May 13, 2024 • 45 mins
A true DWTS OG is on the pod!
Esteemed professional ballroom dancer Jonathan Roberts was on Dancing with the Stars from day one and was one of Cheryl's first dance teachers when she was just a teenager!
Jonathan reveals what Cheryl was like as a student, being on DWTS from the start, the things he wanted to do on the show in the first season but wasn't allowed to, and what it was really like having Macy Gray and Heather Mills as dance partners.
Plus, Cheryl goes there. . . she asks if Marie Osmond's fainting was scripted! Jonathan also answers fans' questions like whether he would ever return to the show, his relationship with Anna Trebunskaya, and a revealing Rapid Fire Q & A!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
This is Sex Lies and spray Tands with Me, Cheryl
Burke and iHeartRadio Podcast. Welcome back to sex Sizes and
spray Tands, where we dive into the glamorous and not
so glamorous world of a reality TV. Today, we're joined
by a true maestro of the ballroom who steps Grace
the very first season of Dancing with the Stars and
many more thereafter. He's not only captivated audiences with his
(00:24):
elegance on the dance floor, but has also coached and
inspired dancers around the globe. Fun fact, guys, our next
guest was one of my first ever ballroom dance teachers,
whom I even competed with when I was like twelve
or thirteen years old at one of the Bay Area
dance competitions in the pro Am Junior division Category two
(00:44):
be exact. Obviously I was the am and he was
the pro. Great times. Okay, please welcome my long lost
friend Jonathan Roberts to the show. Welcome to sex Lize
and spray Tand when was the last time we saw
each other in person?
Speaker 2 (01:00):
I guess right, I don't even remember.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
It was been over a decade, yeah, like maybe.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Some was it? The hunt did I go to the
hunter of the show. I don't even remember, but probably
back then sometime.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Wow, Jonathan, and I've known you out of everybody the longest,
I would say, from like the original pro dancers, right,
like you were one of my first ballroom dance teachers ever.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Right, I remember you and your first partner coming down
to Santa today and staying in my house when we
had lessons from all the coaches from England.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Yes, all over David Bruckner.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
David Bruckner, Yeah, are you guys?
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Do you still No, he's out.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Of the business. I heard he moved to Oregon somewhere
in the mountains. I don't know, probably hunting goats. I'm
not sure. I haven't haven't seen.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Him mage, Jonathan, how are you?
Speaker 2 (01:49):
First of all, so I'm great. I got remarried. So
I have two kids, two girls, three and five. So
that's super amazing. Changes your life?
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Oh wow? And are they dancing? Are you going to
put them into some fishing?
Speaker 2 (02:05):
So the last thing I want them to do, unless
they really insist, is while we're dancing. We know all
the bad part of that, right. So they did one
dance class and then they wanted to get pretty dresses
and shoes. So I said they had to practice if
they wanted to go back. So then they said, can
we just get the pretty dress and shoes and not
go back. Yes, we have a deal.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
So they're just not into ballroom whatsoever or practicing for
it so far.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
So if they want to get to it later, sure,
they're both doing ice skating, gymnastics and swimming. Okay, you know,
we'll see where that goes. I'm already planning, like, you know,
twenty thirty six Olympics, booking my tickets out.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
You know, you're going to be a dance dad or
what an Olympic dad or whatever that.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Yeah, yeah, So I'm already planning this because obviously, you know,
I can control what they do.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
So and then you could just make tons of money
off all their sponsorships and stuff. I don't know if
you thought that far.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
But I'm practically retired. Now. That's your mom.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
She's okay, she's good. You know, we're all just getting
older obviously, but she's doing great. I'm actually gonna go
home tomorrow and see them. It's my stepdad, it's Bob's birthday. Bob,
my stepdad. Fun fact has done everyone's teeth in the
business as far as like, yeah, my dad's a dentist,
so yeah, he would always talk about everyone's mouth. I
was like, this is really weird, Like I really don't
(03:20):
want to go there.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Are they still in the same house?
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Yeah, oh yeah, nothing's changed other than my little sister
literally like repainting everything just for the first time. Not herself.
We're hiring someone, but still the ballroom's still there. I'm
doing these rewatches, or I was doing these rewatches on
this podcast, and I just had finished season two, so
I saw Jerry, Rice and Anya rehearse at I've never
(03:45):
seen a season like ever in my life, let alone
on full episode because normally I just watch it for
my partner, look at it and then know what to
work on. Right, it is so surreal, the whole thing.
It's a machine.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
It's a big world in the small world. Same time.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
So you say you haven't seen dancing with the stars,
but when you were involved, I guess, how did you
even get involved in? First of all, is rewind big time?
How did you get involved into ballroom dancing in general?
Speaker 2 (04:15):
So I started dancing late for I guess a European dancer.
I started when I was about nineteen. I just started college,
had no idea what I wanted to do. Saw that
movie sent of a Woman with Alpacino and super cool
tango scene Romantic, and when I was leaving the theater,
there was a sign to bring your ticket stub in
for a free dance lesson. I remember there was no
(04:37):
phones then show. So I went, yeah, tried the dance lesson,
loved it, and then I found out how much it costs,
and I was like, okay, I'm eating peanut butter and
jelly sandwiches and trying to go to college. So then
they said, well, you know you're you're young, you seem talented.
How about we train you to be a teacher.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
So that's how So it was it like a fred
Astare or.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Yeah, like a franchise type studio. Yeah, it was okay, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
So you literally read a manual and then you were
just like a teacher.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Well, they started training me, and I was terrible in
the beginning. I had no idea what I was doing. Okay,
so but you know, it started this whole journey I
had no idea was going to come. And then the
first like competition I went to, I saw that like
all the cool looking guys with the hot partners were competing,
so I thought, well that I need.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
To compete the cool looking guys with the low V
necks and the highwaysted Latin pants and Cuban hills. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Yeah, I love the Latin pants.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
Yeah totally.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
And it just went downhill or uphill from there.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
No way went uphill. Jonathan. First of all, I don't
know if everyone knows the background, and like, you were
a United States champion in the smooth division, and then
when you you did so many different styles, would you
I don't want to have to say your whole resume,
so feel free.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Uh sure? So I was a world in USA smooth champion,
and then I was a US last and finalist, and
then in the name won't mean so to everyone, but
in the mecca of all ballroom dance competitions, Blackpool, so
they know that the right to star Laddin. So yeah,
that's very blessed with good partners and a great career.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
So when you what made you want to take that
I guess step from just doing it kind of for
fun and just learning how to teach really too, then competing,
when did you know, like you know what there's I
actually have talent and I can actually be, you know,
great at what I'm doing.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
I still didn't know if I had any talent. Then well,
I just I've always been very competitive, you know, from
playing sports in school and things like that. So if
I was going to try to lessen the blow that
I was dropping out of college to my parents, I
was like a competitive ballroom dancing.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
My goodness, it's like the worst nightmare of most parents.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Yeah, which they probably googled to find out, like what
that even means?
