel like if you're a
fan of the show, if you are, if you've watched
it for you know, it's been on air for twenty years, yes,
if you watch it, and then of course being part
of it, you kind of you kind of have a
(03:41):
feeling of who's going to go home or you have
like a few options and I really I didn't think
that we would go home week one. No, I knew
it was going to be difficult because this year is
the cast is I don't know if we've ever had
this competitive of a cast. I mean, if you don't
(04:02):
have dance experience, you have social media following, or you
have both, and so you know, I knew it was
going to be an uphill climb for us. But in
my mind, I was like, if I can get Baron
to week three, even week four, people are going to
fall exactly him. Yes he does. He has so much charisma,
(04:24):
his personality, his smile, his sense of humor, and so
much of that just takes a little bit of him
getting comfortable for him to reveal it. And so you knew,
like your work was going to be. How do I
get him comfortable enough out there to start letting more
of that shine?
Speaker 2 (04:42):
And really, yeah, it's just I was I was already
seeing it. But I feel like I got to Baron
and I connected very early on. We connected in New
York during Good Morning America. We ended up as being
somehow the only two cast members on the pro bus.
There were two different hotels and the rest of the
cast somehow got on the right bus to go to
(05:04):
their hotel, and we ended up on the professional dancer
bus and you guys all got dropped off first, and
so it was just Baron and I for maybe a
ten minute bus ride, and just in normal conversation, we
were like.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
Oh, you're one of my We're you're one of my people.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
And from that moment on, every time I knew he
was there, we made a point of finding each other,
checking in with each other. He was always so generous
with his advice, asking me how I was feeling, showing
me different stretches.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
We did our first show and tell.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Yeah, we together, and that was such a special moment,
and I was so I had no idea what to expect.
And you the work you put in with him, and
you can't hit you guys danced your first dance too.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
You can't touch this, and he just came alive. I. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
I think he's just such a special person and it
is not at all surprising to me that the two
of you connected. Did you guys connect the same way
it feels Barren and I connected?
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Oh? Yes. You know what I love about Baron is
he comes forward as his authentic self, always and so
I feel like if he's met with that same energy,
it's hard to not be connected with him. Yeah. I
think he's also an extremely curious person. So if he
(06:18):
like sees oh oh, he wants to try to get
to know you and try to you know, and also
be present in an experience and be present in whatever
he is doing. And so, you know, I knew Baron
and I would get along because during our first meet
he was like, I'm just here to learn something new,
(06:40):
to challenge myself, to be vulnerable. And that's my type
of people. I you know, for me'm I do wear
I don't wear my heart on my sleeves, actually, but
I am very sensitive, okay, and I try to I
don't try. I lead my life with authenticity. And one
(07:03):
of my mottos for life is to be a consistent student,
to always be a student, to always learn ooh. I
love that. And so when I first met him, I
was like, Okay, this is going to be this is
going to be fun. And then he has a sense
of humor on top of it, so you know, we
connected very quickly. I joke with him, I'm like, I
don't know if you manifested getting a sister, a little
(07:26):
sister in this life. But you have one. Now, you
have one, now your stuff. Yeah, we definitely connected. Did
it surprise you at all.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
To see the amount of support online? Yes, it did,
because there is quite a swell of justice for Baron.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
There is a swell. And I know it doesn't I
know it doesn't make it better, right, but I wanted
to make sure that he knew that is not normal,
especially in the beginning, like especially the first few eliminations.
It's not that's not typical. You know. Even though he
(08:03):
was only on the show for two weeks, he made
an impact.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Totally, which is a huge deal, and people saw in
him the same thing we see, which was just if
just a few more weeks, everyone would have been you
would have blossomed like a flower and everyone would have
been able.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
So it does. It feels like a robbery.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
The America, Canada, the world was cut short of being
able to know the Baron we know is just right
below that surface. And it's interesting that people were able
to see it. And so it just makes me say,
where were the vote?
Speaker 1 (08:40):
I know, Wow, it's so frustrating. It is what it is. Yeah,
and you can't change it. I know, and and one
of those people. You know, even though I'm like, it
was too short, all these things, I'm you know, I again,
I'm sensitive, so I felt all my feelings. At the
end of the day, I still believe that that is
(09:02):
what was meant to happen, right, So right, because what
if it's meant for you, it will be yours yours.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Yeah, and so you may not know exactly the why
of it happening, but you know that, Okay, it is
what it's supposed to be. So that's I mean, that's
a wonderful perspective to have and anything you do in.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
Life looking forward.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Had you guys continued, what were some of the things
you were looking forward to for some of the theme weeks?
Speaker 1 (09:27):
Do you want to share any of that? Actually?
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Would love great because I'm dying to know. I want
to know what your vision was for him.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
Yeah, so something super simple. We were supposed to have
a tango this week. And his frame was actually the
best frame that I've like. His frame was incredible, Oh
gorgeous frame on day one. Yes, so not only were
we robbed of Baron, but he we were robbed of
his gorgeous But that's okay. Okay, I was really looking
(09:58):
forward to we were going to do a West coast
like La True la hip hop for his dedication week.