Speaker 1 (06:52):
How much money you make?
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Yeah, yeah, it was. There was some difficult conversations, but
I'm very lucky. I have very supportive parents, so they
they got behind me, and.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
Yeah, it's been great and they're still together. Right you
come here.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
My mom passed away two and a half years ago. Yeah,
she had Parkinson's for almost thirty years. So it's been
a long battle. So my dad lives right near my
brother and so it's, uh, it was so sorry, Jonathan.
I'm glad she's out of pain and now I get
to doing Actually this Friday, going to Connecticut for a
big Parkinson's charity event. Oh wow, you know, there's so
(07:27):
much awareness for cancer, which is such a horrible disease,
but much less for something like Parkinson.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
So there's just not a lot of I guess the
education behind it, Like we just don't know, right, Like
Michael J.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Fox is doing a great job with that and some
other celebrities that have had it.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
So again, I'm so sorry to hear that about your mom, Jonathan,
I had no idea. Okay, So you know you've been
a huge part of my journey. I would say when
it comes ballroom dancing. Now, how was I when I
was like a teenager going through major A and like
I just I mean, I do kind of remember how
I was kind of like maybe a little passive. You
(08:06):
could just not don't lie like I can handle it all,
Jonathan Roberts tell my listeners.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
So I remember you and David practicing.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
This was before David though. It was one of me
and you. I was doing pro am with you.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Yeah, but you were always super nice when we always.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
Laughed and had fun and it was but you were
nice to me.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Yeah, like so.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
That like I wasn't like lazy, like dragging my feet.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
You're a bit lazy and floppy, but yeah, yeah, and
your mom was pushing you and you're Bob was always
super nice. Yeah, but I remember that more just kind
of fun and like no one thought it would be
a serious thing at the time. It was just something
we were all doing, you know.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Yeah, I just wanted to dance with someone younger, right.
I always associated ballroom with old people, Like when my
mom and stepdad started, they wanted me to do it,
and I was like, are you kidding? No way, But
I mean I.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Think before Dancing with Stars, that was the common conception
in America is that something your grandma and grandpa would do.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
Totally.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
That's been one of the great benefits the show has
done is change it and like there's so there's so
many kids classes now and just literally thousands of kids
in America, especially on the on the East Coast and
West Coast dancing. It's it's been great to see America
pick up like it does in Europe or more in
Asia with a lot of kids.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
I was going to ask you that, like, what do
you see as far as has Danced Dancing Stars even
influenced the ballroom community at all, And so obviously that's yeah,
that's one thing.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Awareness it's brought so many more people in especially I
think a lot of guys who go, Okay, well, if
the you know, if Jerry Rice Emmitt Smith can ballroom dance,
then then why can't I?
Speaker 1 (09:43):
Totally Yeah, And as far as the real uh, I
guess the competitors, like the champions and the judging panel,
because now you're a judge, right, You're an a judicator. Congratulations,
thank you. How does that feel standing up all day
and walking around a ballroom barely walking around? It doesn't
bring your back.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
You get super tired, you make almost no money, and
you you sort of feel important. But in the reality,
you judge the competition and the winner likes you, and
everyone else hates you and thinks you hate them because
you didn't mark them.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
It ain't that glamorous.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Yeah, it's it's not that super fun.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
They haven't. They don't let you sit yet, Like I'm
waiting for this to happen. Then maybe I will go aheadicians.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
That you said. Still not at night, but sometimes during
the day.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
Yeah, thank god? Did I judged once at Debbie Avolos's
dance competition. I was more sore from just standing there
than doing five dances like a round.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
You know, it's more tiring, and as a as a guy,
I can't complain. I'm not wearing heels, you know, my
feet and legs are still sore. But like you're sitting
there in a three and a half inches lettos, like
I don't know how you do it.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
It's also like these competitions, just for my listeners, they
are like a mini fashion show, Like it really is
held at a Marriott airport by the airport right, or
like one of those convention centers, but like we are
dressed up, like this is no joke, this is a
red carpet event. And but again behind it all is
out that glamorous, but it is very That's the one
(11:09):
thing I do love, I think is that people, whether
you want to call it old fashion or not, people
still really care and like know how to hold themselves
with poise, you know, I think that's important.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
You walk into a ballroom nest competition at seven in
the morning and you see fake eyelashes, fake hair, fake boobs,
faked hand, you see spandex rhinestones, high heels, and that's just.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
The kind nasty spray tad you've gotten.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
To the girl yet. So it's like this little niche,
amazing hobby sport lifestyle that is actually one of the
coolest things in the world to do.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
It is, isn't it? It really is. I don't think
I would learn about like even just body awareness. I
think that is so important. How to hold yourself, how
to you know, even shake someone's hand like it is.
It all correlates, and I think it's that's the one
thing I would want if I have kids to learn.
But they can just go to Katillion for that. No
one needs to be staring at themselves in the mirror
(12:05):
and compare themselves to other people.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
The vanity side just really goes there.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
How did you get on Dancing with the Stars, So.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
I think probably the same way you did. I was
on the first season. They brought the show over Strictly
Come Dancing from the BBC, and I think, you know,
several American networks turned it down and Andrea Wong picked
it up, which was a great decision. So I believe
they called the NBCA president, the National Dance Council and
(12:36):
got like a Listrian McDonald Brian McDonald, Yeah, the top
six competitors in each division at that time, So contact
everyone for an interview. And I swear the only reason
I got that first interview is like maybe five minutes
into it. It was maybe Joe was doing it.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
I don't remember Joe Sunker.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
Yeah yeah, but he was like, you know, you have
an American accent, Like, how come everyone else that's a
good dancer is all Russian?
Speaker 1 (13:03):
Or are Ukrainey?
Speaker 2 (13:04):
I swear the only reason I got on the show
is just because I was born in America in the beginning.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
But hey, look at where that.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Got us, right, right time, right place.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
Totally.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
I have a memory, sharp, am I wrong in this?
I remember one time you and David and Jenya and
Giselle you were trying to raise money, like to.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
Go to naw We dance on the streets in Union Square.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
Yeah so yeah, in San Francisco Union Square with your
little boombox.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
Were there adeed as rip of Ways?
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Yeah yeah, oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
I keep talking about that all the time. How we
because my mother and I got in a huge fight
I'll never forget it, and she cut me off. It
wasn't for Nationals, it was to get to Blackpool. So
it was like my mom was like, that's it, You're
not going. I said, oh really watch me And then
so yeah, we were freaking We made two thousand dollars
one day. You did Wow one in one day. But
we had like Jenya by the way, for my listeners
(13:54):
is Alec Mazo's little brother. So Alec one first season
with Kelly, Monica and Jenny also danced past sense I'm
sure now, but I had interviewed edits on here as well.