Oh man, I still want to see it. Yeah, And
so I you know that that would just have been
a big celebration of not only like Los Angeles where
(10:20):
he's from, it was going to be a celebration of
his kids and almost this generational this generational celebration of
what he is curating for his children, and you know,
within that with hip hop and everything, also the celebration
of black culture too. Wow. So I was really looking
(10:41):
for I had a lot of ideas for Baron. Actually,
you know, he's a he's a businessman too, So I
was even thinking like, how can I dive into this
like structured business world of what you normally think of
what a businessman is and our eyes in America, But
how he deltely is not defined by what that stereotype is,
(11:04):
and he's this mega businessman. So I was playing around
with ideas with that, and oh I love that. I
had some dreams.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
Any any chance we could get you guys to still
put that together for that dedication week.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
I feel like that dedication week everyone needs that. Yeah, Okay,
let me you know what, let me give him a call.
Let's do what we can do. I called him yesterday.
I called him yesterday. I wanted to check in. He
was like, you know, I kind of want to come visit.
And I was like, I mean, you know, you know
what that's actually breaking my heart. Maybe the most is
he's really upset.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
He he.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
Oh, he misses it. And I don't think people realize
when you really take a chance on something, when you
really open yourself up to an experience, it takes a
lot of vulnerability. And so he's, yeah, he's he's missing you.
Let me know how I can help you. Let me
know what I can do. I want to we need
(12:01):
to rent a space, set a space.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
I just want I want you guys to be able
to go out on your terms, pick you know, for
you to have like, Okay, I didn't get to I
didn't get to make.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
The decision that we left on week two.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
But here's a week that was going to mean something
black to black culture, to your children, to music, to him.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Let's do it anyway, Let's do it anyway. Why not?
Why not?
Speaker 2 (12:28):
Why not put it together, have fun with it own,
have it for himself, because he did say when I
talked to him yesterday, he was.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Like, you know, I just I guess I'm not a dancer.
And I was like, surprise, you are? You are?
Speaker 2 (12:42):
And he started dying. He was like, yeah, you know what,
You're right, Surprise I am. I was like, you are?
Speaker 1 (12:49):
You were? So I don't know.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
I just want to see I just want to I
want to see it. I want there to be I
want there to be a nice button that feels like
there's some owner.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
I love that for you both. Thank you.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
So I don't know what I can do, but anything
is very want I want to do.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
Now.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Outside of the obvious, have you kept in touch with
a lot of your partners over the years, I.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
Actually have, Well, we all know the very obvious there,
That's what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Outside of the obvious, the one who you recently married
and lived with. Because I'm thinking about moving in with Pasha,
and yes, so you should.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
I think maybe you should. Maybe you should just purchase
a commune and then you know your families can just
actually love that idea.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Yeah, communal living either for each other, raise the children
in the group.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
I think that's smart. Yeah, I haven't talked to them
about it. Oh, I think it's a great idea. Yeah,
I think so. Maybe fine. You know, I'm still really
good friends with my very first partner, Johnny Weir. He
was actually a bridesmaid and the photos wonderful, and he
is just you know, we instantly clicked, okay, instantly, and
(14:04):
you know, I call him doodle. He calls me Bruce.
It's a thing so cute. What are those nicknames? Doodle?
So I don't know, I just started calling him doodle.
He's so cute, like he's a little doodle. He is
just a doodle, and I it's just so now it's
his nickname. Later to find out his family, any they
(14:27):
call anything that's cute doodle. Really, yes, And I had
no idea. I just started calling him doodle. I know that.
I know that's weird.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
That's oh yeah, that's a sole connection. Yes, oh oh,
one thousand percent is a sole connection. And then he
calls me Bruce because apparently I'm like very sometimes I
can be aggressive when I count the chat shaw oh,
which was I don't know.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
He just he would be like four. I would sometimes
go four and he was like, oh, okay, Bruce. Bruce
is out I sent him in one of our you
know how we get the camera blocking photos. Oh my
mouth was like doing something crazy, Like I was obviously
mid scream, you know, leading bar on the floor, and
I I like zoomed in very close in. I was like, doodle,
(15:18):
Bruce is back. Check out this photo of Bruce. Check
out Bruce. Those photos I don't. I don't love a
lot of them. No, no, it's like mid motion thing,
weird things. I saw the one with your hair hilarious.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
Okay, great, yeah, so good. Yeah, hair was all over
the place there. I also with my leg bruise. Wouldn't
The day that I did the cartwheel, I was wearing
shorts and it was like, you know, mid cartwheels, by
the way.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
Just not going to be attractive, no period. It's just
legs everywhere.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
And then like dark Bruce in my upper thigh. I
was like, guys, did we could we not have just
not snapped the camera during that moment. But you know, okay,
I wanted to talk to you a little bit about
your Disney roots because that is something we share. You
are a principal dancer in all three of the High
School musical films, all directed by Kenny Ortega.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
Were you intimidated working with such an icon at a
young age? Oh, this is quite embarrassing. I have to
tell you. I didn't know who Kinny was. You were like,
was it weird for me? No? I was like, Okay,
hey dude, Hey, what's up? No, hey, broch Okay, this
is great. No. I so I didn't go through the
(16:30):
normal audition process. Okay, they were. I happened to be
in New York at a national dance competition. It's called
New York Sky Dance Lions, and one of the co choreographers,
Bonnie's Story. She has a daughter same age as me,
and we were both there alone without our big dance studios,
and we bonded in the rehearsal process, and Bonnie saw
(16:55):
me dance, and randomly we were on the same subway
after like an late night rehearsal. Okay, with my I
was with my mom. Kelly, her daughter same age as me,
was with Bonnie and she just looks at us and
she goes, this is going to be absolutely insane. But
I'm filming a movie this summer in Utah with Kenny
(17:15):
ar Otega, and we're looking for one more dancer, one
more female dancer. And I really I've already called Kenny,
you are it. You would have to come straight from
New York to Utah, but you can. You can live
with me and my family and the girls, the whole thing.
And my mom and I were like, oh, okay, god, yeah, girls,
(17:39):
we'll think about it. Yeah. And so then you know,
I was like, I'm supposed to be staying and assisting
this choreographer named Brian Friedman at the Broadway Dance Center
after New York whose I don't know Kenneyega Artega in
Utah and Utah you know, I from Colorado. So it's okay,
you know, it's not too far off, but still, and
(18:01):
you know you're in New York. I'm in New York.
I'd have to go without my parents, like all all
these things. So I called Brian Friedman, who I was
meant to assist in his classes and his master classes,
and he goes, Britt, you, Kenny or Tega, you have
to go ends up. Brian Friedman his first job was
(18:24):
as a dancer as a child was Newsi's and Kenny
or Teja choreographed newsies and so he was like, this
is kismet, that this is happening. This would be your
first professional job. You have to go, and so I went,
and you know, High School Musical was not supposed to
be what it was. It was six weeks. It was
(18:44):
low budget Disney Channel Channel film that became this cultural phenomenon. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
I can't believe how many things in your life are
all connected.
Speaker 1 (18:57):
It's it's actually wild.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
Do you notice in the moment or are you the
type of person who, with with some space and time,
looks back and then finds the connections or you do
you notice as they're happening, You're like, oh, here's a
here's a thing, here's a sign.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
No, they just kind of happen. I mean, same thing
with Dancing with the Stars. I got the audition from
being in a rehearsal, had no idea, absolutely no idea.
Just again, these big moments feel quite kismet in my life.
I feel very blessed in that way.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
You've got guides, I do, Yeah, I do. We've got
guides and they're they're.
Speaker 1 (19:36):
They're doing their work. They're doing their work, and then
you're like, oh, thanks, and.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
You are prepared at the right place at the right time,
and wow, it's pretty great. You have danced with Janet Jackson, Rihanna,
Selena Gomez, Nick Jonas as a dancer on tour. Do
(20:05):
you ever get sick of hearing the songs? Because that
would be an occupational hazard. You're losing a lot of
bops in your life.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
Can you still listen to all the music of the
people you've danced for? So the longest I've danced for
an artist is three years, and I was with Katie
Perry for three years, wild three years. Three years, and
I'm actually proud to say I did not get sick
of her music. Okay, great, good? Those are boy, They're boppy,
(20:33):
They're great. But I'm very shocked by my answer, really honestly.
And I can still listen to Teenage Dream and still
love it. I love it. It takes me back a little bit. Yeah,
that's a little nostalgia for you. Okay, Well that's good.
That makes me happy. Is there a dream musician you
would want to tour with? You know what? I think?
(20:56):
I'm gonna be honest, I don't know. I don't think so.
I think as far as a dancer goes, touring with
Katie for that long was such a full experience. I mean,
I got to go all over the world. We did.
I was in her super Bowl performance, like I got
to do so with her, and then like after I
(21:17):
danced for Jana Jackson, I was like, what else is there? Yeah?
This was pretty cool. Yeah, exactly, I'm good. So I
don't know about dance. Yeah, maybe if I could, like
choreograph for somebody.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
Maybe I love that is that you're where your sites
are starting to send you.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
You know, I'm a little bit I'm I'm a limitless
dreamer and I've always believed that choreography would still be
my connection to dance after I stopped dancing. So yeah,
I talked to Mandy Moore the other day.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
We and I interviewed her and she was telling me
a little bit about her process for choreographing the tour
and how, you know, some of it she's a planner.
Some of it needs to start now, but also she
needs to see how the season ends up.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
And is there now that you have some unexpected free time.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
Does Mandy ever ask you to come in and help
think of things, put things together, being that you are
clearly so good at.
Speaker 1 (22:16):
What you do, thank you not typically Actually that sort
of process really happens once we're in the rehearsal process. Okay,
I mean Mandy is like my I actually call her
one of like my fairy dance godmothers because she had
such a massive part in bringing me on to Dancing
with the Stars. Oh yeah, Like that rehearsal that I
(22:38):
was talking about was her rehearsal, and she put me in.