But yeah, it's so time. I remember it like it
was yesterday. It was good times. I mean it really,
you know, look look where you are at nowt I
(14:15):
watched your first season always because I had to like
recap it and Rachel Hunter was so good the level
of choreography and the style of dancing. I wish it
was like this. Still, I haven't.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
Watched the show, so I do a lot of effects
now and lighting, and but I remember Cheryl like the
first or second season, so like I wanted to start
the numbers standing on the judge's table and Joe, no,
that's not allowed. And then I wanted to wear like,
like I don't know, Converse shoes for a jive and
they're like, no, we only wear ballroom shoes.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
I missed the authenticity that I think the og pros
and that the show really wanted to make sure that
they followed, not so much the makeup, because I looked
crazy with like I couldn't even open my eye that
had so much glitter on it my lids. But what
I miss is the orchestra. I miss the authenticity of
it being like a mini Blackpool, but like a show
(15:10):
number Blackpool, like full of show numbers. And that's the
thing I didn't I don't see. I did never felt
like when watching season one that the choreography ran like
it was like old school, like, oh, that was back
in two thousand and whatever. Five it still is very
still is very relevant, I think, yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
I mean that's the I think Ballard dancing is a classic.
So you can go one hundred years and people are
still dancing the same exact steps. It might be more
powerful now, bigger movement and shapes, but it still goes
down to the root of two people dancing together and
moving across the floor in harmony, and like, at least
the first couple of seasons, that was the focus, and
(15:53):
then it got what.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
Television television friendly? Well, I think that if we look
back two at the stats of it, all right, I
know television is different nowadays. I totally get it. But
the ratings were so crazy it different. I think it
was different than us, like if you were to watch
us on mute versus so you think you can dance
completely different? Now maybe not so different? And why do
(16:20):
you think? I guess why is Ballroom so fascinating to people? Like?
Why is the show going on as thirty third season?
Speaker 2 (16:29):
I'm stunned it is. First of all, I think through
if but if you look back in time, people always
enjoy dancing, and they enjoy dancing together, and I think
often people are envious of two people that can dance
together romantic. It looks so fun, it looks so cool.
So I think that charm and the show will always
(16:49):
be there and have Maybe it's not as many people
now watching, but it's still people enjoy watching the competitive romance, romance,
the drama side, which of course the show plays up.
But you know, I think as long as they keep
casting it right, this show could go on forever. I agree.
(17:10):
I want to see world leaders dancing with the stars.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Like Putin, Putin.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
Kim Jong Yo, Trump, Biden.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
They have to stay in their respective countries.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
We'd have a you know, a couple billion people.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
You're kidding people, would you know the president of Ukraine
did Dancing with the Stars.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
Yeah I heard, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
I mean whenever they show clips, like it's really hard
to take them seriously, just say the least comedian.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
Yeah, but like that would be can you believe that?
Speaker 1 (17:41):
Do you know that Trevor Noah did Dancing with the
Stars in South Africa? So hot? I have the biggest
crush on him. Okay, let's move on to you had
a full I would say handful of partners that full
of personalities, right, like different personalities from Marie Osmond and
I still to this day Tom Brasron, who's no longer
(18:02):
obviously a host on the show, but we're still very
friendly and he was on this podcast, and that is
the one thing that we can't stop talking about still
is just that moment when Marie Osmond fainted out of
your arms, not really in your arms because she fell
to the floor, threw my arms. Yeah literally right through
was this? I think a lot of people are wondering, like,
(18:23):
how scripted? And we're going to do this little game
at the end here when it comes to conspiracy theory
versus true or false. But it was that scripted because
it came out of nowhere.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
No, it was it was a big surprise. Okay, you
know you always think, especially you know people that have
been involved with TV their whole life, They're always planning
and thinking, you know what, gimmick, can I get people
to vote for me? Have sympathy? And Marie was a
pretty vote you know what, that kind of thing. But
you cannot like control your head hitting the floor, and
like Tom and I heard this like bunk, like, oh
(18:56):
my god, she was out and like her one of
her brothers was there, comes running out like it was
so she hit her head. Yeah, like I heard her
head boom hit the floor. And the funny moment is
when like the Lynn, Carrien and Bruno, like I saw
them look down, they look at their paper. They looked
(19:16):
down like wait, this is not in our script, like
what do we do right now?
Speaker 1 (19:21):
And that, and they had already gave the number the score,
which was really not I wonder.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
Right, I can't even remember if the score.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
Because it was a samba. I just saw it last night,
Like I'm sure, pretty sure that they had already scored
because they have to right as soon as you're done,
but like three sevens for a faint.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
Yeah, a little awkward moment then yeah, yeah, but Tom
was so smart. He's like, let's go to commercial break.
You know, I think there was a lot of There
was a lot of reasons, Like Marie was like, I
mean we were dancing like eight hours a day. That's
when all those fires were in La. You know, the
air was really bad, so you know, who knows, maybe
she hadn't eaten enough that day or or something, and
it just but she dropped like a rock and that
(20:02):
that was. That was one hundred percent rail.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
I have a similar story with Christiane la Fente. He
broke his arm live on television, also doing the samba.
Maybe at the samba there's a samba curse. Oh my god.
He was dipping. He was supposed to dip me and
literally I heard his arm pop. Like whatever. It was
like anyway, I told him not to work out because
this guy was working out so anytime you had to
(20:25):
wear a sleeveless shirt. He was like, I'm going to
pump some iron.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
You know.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
He lived at the Palazzo with the freaking gym there,
and I was like, if you work out, I'm going
to kill you. Cut to we make the final, though,
because you know what, we would have never made that
final if it wasn't for his arm breaking.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
It creates drama, but you know totally, some some guys
break their arm, you know, doing mma, and some guys
in ball dancing see dipping me, yeah's are almost the same.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
Well that's the thing. Like, this is why I still
believe ballroom should be an Olympic sport.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
Never would be, really, I mean it's too based on
the opinion.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
I mean, break dancing just got into the Olympics. Okay,
scratch that, just saying there is a chance.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
There's a breakdancing. Well, there's a ballroom dance syllabus.
Speaker 1 (21:09):
The thing is, well, there's syllabus everywhere in sky skating.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
But this is what I think is the beautiful part
of ballroom is it's so there's like, if you do ballet,
you can only have one body type, one amount of flexibility,
one length of legs, and if you don't it doesn't
matter how hard you work, you will never make it.
But in ballroom you can be tall, short, wide, thin, flexible, stiff.
You can come up with choreography and taking the steps
(21:32):
and syllabus designed to showcase your good talents and what
you can do.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
So yeah, so.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
Hard to judge. You have six people doing a lockstep
in Chatcha and all six are different, and it's apples
to oranges. How can you say one is better than
the other?
Speaker 1 (21:47):
I definitely can. Wow, it's a style is it's a
style preference obviously regardless though with anybody, I think, but
there is a technique book, and I think if you
were to really do this in the Olympic in order
for it not to be political, but by the way,
it's all political, like our world is political. I don't
think there's any way to avoid it. But I think
(22:08):
if you were to do some similar to like an
Arthur Murray teacher or Fred Astaire, literally you just have
them study it, and you know, obviously we wouldn't know
any of them because they're not in the business, and
then voila judge it.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
Still it's still opinion.
Speaker 1 (22:23):
Any who. This is a long that's another podcast. But
what was your seven I guess go talk to me
about your seven days, like on Dancing with the Stars,
whether it be what doesn't matter the partner, right, but
like what was our schedule like and how rigorous was it?
Speaker 2 (22:38):
Well, it kind of depended on the celebrity, you know,
with Mac Gray, like I wonder what the like like
Dina or the show producers sell the celebrities on, because
I feel like some came in, like like the athletes,
that they're ready to go like ten hours a day.
The athletes, Yeah, I thought I only had to practice
for an hour, you know, and then they get hit
by a mack truck of choreography to imen steps technique
(23:02):
style and like they just get overwhelmed as you go through.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
So, I mean, this formula is brilliant if you really
think about it, because it's your ass at the end
of the day.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
And then once you're committed on it, you can't back out.
So did anyone ever back out of the show?
Speaker 1 (23:15):
Well, Sarah Evans. I just interviewed her, actually, and Sarah
Evans had to back out because, dude, to personal issues.
Do you remember that season three with Tony Deblaani She
said that she would have won. I said, really, over
mister Emmitt Smith, Sarah, would you like to confirm this?
She goes, no, I think I would have won, and
I think she's right. The country fans are nuts, super loyal.
I think that's why Drew and I won because we
(23:35):
danced to freaking big and rich save ohors Reddica. I'm
telling you that's the only reason Super Smart show that wasn't.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
No.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
I hated it. I didn't even want to do it.
I'm not going to even take credit. It's all Drew
with Rachel. She seemed a little lazy in the beginning
from what I saw in the packages, like meaning like lazy,
just kind of like maybe nonchalant, just like, and then
(24:04):
she got really competitive, and I felt like, you guys
should have at least made the final. Obviously, I thought
we should have won, right, I mean, I was just
gonna s we get there.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
Yeah. It was more just kind of her personality and attitude.
She's just very low key, laid back, easy going. Yeah,
and she had legs for days, and she learned so
quick at such good rhythm, and you know, for being
a taller model, she could really move to.
Speaker 1 (24:31):
Totally the best one that I think the show's ever had.
Between her and Stacy Keebler, it would be close. I think,
how did the show change from season one till your
last season? For you in your eyes so.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
It to me, it just became a bigger, bigger production,
and then it became more and more about social media
and what people were doing not just on the floor,
but also off the floor. You know, the drama, the stories,
and I was never a part of that.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
When you say off the floor, you mean like the
romantic connections that they would try and force or I.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
That only a little bit. But I feel more like
at first, none of us had an agent, none of
us used Twitter, none of us did any social media.
Speaker 1 (25:15):
My Space.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
Do you remember, like the first one or two seasons,
we'd go up to the green room, like on the
fourth floor. All the celebrities and teachers would be there.
You'd have a drink, you'd watch yourself on video about it,
and then you dial in your own number to vote
for yourself, or.
Speaker 1 (25:31):
You do it before you watch it, just dial in.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
Yeah, yeah, is whatever the limit was, you know.
Speaker 1 (25:37):
I remember the judges Len Goodman would be smoking cigarettes
up there. I swear to god. We would party with
everyone like it was. That was when it was the
It was so good. Yeah, it was the best, and everybody.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
Was a friend and felt supportive. And then to the
show and on everybody saw, okay, this is my chance
to get rich, be famous, And it was like the
egos spread and not necessarily a bad thing. Maybe in
every context, but everybody became out for themselves and what
can I do to make my brand and my name bigger?
Speaker 1 (26:06):
Yes? And and by the way, we all have egos,
like this is not you know anything, it's not new information. However,
do I mean, why do you think we want full on?
We want other people's approval for a reason.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
I'm look in the mirror all day long as we.
Speaker 1 (26:20):
Oh, I know, hence my like there's just a lot
of unhealthy but beautiful Also, it could be both. Did
you get asked to do Len Goodman's tribute?
Speaker 2 (26:29):
I saw an email or something about that, but I'm
just so busy with my teaching life and family and yeah,
I think I was out of town then.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
So okay, so are you just completely like okay, so
what happened did you? Was it your choice to leave?
Speaker 2 (26:47):
So, like, let's see the third season, I think they
the third, fourth season, I can't remember. They didn't ask
me back that season for whatever reason. Then I did
the next three or four. Then I went back and
did a competition again in the baller world. So I
turned them down. Whatever season that was.
Speaker 1 (27:04):
You did turn them down?
Speaker 2 (27:06):
Yeah, and then whatever the last season I did, I
think that was with Macy Gray. I think I was
just kind of done, and yeah, I felt again even
though I was still well. Now I realized I was
younger men, but I was feeling old Ben. But I
was in you and Mark and Derek and going like, okay,
(27:26):
you know, I think it's it's always time to it's
good to go at the right time. You know, I
don't want to be the sports athlete that's you know,
it was a great you know athlete, and then still
they're trying to score and not what they were.
Speaker 1 (27:37):
Macy Gray, I will never forget you were like you
had to travel to England or something. Right.
Speaker 2 (27:42):
No, we we did like a twenty some day tour
through all of Europe. We were even Moscow up in Sweden, Denmark.
Speaker 1 (27:50):
This.
Speaker 2 (27:51):
Yeah, the last couple of days was like I had
a hotel right in Red Square Moscow, like looking out
over everything. Was it?
Speaker 1 (28:00):
Wait, how many hours did you reheard? Because I remember
you were like we rehearsed for thirty minutes maybe, so maybe.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
We didn't have a lot of rehearsal.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
No, and you know it's in then, so you're exhausted.
Speaker 2 (28:12):
Well, you know how a tour is. We take the
bus at night, you know, get there. Then she has
her you know, stage rehearsal, music check, everything like that.
Then we do you know, thirty minutes and take a
nap and then like it was this whirlwind again. Macy
was someone who I don't think realized the work that
was required to do it, but it was a blast.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
Why does that affect us? Because I always say this,
like this is so consuming, This whole show is consuming.