She actually asked me to dance with Derek in a
moment that I wasn't supposed to dance with him, but
he needed a partner and that we were filming a
wide and that's what got sent to all of the
producers and the networking sects, and that's how I got
my audition for Troop Wow. And so she just kind
(23:00):
of made all the puzzle pieces of the puzzle come together,
and she really helped and supported me in that journey.
But you know, sometimes she'll she usually during a season,
will sit down with each of the pros that are
going on tour and just talk about some of the
things that we really are either feeling inspired by or
(23:23):
feeling like, hey, I did a cha chaw last tour.
I don't necessarily need to do a cha cha, but
maybe I can do a rumba this year. That is
our involvement in her creation process, and then things she yes, absolutely,
things unfold and develop within the rehearsal process. It's actually
(23:44):
I'm actually really glad that you asked me this, because
there's this rumor going around that Emma and I request
to have partners that get eliminated early so that we
can have involvement. Can you imagine being the time.
Speaker 2 (23:58):
I mean, in order to be a part of this
show and to even do remotely well in it, you
have to be competitive.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
Can you imagine being a professional dancer who's involved in
a show where you're going to try to win a
mirror ball by teaching a celebrity who most of the
time knows very little about dance, and then being like,
I only want to do it for like a couple
of weeks.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
Can you give me?
Speaker 2 (24:22):
I mean, that's ah, that's a crazy rumor.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
It is crazy. But Emma is the host, she's one
of the co hosts of the tour on it, and
then I'm dance captain when we go on tour, But
my work doesn't really start until we get out.
Speaker 2 (24:36):
Until you get out on the road, but at least
you know where the impetus for that rumor started. You
guys have special names and roles attached to the tour
that maybe other people do not have, and so.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
There was a little bit of an assumption made.
Speaker 2 (24:50):
But so, okay, you do not actually have a hand
in the choreography until you're in the actual tour and
things flourish on their own, collaboratively exactly, okay. Uh. And
so with your origin on Dancing with the Stars, producers
saw you in this wonderful world of Disney show, right
and that rehearsal okay, and they ask you to audition
for Troop. You get the job, but you didn't have
(25:13):
any experience.
Speaker 1 (25:14):
In ballroom dancing, right, okay.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
And so this is an important question for some of us,
very relevant to me at least.
Speaker 1 (25:22):
How did you get so good so fast? And can
I have it? You know what? It's First of all,
I feel like I was always meant to do this
style of dance because it didn't come I don't want
to it didn't come easy, but I loved it right away.
(25:47):
I also feel like, you know, I was on True.
I was on True for five seasons actually, okay, And
so it gave me time to become a student. So
as I was doing true my first season, I was
also training simultaneously, okay, And then when I got into
(26:08):
the world and learned more about the ballroom world, I
was like, this is completely different from the type of
dance and the community that I grew up in, and
I really wanted to not only show respect to the
art form, to the dance style, but to also my peers.
So I ended up competing in pro am as well
(26:30):
to really like, not for the not for the accolade,
not for anything other to dive deeper into the culture
of ballroom because it is it is unique all on
its own. Yeah, it's completely different than how I was
raised in the dance world.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
Right, That's what Mandy was saying too. Mandy was saying,
it doesn't matter how well versed you are in contemporary
or modern or jazz or hip hop, it does not matter.
Speaker 1 (27:00):
It's a totally different thing. It's wild. Yeah, it's wild.
I actually love teaching kids that have ballet, contemporary, jazz,
tap hip hop training to do ballroom because I know
exactly how it feels. And sometimes I'll look at them
and I'll say, I know this feels crazy, Yeah, I
know this is this is this is exactly opposite from
what your ballet teacher is teaching you right now. But
(27:23):
this is why, this is how we initiate a movement
like this in ballroom. Yeah, I kind of geek out
on it a little bit. I love that. I love
that you geek out on it. I feel like Pasha
geeks out on it too. Oh. I think Pasha geeks
out more than I do.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Okay, okay, yeah, yeah, I was just saying I feel
like Pasha's definitely geeking out, and I'm like, okay, you
really love this.
Speaker 1 (27:42):
He loves it. Yeah. I love Pasha's dedication. He's always practicing,
always perfecting, always, and I feel like you guys are
a very good match. We are, We are a very
good match.
Speaker 2 (27:54):
He's been saying in interviews that he thought he was
a perfectionist until he met me, and now he feels
like he can let go of that title.
Speaker 1 (28:01):
I was like, no, no, no, no, definitely not.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
What did it mean then for you when you in
twenty twenty were asked to become the first black female
pro on Dancing with the Stars, What did it mean
to you?