I also was supposed to dance with Charlie Sheen one season.
Cool and yes, but then he had asked me like
on the side, like they opened up the studio for us.
It was a whole tryout right, which they don't do
with everyone, but like with big names like that, Yes
(28:54):
he wants to try it out. Okay, great, Maybe they
shouldn't have chose me because I don't lie, and because
you know, if I lie, then I'm going to First
of all, we're the ones that are going to get
the shit and the stick here when it comes to
the celebrities, expecting one thing and it being another. So
when he asked me about like celebrity like basically do
(29:14):
I have to go and do press? I said, oh, yeah,
we're all going to good Morning America, buddy, we're doing it.
We're going there as a we are part of an ensemble.
Like this is not not until like towards the end
then obviously whoever whatever, But like we do this. This
is a cast announcement. This is in your contract as well.
As I said, first of all, this is seven days
a week. And I don't regret saying any of this,
(29:37):
even though he obviously decided not to do the show
because it.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
Wasn't his dancing talent that he backed out with.
Speaker 1 (29:43):
I don't think so. I think honestly it was what
the schedule was, but what I told him it was
because like I'll tell you this much, Terrell Owens, when
I danced with him, he was told that he could
wear his labels like his actual clothing line. No, that
wasn't the case, and so the back and forth, and
then I got him in a bad mood, and then
our rehearsals all messed up, Like it really isn't necessarily
(30:06):
it doesn't work in our favor whatsoever, let alone, just
we want our celebrity to be in good spirits really, right, yeah.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
Because that controls their performance and their practice, and they're
they're just.
Speaker 1 (30:17):
Did you ever run into that issue with any of
your celebrities, like Heather Mills.
Speaker 2 (30:22):
I know that she Heather was actually super Again, let's
talk about Heather because it's out of all the partners
I've had, we stay the most in contact. So she
was just here at my house a couple of months ago.
Oh really, I'm going to England in two weeks and
I'm supposed to see her there. So we regularly love
that together. And for all the bad press Heather got
(30:45):
in England, she is just the nicest, most loyal, most
caring person. And again, I wish I'd kept up better,
you know, with all the people I danced with, But
for whatever reason, Heather and I regularly talk and she
is just she has her chain Mpiano causes with the
you know, the veganism and against animal cruelty and stuff,
and we just have stayed great friends.
Speaker 1 (31:08):
Wow. Okay, So let's talk about this because I think
she was one of the first controversial characters that were
that was cast on the show. I mean other than
like master p but he didn't want to do it anyway,
he was forced to do it. But like, what was
that like for you?
Speaker 2 (31:22):
So a little bit, I guess I just didn't really
think about it. I just thought, oh, I have this
super famous lady with you know who. My parents loved
the Beatles and I did as well. Actually, and you know,
the show's talked to me and said, we really need
someone that's going to take care of her and be
pressed savvy and be careful. And you know, she has
(31:43):
a disability, so right with the leg and everything, because
I think in the future they had more people with
disabilities like loss of limbs or something, but Heather was
the first one, and it was it was amazing what
we did too, Like she did that backflip and there
was she worked really really hard with the injury Heather
(32:04):
head to her leg. I think they put like show
me the X ray. There was like the surgical metal
plate that went through her abdomen and if she didn't
work enough out like physically, the plate would drop, which
then would cause her not to be able to walk
at all, serious injury. So like it didn't matter where
we went, she was always staying fit, always eating right,
always exercising, Like that was not just a lifestyle choice,
(32:28):
it was a lifestyle must for her. So I really
appreciated her work ethic wow, and her attitude for what
she went through in life and what.
Speaker 1 (32:36):
She Yeah, wow, it's so crazy because like from the
outside looking in mind, you I know she's lovely. She
gave us all the girls a toothbrush that vibrated for
other reasons other than to brush your teeth. But I
love her, like I love how she's just so funny.
Like I just remember really getting along with her and
how open she was. I loved, But like, I don't
(32:56):
think I think people think maybe Amy Purty was the
first when it comes to like a big disability, the
huge disability that could literally you know the fact that
you know she had prosthetics and you know, but still
this must have been very challenging. How did you work
around it? Like, I know, you're one of the most
patient patient beings in the plant on the planet. Like, seriously,
(33:16):
I think that they were smart to give someone like
Heather to you. Was it? I mean she was very
mobile right like I saw her, Like.
Speaker 2 (33:27):
It would be interesting with her with her leg like
sometimes walking would be harder than doing like a turn
and a lunge. Yeah, very like I just I had
no understanding how hard it was for But I'd love
the challenge to be honest, Like, one of the things
I like to do the most right now is choreography.
So I travel all of the world right now designing
(33:48):
steps and routines and again, like we said, figuring out
what what are we trying to hide in this couple
and what are we trying to draw out? And how
can I do the chography around that. So it's a
great challenge for me on Okay, we can't turn on
this leg, so we have to alter the choreography to
make the turn here and yeah, this way. So it
just turned into an enjoyable, actually thing for me to conker,
(34:12):
not just teaching someone to dance, but figuring out how
to embellish what she could do with her leg.
Speaker 1 (34:18):
The press made her out to be this devil of
a woman, right because like, how dare you whatever? I
don't even know what the story was is she would
you be safe to say that she's definitely the opposite
of what the press puts her out to be.
Speaker 2 (34:32):
Completely the opposite. Now, now, Heather is a strong woman
and she will speak up. She will if she sees
something done wrong, she will talk about it one hundred percent.
She's not afraid to back down. But she is just
an angel. Like I remember being in England and we
were out there in the park or something with some
of her family and the paparazzi were trying to film
(34:53):
the kids and she's like, no, no, no, no, get in
the way. Stop. You know, you're not allowed to do this.
So they say, well, we're going to keep going till
the police come. So she had to call the police,
you know. So the next day in the paper it
says Heather Mills waste police time with like, you know,
frivalent calls.
Speaker 1 (35:11):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (35:11):
So it was like I saw these things happen in person,
and yeah, like yeah, it's just it's not you know,
I think anyone in politics or that's famous, they have
that risk. That's no, you know, you're not one hundred
percent going to do the right thing. But at least
what I saw of Heather, she was always nice and
considerate and just got smeared a lot.
Speaker 1 (35:32):
It's just different in England. They're really vicious. And I
know that they came here at some point, right, like
this was a whole thing because this is fresh off
her divorce with Paul McCartney.
Speaker 2 (35:42):
Right, yeah, so Carthy McCartney artney, Yeah, you're still young,
shoe no flying back and forth from England each week
during the show, so wow. They had the results show
on Tuesday, so I think it was like six o'clock
California time. So we'd catch like a nine thirty flight
to London and we'd drive the three hours to Brighton
(36:03):
or she lived, and then we'd rehearse there and then
fly back. So it was it was crazy.
Speaker 1 (36:09):
That's insanity. What okay? So I had I don't know
what your relationship is like with Anya. I had Anya
here on the podcast, and she actually really was very
vulnerable with her story and and her I guess her
experience on the show for those because there's I got
a lot of questions from fans asking like, would you
(36:30):
ever first of all, come back to the show. What happened?
Is there peace in your life? And between the two
of you, are you guys good? You know, I don't
want to put pressure. If you don't feel comfortable in
answering any of this, please don't.
Speaker 2 (36:41):
So yeah, I mean it didn't work out between us, Yeah,
but there was nothing bad that happened, so there's no
I think huge bitterness or fight. Yeah. Yeah, So like
I run a very large dance competition in San Diego,
and I have her come judge, you know, every couple
of years there, so we we still see each other
in the dance business. Yeah, so yeah, yeah, time moves
(37:05):
on and wound's heel over time and it's you know,
as long as you grow and move on from that.
So it would be a good experience totally.
Speaker 1 (37:15):
And you guys were so great together as competitors. She
definitely brought out something in you and vice versa, like
she had this fire I'll never forget, like because were
we competing against No, he never competed against each other,
did we? In the Latin? Maybe maybe that's weird. It's
weird because you taught me as a teacher, you know,
you were my teacher, and it's like, okay, yeah, I
(37:35):
guess maybe with Jose towards the end, Yeah, rapid fire
conspiracy theory or true or false? You've got three options?
Are you ready quickly? Was it your decision to leave
the show? Conspiracy theory true or false? Yes, my decision,
(37:59):
Maria's and fainting was scripted. We don't get to choose
our celeb partners.
Speaker 2 (38:05):
I never did not either.
Speaker 1 (38:07):
Pro dancers all got paid the same when you were
a part of the show.
Speaker 2 (38:11):
I don't know what other people got paid. I think
we did.
Speaker 1 (38:13):
Oh, come on, Jonathan, Yes that is true. I believe
not now. I think it's seniority obviously.
Speaker 2 (38:18):
No that the first season.
Speaker 1 (38:20):
Can I talk about that, Yeah, we can talk about anything.
Speaker 2 (38:23):
I think we got paid fifteen hundred a week the.
Speaker 1 (38:26):
First Oh that's so bad.
Speaker 2 (38:27):
And there was no expenses paid. And like I remember
doing the rehearsal for the final for the because it
was six episodes the first season, and the mirror ball
was made out of cardboard in the inside and fell
apart halfway through, like the dress rehearsal.
Speaker 1 (38:43):
Do you know what it was? I just got Someone
just told me three years ago. It was a lamp shade.
My first two freaking mirror balls, right, two and three
seasons two and three. First of all, one is gone
in the trash. And not because I'm pissed off at
anything or the show or I hate I don't want
to remember it. Mice that were living in my storage
in Los Angeles literally bit through this dirofoam, okay, and
(39:04):
the mirrors were already off.
Speaker 2 (39:05):
And get another thing about Heather Mills, so they would
only find me economy to England, so Heather paid herself
to upgrade me to business. So because without sleeping all
the ways back, it would have been a nightmare.
Speaker 1 (39:16):
What season was that, Jonathan four? Four? Maybe the show
is rigged conspiracy theory or true depends how you define rigged.
Kyle Massey was say, true, Okay, pros and celebrities work
seven days a week on the show.
Speaker 2 (39:32):
Some do, some don't.
Speaker 1 (39:34):
Oh, come on, you have to.
Speaker 2 (39:36):
Yeah, I worked seven days a week.
Speaker 1 (39:38):
We helped design our wardrobe. Yes, the show is scripted.
I said this already, didn't I.
Speaker 2 (39:44):
I don't remember. Uh, the judges are scripted for sure.
Speaker 1 (39:50):
That was my next one. Danta, Wait, what do you
mean by staymore.
Speaker 2 (39:55):
About the judges? Yeah, well, for sure, they watched the
dress rehearsals. They see what's happing? Thank you? Like duh.
If they're not sure I would do that.
Speaker 1 (40:03):
Well, they're also not that like fast. I mean like
Tom bergerwund maybe right, like he could definitely whip it
out of his back pocket. But like I was just
going to say, judges watch dressers. Judges are told what
to score the couples.
Speaker 2 (40:15):
How can I know? Like when you judge a charity
event like I'm doing this Friday, like so I have
to walk in Cole. Haven't seen anyone like. Sometimes my
comments are great, sometimes not so good, like right the Stars.
The judges comments are always good the time. I'm not
(40:36):
saying accurate, but at least there they have.
Speaker 1 (40:38):
Work anymore they're mean.
Speaker 2 (40:40):
I haven't even seen it, so I don't know.
Speaker 1 (40:42):
No, but even your season they were mean.
Speaker 2 (40:45):
It's just more honest, but it was better that way.
Speaker 1 (40:47):
Loved it. Yeah, what do you think of the judging
panel today?
Speaker 2 (40:51):
Who's the judges?
Speaker 1 (40:52):
Derek A Hoff, Kiri and and Bruno?
Speaker 2 (40:54):
Still great? I love seeing the original and Derek who
is you know, such an amazing dancer and can add
the ballroom knowledge part to it?
Speaker 1 (41:06):
Do you think Len Goodman could be replaced?
Speaker 2 (41:10):
Not his personality and expertise? I mean Len was a legend.
Speaker 1 (41:13):
Which of your seven partners was most disciplined?
Speaker 2 (41:17):
Uh? Heather Mills always late, Macy Gray?
Speaker 1 (41:22):
Who swept the most?
Speaker 2 (41:25):
Me?
Speaker 1 (41:26):
Marie Osmond?
Speaker 2 (41:28):
No?
Speaker 1 (41:28):
Me, oh, I did same, I'm a swetter too. Who
got distracted the most?
Speaker 2 (41:34):
Probably Marie Osman? She was pretty busy with eight kids?
Speaker 1 (41:37):
Who was really needy?
Speaker 2 (41:39):
Mm? They were all okay?
Speaker 1 (41:43):
Who was the most stubborn.
Speaker 2 (41:47):
The most stubborn probably.
Speaker 1 (41:49):
Marie who was a diva. Max from Rokkowsky, who's a
joy to work with the matter what day it was.
Speaker 2 (41:58):
Heather Mills, most if most stiff, Uh, Monica Probably Monica
Slas from the tennis.
Speaker 1 (42:06):
Yeah, the funniest three, more.
Speaker 2 (42:08):
Funniest, Maria Asmund, most shy, the most shy, Monica Selas.