Speaker 1 (28:14):
Oh? My goodness, Well, it was very overwhelming and it
was also unexpected, so I did five seasons on Troop
and the season before season twenty eight he actually got
rid of the Troop. And right before that season, I
had re auditioned to become a pro, and I remember
at the time, the showrunner different than Conrad called me,
(28:36):
and he was straight up from the beginning. He's like,
I don't want to sugarcoat anything. This call is not
going to be good. Oh man, yeah, I know he was.
He basically said, we were very impressed with your audition,
we love you, but we're not going to promote you
to be a pro. And then on top of that,
we're getting rid of Troop this season, so out of
the job.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
Yeah, not only do you not get the job you want,
but the job you have you don't have it exactly.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
And so then I, just like any industry dancer does,
or I should say, anyone in this industry, does you Okay,
you feel what you pi it and you pivot immediately.
And that's exactly what I did. I just did. I
just called my agent.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
I was like, get me look exactly exactly, tell us
what find me.
Speaker 1 (29:25):
Some work exactly. And the work that I did in
that year actually ended up being really great. It was
and I think it all prepared me to become a pro.
And I'm actually very grateful for that time off because
I think if I would have become a pro immediately
after Troop, I would have been too close to it.
(29:46):
I would have been like, I don't know. It gave
me a little bit of a fresh perspective and just
a breath.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
Yeah, a breath of Yeah, a nice little breath away
from something which is also something you do and dance.
Speaker 1 (29:58):
Yes, yes, you have to. Times you just have to
not practice, just need to. I call it marination. You
need to let it marinate and get some sleep sometimes. Yeah,
not always, not if you're just being lazy. Yeah, there's
a different there's a big difference. Yeah, yeah, yeah, difference.
So and then, of course in twenty twenty the world
(30:18):
shut down, so you know, I was also like we
were still isolated when I when I learned that I
was going to become a pown, did you learn that
you were going to become op?
Speaker 2 (30:28):
This is now I want to hear the flip side,
because you had the conversation that started off with guess what,
this is bad news. I'm just warning you now it's
going to be a bad conversation. What was the flip
side of that conversation.
Speaker 1 (30:40):
So Dina texted me and she just simply asked, can
you can you do a video call at this time?
And I was like, okay, okay, yeah, I guess of
course sure. I mean even if I wasn't in isolation,
I would have dropped everything too, Like when Dina text you,
(31:00):
when this.
Speaker 2 (31:01):
Is Dina Cats for those of you who may not know,
Dina CAATs executive producer, casting, really very very very high
up head honcho, lots of decisions being made by Dina exactly.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
And so I said yes, anytime, whatever. Yeah. So then
we get onto a zoom and she tells me that
I'm becoming a pro and I actually I was like,
I think I was in such shock. I was almost
emotionless because I was like just say yes, yeah, that
just happy and yes, yes. And then I called my mom.
(31:38):
I was like, I lost it when I called my mom.
Of course I lost it. Yeah, And I was just
filled with so much gratitude. And then after that, I
was like, oh my gosh, I'm not only is you know,
this dream of mine coming true, but now I'm becoming
you know, this representation that has not existed until now
(31:58):
tell you and you know it's the representation has been
in the celebrity Partners, but never as a dancer, which
is so important. And it was very overwhelming, very exciting.
And then when I got there for the premiere, I
(32:18):
had a little baby like not freak out, but I
felt very overwhelmed, and I felt very much like I
was putting a ton of pressure on myself to be
perfect and to be right. Now. I have to be
at all. Now, I have to be at Allah. And
that season, I'm so grateful I was partnered with Johnny
(32:40):
that season. Johnny is so there is no other human
in this world that is like Johnny Weir, and he
taught me so much in that season. I always led
with authenticity, but sometimes in moments of fear or moments
of anxiety, I would I would just little myself, make
(33:02):
myself small. And I just learned in that moment that
all I have to do is show up as myself
and that would be the perfect representation because that's all
I have, is me. I don't need to do anything
other than just show up and be me exactly. And
so wonderful that you had a partner that was able
to recognize you doing it and to be able to
point it out to you and say, don't do that.
Speaker 2 (33:24):
You know again, such a wonderful like the things that
happened that have happened for you in your life, Like
what a perfect first partner for you, What a gift. Yes,
probably a decision made by Dina, by the way, Yes
it was.
Speaker 1 (33:37):
And yeah, he was like, just let your bruce, your
inner bruce fly, everybody, let your inner bruce out. Fine,
let your inner bruce go. I love it.
Speaker 2 (33:48):
I ask every guest this because I know that there
are sort of two camps on the subject. One that is,
one camp is totally fine with celebrities coming in having
previous dance experience, and then the other camp, who think
the premise of the show should be to teach newbies.
Speaker 1 (34:07):
Where do you fall on the subject. It is so interesting.
I'm gonna say this, ooh, this is actually a little
bit difficult for me because I've actually, outside of Johnny, who,
even though he's a figure skater, never took a dance class,
I've actually never had a partner with previous dance experiences.
(34:29):
So I come from that side of it. I see
my peers with partners with dance experience, and they're able
to have like a lot of creative freedom. I'll say, yeah,
so that is I could see some people on one
(34:51):
side saying, Okay, like you can like really produce some things.