Biggest flirt, biggest flirt in a good way. My part
on the second season, Giselle Fernandez. She was great like
her Latino background.
Speaker 1 (42:23):
She was she was great.
Speaker 2 (42:26):
What is she was?
Speaker 1 (42:28):
I mean, honestly, like another one that you got eliminated
too early like she was. First of all, she was
obsessed with wanting to work, like to the to a fault.
Speaker 2 (42:36):
Yeah yeah, and a flexible, amazing body. Worked hard. Yeah.
That's the unfair part of the show that I wish
wasn't there because she she should have gone to a final.
Speaker 1 (42:46):
Do you think that that part of it is unfair
or is it real?
Speaker 2 (42:50):
Well, I mean we can't see what goes behind the scenes,
but if someone is a terrible dancer has a lot
of fans, they're still going to get boats because people
love them to see them or if they're a terrible
answer that they improve each week. Maybe they're not as
good as someone else, but people see them improving and
get behind them. So there's you know, there's so many
aspects like that.
Speaker 1 (43:10):
Fan questions quickly. First of all, you have so many
different you have so many fans, mind you, I did
this whole Instagram thing definitely like you had about I
would say solid thirty to forty fan questions. But we're
not going to get through all of them. Mind you, fans.
This is great to what not total dummy? Maybe you
should be a little bit more active on social media
so you could have reposted my story. That's one of
the questions. Why are you not so active on social.
Speaker 2 (43:33):
We need social media.
Speaker 1 (43:35):
We need to change you do, Jonathan, We do.
Speaker 2 (43:38):
I've moved on from that brief time of not doing
very well with social media.
Speaker 1 (43:43):
I know it's the thing. What are you up to now?
From at Adriana dot sinep Prix.
Speaker 2 (43:49):
So now I have my two beautiful girls, I travel
and teach all over the world, and I just join
the actually Freda Stare franchise, So I bought Anya, so
I'll be opening Freda Stare dance studios in northern California.
Speaker 1 (44:00):
Whoa, and then another congratulations, by the way, that's huge,
that's awesome. Will you ever return to Dancing with the
Stars is the second part of her question.
Speaker 2 (44:09):
Never really?
Speaker 1 (44:12):
For example, why didn't you do the tribute? You just
didn't like you weren't. Did you respond to the email? Interesting?
Did it were you? Did you leave on bad terms? No?
Speaker 2 (44:22):
No, great terms. It's just too busy, Like there's no more.
If I want to see someone from the show, just
call them, you know or whatever. It's it was time
to move.
Speaker 1 (44:31):
On, you mean, like, no, I meant for Lenn Goodman's
tribute though, like when who reached out to you?
Speaker 2 (44:35):
I don't even remember. Yeah, I don't even think the
email I saw like Lenn Goodman tribute and I don't
think I went further than that.
Speaker 1 (44:43):
Got it? Okay? Last question, what is any advice you
have for any current pro dancers or anyone who may
be a pro dancer in the near future. What advice
do you have for them?
Speaker 2 (44:53):
It shouldn't be about you, It should be about your
celebrity period.
Speaker 1 (44:58):
Thank you, Jonathan good Night A men. Thank you seriously though,
thank you for your time Jonathan. I miss you so much.
Speaker 2 (45:05):
Good to see you.
Speaker 1 (45:06):
Thank you guys so much for listening, and thank you
to Jonathan. Make sure to rate and review wherever you're
currently listening to this episode, even if you did it already,
as it's vital to the longevity of this podcast. And yes,
you heard me right, there's no limits when it comes
to rating and reviewing. But I also want to let
you guys know a friendly reminder. We dropped two episodes
per week, every single Mondays and Fridays, so mark your calendars,
(45:28):
set your notifications on high alert, and I'll see you
next time. Love you bye.
This is Sex Lies and spray Tands with Me, Cheryl
Burke and iHeartRadio Podcast. Welcome back to sex Sizes and
spray Tands, where we dive into the glamorous and not
so glamorous world of a reality TV. Today, we're joined
by a true maestro of the ballroom who steps Grace
the very first season of Dancing with the Stars and
many more thereafter. He's not only captivated audiences with his
(00:24):
elegance on the dance floor, but has also coached and
inspired dancers around the globe. Fun fact, guys, our next
guest was one of my first ever ballroom dance teachers,
whom I even competed with when I was like twelve
or thirteen years old at one of the Bay Area
dance competitions in the pro Am Junior division Category two
(00:44):
be exact. Obviously I was the am and he was
the pro. Great times. Okay, please welcome my long lost
friend Jonathan Roberts to the show. Welcome to sex Lize
and spray Tand when was the last time we saw
each other in person?
Speaker 2 (01:00):
I guess right, I don't even remember.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
It was been over a decade, yeah, like maybe.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Some was it? The hunt did I go to the
hunter of the show. I don't even remember, but probably
back then sometime.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Wow, Jonathan, and I've known you out of everybody the longest,
I would say, from like the original pro dancers, right,
like you were one of my first ballroom dance teachers ever.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Right, I remember you and your first partner coming down
to Santa today and staying in my house when we
had lessons from all the coaches from England.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Yes, all over David Bruckner.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
David Bruckner, Yeah, are you guys?
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Do you still No, he's out.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Of the business. I heard he moved to Oregon somewhere
in the mountains. I don't know, probably hunting goats. I'm
not sure. I haven't haven't seen.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Him mage, Jonathan, how are you?
Speaker 2 (01:49):
First of all, so I'm great. I got remarried. So
I have two kids, two girls, three and five. So
that's super amazing. Changes your life?
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Oh wow? And are they dancing? Are you going to
put them into some fishing?
Speaker 2 (02:05):
So the last thing I want them to do, unless
they really insist, is while we're dancing. We know all
the bad part of that, right. So they did one
dance class and then they wanted to get pretty dresses
and shoes. So I said they had to practice if
they wanted to go back. So then they said, can
we just get the pretty dress and shoes and not
go back. Yes, we have a deal.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
So they're just not into ballroom whatsoever or practicing for
it so far.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
So if they want to get to it later, sure,
they're both doing ice skating, gymnastics and swimming. Okay, you know,
we'll see where that goes. I'm already planning, like, you know,
twenty thirty six Olympics, booking my tickets out.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
You know, you're going to be a dance dad or
what an Olympic dad or whatever that.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Yeah, yeah, So I'm already planning this because obviously, you know,
I can control what they do.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
So and then you could just make tons of money
off all their sponsorships and stuff. I don't know if
you thought that far.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
But I'm practically retired. Now. That's your mom.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
She's okay, she's good. You know, we're all just getting
older obviously, but she's doing great. I'm actually gonna go
home tomorrow and see them. It's my stepdad, it's Bob's birthday. Bob,
my stepdad. Fun fact has done everyone's teeth in the
business as far as like, yeah, my dad's a dentist,
so yeah, he would always talk about everyone's mouth. I
was like, this is really weird, Like I really don't
(03:20):
want to go there.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Are they still in the same house?