There's not as many like limitations or what have you.
But I still go back in the heart of the
show is teaching someone how to dance? Yeah, and is
teaching someone the very beginning and what that journey is like,
(35:13):
you know, and some you know, if you go to
past season, some of those people that won that had
zero dance experience, Oh my gosh, how rewarding, I know,
how incredible to see them from their first days of
rehearsals and then at the finale doing their freestyle like
a proper dancer. Right, That is the heart of the show.
(35:35):
And I almost think it's like it's a little bit
more rewarding. Yeah in my eyes. Yeah, you're right. And
and certainly.
Speaker 2 (35:44):
For you as the pro to be able to see
like I did that you know, of course the celebrity
had to put in the work, but like you were
able to figure out how to communicate to somebody in
a language they do not speak, to become fluent.
Speaker 1 (36:01):
Yes, in this language in a short amount of time
and zero time, zero time.
Speaker 2 (36:07):
I mean, I mean, I'm talking about how crazy the
schedule is. Four hours a day is just not enough
time to really get everything across. I mean, Pasha talks
a lot about teaching and layers. You know, like the
first day is really just you are in your brain
one hundred percent of the time making sure you can
try to remember the steps. That's day one goal, Day
(36:28):
one goal. Can you just remember the steps? And then
after that it's like, Okay, that's honestly going to end
up only being worth about ten percent.
Speaker 1 (36:36):
Of this whole thing.
Speaker 2 (36:38):
If that's all we got, we're not going to have much,
and that's crazy. So that you're like, now I gotta
start doing the steps bigger, wider, grander, more this, and now.
Speaker 1 (36:47):
I got a twist while I'm doing them, and now
I gotta perform while I'm doing it.
Speaker 2 (36:50):
Now I have to be in my heart and not
in my head. The fact that you guys are able
to do it with total dumb dums like myself. I
do not know how you do what you do, but
I will say my biggest takeaway so far, and only
however many weeks I've been a part of the show
is how truly remarkable.
Speaker 1 (37:10):
You guys are you are. You are the stars of
Dancing with the.
Speaker 2 (37:15):
Stars, and you keep spirits high and you are patient
and you don't I mean, I would be losing my
marbles if I would be losing my marbles.
Speaker 1 (37:26):
I don't know how you guys do it, but you're incredible.
I mean, I will say I was so pleasantly surprised
that first time we did a show and tell with you, Okay,
I mean I thought you blew me away. Really, yes,
thank you. Yes, I would say, like, just just trust
in your process because it's it's paying off, like it
(37:48):
is to me to watch you go out on the
ballroom floor and do what you do with no previous
experience is absolutely remarkable, Like, thank you. I remember that
first show and Tell. I looked at you and I
was like, you are the epitome of this show, and
you gave all of us a very nice pep talk.
Speaker 2 (38:08):
It was, And I went home and I specifically told
my husband, I said, britt.
Speaker 1 (38:12):
Just gave us the nicest talk.
Speaker 2 (38:14):
You know, because every we all pretty much nailed that
first Show and Tell.
Speaker 1 (38:19):
We were all nervous.
Speaker 2 (38:20):
We had never done this before we're about ready to
show our dances for the first time. And even though,
of course were there are things we all could have
done better or little things that were missed. Sure, but
nobody fell apart, which is kind of the expectation is like,
let's do this so that you get your fall apart
moment now, and nobody really fell apart. And then we
were all just looking at each other like we just
did that. And at the end of it, you were like,
(38:42):
I just have to give I have to tell you,
you guys are what the heart of.
Speaker 1 (38:46):
This show is.
Speaker 2 (38:47):
And it meant a lot to us who were in
that room, and so thank you. It's just it goes
to show what a special person you are. So in
season thirty one, let's talk about the fact that you
(39:11):
were paired with actor Daniel Durant. You place fifth, your
best showing to date. But most importantly, did you ever
say I will never have a showmance on Dancing.
Speaker 1 (39:23):
With the Stars And did you actually believe that? I
actually believe you did. Yes, I you know. And no
judgment too, I mean I can't obviously I can't judge
because I had a show. We know that judgment I mean, yeah,
but I just you know, I think also starting in
the industry at such a young age, at fifteen, I
think I saw a lot of showmances, right, and I
(39:45):
kind of know that that's not for me. That's not
for me. I like to keep my work and my
love separate totally. And funny with Daniel, he's the same way,
because you know, you can have an intimate scene or
a love scene, or a character or whatever, but then
you go home and you that was your character. You
left that at home totally, or you left that at
(40:05):
the studio, whatever it is. And so we both had
the same mindset entering into work.
Speaker 2 (40:13):
Right, this is a business. It's a business, and we're
gonna be friends. Of course we have to have chemistry, yes,
but that's where it ends.
Speaker 1 (40:19):
Yes, And I knew we had chemistry. We both knew
that we had chemistry from the beginning. But it wasn't
it wasn't really like, it wasn't romantic romantic, it wasn't
like intimate in that sort of way. And it's so
funny the way Daniel says it is hilarious, Like American
sign language is extremely expressive and sometimes like if I
(40:41):
was to interpret what he was signing, it'd be like, oh,
I did it. I was not attracted to her at all.
I didn't even I didn't even I didn't even never
even that. I'm like, whoa easy settle down, settle down,
you can still appreciate, yes, exactly. But we really just
in that process we became teammates. First, like we just
(41:06):
had this goal and we just we we wanted to
have a great team have fun together. And you know,
I'm way more competitive than he is, but he was
still very competitive. Yeah, and then we actually became legitimately
friends and we would go get ivs and with his interpreter,
we were like to do, yes, we don't. Who doesn't
(41:29):
go get IV's with their friends anyone not in LA.
That sounds very weird to anyone not here, but for us.
We did a cold plunge contrast therapy IV's red light.
I said, you know, a casual friend date. And then
we got eliminated and we didn't see each other, and
(41:51):
we started texting, and then one day he was it
was actually in his trailer. He was just it was
it was after we got eliminated and his interpreter stepped
out and he was like staring at me. And I
looked at him and I was like, why are you
looking at me like that? And all he signed was
I think you know exactly why I'm looking at you,
and I said I do and same but and then
(42:17):
and then we were like and I was like, I
gotta go figure out my life. And then we went
to dinner and then nothing happened. And then I think
both of us were so hesitant because we had been
with each other every single day. Dancing with the Stars
is extremely intense. I don't know if we thought it was.
Speaker 2 (42:33):
Real right, You're like, was that because we were kind
of forced to be in a room together for that
many hours?
Speaker 1 (42:40):
Or is this legitimate? Will it survive outside of the
pressure cooker? Yes? And then he the first time he
kissed me, he asked, oh so sweet, like can I
kiss you? And then we kiss and both of us
were like this.
Speaker 2 (42:57):
Yes, oh so well, you guys, I mean, you've started
the falling in love process on the show, but you
didn't technically fall in love on the show. It's not
like the cameras were around and you were like, pretend
we're just friends. You guys really were just partners with
the same goal in mind. Who became legitimate friends, and
(43:17):
then after you were eliminated, actually fell in love. Yeah,
oh gosh, I love your love stories so much. For
your wedding, were people intimidated to get on the dance floor?
Speaker 1 (43:29):
I thought about that the minute. The minute I knew
you were getting married.
Speaker 2 (43:32):
I was like, how do normal people dance at a wedding?
For incredible dancers?
Speaker 1 (43:38):
I would, I'd be like, I'm just gonna set this
one out, you know, It's so funny. It was actually
our family and friends that weren't dancers that were dancing
the most. Wow, which is hilarious. That's great. I also
think Daniel and I for our first dance, we didn't
do anything like choreographed or anything. We just slow danced.
We just went out there, and so I think we
set the tone pretty like this is gonna be chill.
(43:59):
It's going to be We're not gonna put on a
whole thing. No.
Speaker 2 (44:02):
A lot of the fans of the show feel like
some of the pros get regularly paired with celebrities that
maybe on the outside, don't seem as though they're gonna
go as far. Do you feel like the sharing of
celebrity talent is generally fair or how It's such a
(44:27):
hard question to ask because I know the casting process
has so many factors that go into it. But when
you hear fans say like, come on, how come some
people seem to get ringers year after year and other
people seem to get whatever the opposite of a ringer
is here after you?
Speaker 1 (44:44):
What are your thoughts on that. I do think that
when pairing comes that Honestly, that's kind of a hard question.
But I do think, you know, when parings do happen,
I think everything is considered. I can only speak for myself,
(45:07):
and I don't know if I've I don't actually I know,
I don't think I've had a ringer, and I do
feel like I want that chance, you know, I don't
know if I've had that chance. I do think Baron
could have been a dark horse. Again, if we he
could have potentially been a dark horse, But again, it
(45:28):
was very very competitive. I would actually argue that Daniel
was a bit of a dark horse. They are, you know,
if we're he had an incredible story, but you know,
he the challenge of dancing when you're deaf can be
(45:50):
and for Daniel, he's profoundly deaf, so deaf is very
vast in what the community is. You can be like doctory.
It's a huge spectrum and Daniel's profoundly deaf. So he
People don't realize how hard he worked on the show
because he had to learn everything. He had to learn
the choreography, but then he had to learn the rhythm.
He had to memorize when something was fast and when
something was slow. Wow, I didn't even think about any
(46:12):
of that stuff. Yeah, but he does have this like
very I always call it an internal metronome that for
some reason, he shocked me every single week. But you know,
he in his season he came on. If we're talking
about just social media, just numbers, yeah, he came onto
that season which was stacked with Charlie Demilio, Wayne Brady,
(46:35):
Chandela has a huge social social media following. I know
I'm missing some other people, Oh Jordan's sparks, like Selma Blair.
He came in with fifty thousand Instagram followers and we
made it fifth to fifth place, so he I would
actually consider Daniel to be a underdog for horse for sure,
(46:59):
But yeah, I don't. I don't know if I have
gotten a ringer yet. Actually I know you have not
gotten a ring and you're ready for them. My gosh,
I'm so ready. Yeah, I'm so ready. Yeah, I'm ready
for you to have that too.
Speaker 2 (47:12):
I'm ready for you to be like you know what,
I actually like having somebody with a little dance experience.
It's uh feels pretty good. I mean, maybe I'd just
like to pitch that maybe for season thirty five you
get like Usher.
Speaker 1 (47:26):
I mean, you know, it's crazy. One of my friends
had a dream that I would that I was going
to be paired with Usher, And that's really weird that
you just said that. It's that's wild. I don't think
Esher would ever do the show, but maybe maybe what
I bet I don't know him. I bet you everybody
we are calling baron the minute we leave here. One
(47:47):
to figure out when he can get in a rehearsal
space with you for this dedication week dance that I'm
gonna somehow facilitate, and two to see if he knows Usher.
Also side note, do you know.
Speaker 2 (47:58):
Okay I am going to ask for I'm not asking
for any sort of leg up here because all of
my competition could listen to this podcast, But if you
had to reveal the biggest strategy that you have learned
over the last six seasons of Dancing with the Stars,
what would it.
Speaker 1 (48:16):
Be, I would actually putting dancing scores, you know, social
media trends, all of that aside. I think it's actually
the connection with your partner. I think if you can
find that that connection, which I believe you and Pasha have.
(48:39):
You guys, you have an amazing camaraderie with each other
yea and support and it's also very cute to see.
Speaker 2 (48:46):
Like.
Speaker 1 (48:48):
Danny and Dylan and the four of you. And if
you can find that essence, I feel like that people
fall in love with that, people want to root for
that as well. You know, talking from experience, you know,
my best seasons have been with people that I also
have a big connection with Johnny Johnny Daniel and that
(49:09):
grew within the show. Yeah, so that would be my
one big advice to you, which I think that you're
already doing. I feel like again I said it you.
I think casting you is incredible for the show, and
you're pleasantly surprising on the dance floor. You're dynamic, and
(49:33):
what's so exciting about you is you're going to see
your growth.
Speaker 2 (49:36):
I hope, so I really, I desperately need to start
getting better every week. And you know, we're doing such
drastically style different styles of dance that it's hard to go.
You know, well, if maybe if I were to do
a tango again in week four, I'd be like, oh,
look at the difference in tango week one versus week four.
But I'm struggling to be like, you know, they're all
so different. But I do think it'll start, It'll start
(50:00):
to be more apparent that I'm growing and learning.
Speaker 1 (50:04):
So so close to it. Yeah, you're staring at yourself
for four hours as your day.
Speaker 2 (50:09):
I don't even like to look at myself for two minutes,
much less for four hours.
Speaker 1 (50:13):
And I'm like, welcome to a dancer's brain. This is
why we have so many problems.
Speaker 2 (50:16):
No, seriously, Like every now and then, Pasha's like, okay,
let's do it toward the mirror, and.
Speaker 1 (50:20):
I'm like, really do we have to? No? Please, don't know.
But imagine our audience. They get to see you once
a week, I know, and so they you know, you're
so close to it. Yeah, So the audience's perspective is
we're seeing your like major big shifts each week. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (50:38):
Well, and I appreciate your advice also because I feel
like it's so perfect coming from you, because you are
such a person who, as you have said, and it's
very clear to anybody who meets you, you really do
truly lead with authenticity and that your advice about the
connection with your partner is something you can't fake. It's
(50:58):
something you have, it's some thing you nurture, it's something
if you have it, you use it to your advantage,
and it is it's such a It's about connecting authentically
with the other person in the room with you, who
you're creating with, and your storytelling with you know, it's
I've also I've been so surprised by how much dance
is just a story telling element. I had never thought
(51:22):
of in this in the entertainment industry, and now that
I get to be a part of it, it's such
a fun new thing to play with. And I know,
I already know I'm going to be not just a
better dancer at the end of this, but I really
believe I'm going to be a better person at the
end of this. I already am, and so much of
that has been because of you and your advice and
(51:44):
getting to know you, and I am so grateful that
you came and spent your time with me on this
podcast today.
Speaker 1 (51:50):
Thank you so much. Brit Oh, my goodness, thank you.
I think you're such a ray of light like you
just beam and so I'm so happy that I'm here.
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (51:59):
I hope this is this is not the end of
our journey. I can't wait to spend more time with you.
Yes please, Okay, thank you all for listening to this
episode of Danielle with the Stars. I'll see you next time.
Danielle with the Stars produced and hosted by Danielle Fischel.
Executive producers Jensen Carp and Amy Sugarman, Executive in charge
of production, Danielle Romo, producer, editor and engineer Tara Sudbosch.
Speaker 1 (52:22):
Theme song by Justin Siegel. Follow us on Instagram at
Danielle with Stars and vote for me
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