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Yeah, oh yeah, nothing's changed other than my little sister
literally like repainting everything just for the first time. Not herself.
We're hiring someone, but still the ballroom's still there. I'm
doing these rewatches, or I was doing these rewatches on
this podcast, and I just had finished season two, so
I saw Jerry, Rice and Anya rehearse at I've never
(03:45):
seen a season like ever in my life, let alone
on full episode because normally I just watch it for
my partner, look at it and then know what to
work on. Right, it is so surreal, the whole thing.
It's a machine.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
It's a big world in the small world. Same time.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
So you say you haven't seen dancing with the stars,
but when you were involved, I guess, how did you
even get involved in? First of all, is rewind big time?
How did you get involved into ballroom dancing in general?
Speaker 2 (04:15):
So I started dancing late for I guess a European dancer.
I started when I was about nineteen. I just started college,
had no idea what I wanted to do. Saw that
movie sent of a Woman with Alpacino and super cool
tango scene Romantic, and when I was leaving the theater,
there was a sign to bring your ticket stub in
for a free dance lesson. I remember there was no
(04:37):
phones then show. So I went, yeah, tried the dance lesson,
loved it, and then I found out how much it costs,
and I was like, okay, I'm eating peanut butter and
jelly sandwiches and trying to go to college. So then
they said, well, you know you're you're young, you seem talented.
How about we train you to be a teacher.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
So that's how So it was it like a fred
Astare or.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Yeah, like a franchise type studio. Yeah, it was okay, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
So you literally read a manual and then you were
just like a teacher.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Well, they started training me, and I was terrible in
the beginning. I had no idea what I was doing. Okay,
so but you know, it started this whole journey I
had no idea was going to come. And then the
first like competition I went to, I saw that like
all the cool looking guys with the hot partners were competing,
so I thought, well that I need.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
To compete the cool looking guys with the low V
necks and the highwaysted Latin pants and Cuban hills. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Yeah, I love the Latin pants.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
Yeah totally.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
And it just went downhill or uphill from there.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
No way went uphill. Jonathan. First of all, I don't
know if everyone knows the background, and like, you were
a United States champion in the smooth division, and then
when you you did so many different styles, would you
I don't want to have to say your whole resume,
so feel free.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Uh sure? So I was a world in USA smooth champion,
and then I was a US last and finalist, and
then in the name won't mean so to everyone, but
in the mecca of all ballroom dance competitions, Blackpool, so
they know that the right to star Laddin. So yeah,
that's very blessed with good partners and a great career.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
So when you what made you want to take that
I guess step from just doing it kind of for
fun and just learning how to teach really too, then competing,
when did you know, like you know what there's I
actually have talent and I can actually be, you know,
great at what I'm doing.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
I still didn't know if I had any talent. Then well,
I just I've always been very competitive, you know, from
playing sports in school and things like that. So if
I was going to try to lessen the blow that
I was dropping out of college to my parents, I
was like a competitive ballroom dancing.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
My goodness, it's like the worst nightmare of most parents.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Yeah, which they probably googled to find out, like what
that even means?
Speaker 1 (06:52):
How much money you make?
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Yeah, yeah, it was. There was some difficult conversations, but
I'm very lucky. I have very supportive parents, so they
they got behind me, and.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
Yeah, it's been great and they're still together. Right you
come here.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
My mom passed away two and a half years ago. Yeah,
she had Parkinson's for almost thirty years. So it's been
a long battle. So my dad lives right near my
brother and so it's, uh, it was so sorry, Jonathan.
I'm glad she's out of pain and now I get
to doing Actually this Friday, going to Connecticut for a
big Parkinson's charity event. Oh wow, you know, there's so
(07:27):
much awareness for cancer, which is such a horrible disease,
but much less for something like Parkinson.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
So there's just not a lot of I guess the
education behind it, Like we just don't know, right, Like
Michael J.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Fox is doing a great job with that and some
other celebrities that have had it.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
So again, I'm so sorry to hear that about your mom, Jonathan,
I had no idea. Okay, So you know you've been
a huge part of my journey. I would say when
it comes ballroom dancing. Now, how was I when I
was like a teenager going through major A and like
I just I mean, I do kind of remember how
I was kind of like maybe a little passive. You
(08:06):
could just not don't lie like I can handle it all,
Jonathan Roberts tell my listeners.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
So I remember you and David practicing.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
This was before David though. It was one of me
and you. I was doing pro am with you.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Yeah, but you were always super nice when we always.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
Laughed and had fun and it was but you were
nice to me.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Yeah, like so.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
That like I wasn't like lazy, like dragging my feet.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
You're a bit lazy and floppy, but yeah, yeah, and
your mom was pushing you and you're Bob was always
super nice. Yeah, but I remember that more just kind
of fun and like no one thought it would be
a serious thing at the time. It was just something
we were all doing, you know.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Yeah, I just wanted to dance with someone younger, right.
I always associated ballroom with old people, Like when my
mom and stepdad started, they wanted me to do it,
and I was like, are you kidding? No way, But
I mean I.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Think before Dancing with Stars, that was the common conception
in America is that something your grandma and grandpa would do.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
Totally.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
That's been one of the great benefits the show has
done is change it and like there's so there's so
many kids classes now and just literally thousands of kids
in America, especially on the on the East Coast and
West Coast dancing. It's it's been great to see America
pick up like it does in Europe or more in
Asia with a lot of kids.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
I was going to ask you that, like, what do
you see as far as has Danced Dancing Stars even
influenced the ballroom community at all, And so obviously that's yeah,
that's one thing.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Awareness it's brought so many more people in especially I
think a lot of guys who go, Okay, well, if
the you know, if Jerry Rice Emmitt Smith can ballroom dance,
then then why can't I?
Speaker 1 (09:43):
Totally Yeah, And as far as the real uh, I
guess the competitors, like the champions and the judging panel,
because now you're a judge, right, You're an a judicator. Congratulations,
thank you. How does that feel standing up all day
and walking around a ballroom barely walking around? It doesn't
bring your back.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
You get super tired, you make almost no money, and
you you sort of feel important. But in the reality,
you judge the competition and the winner likes you, and
everyone else hates you and thinks you hate them because
you didn't mark them.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
It ain't that glamorous.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Yeah, it's it's not that super fun.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
They haven't. They don't let you sit yet, Like I'm
waiting for this to happen. Then maybe I will go aheadicians.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
That you said. Still not at night, but sometimes during
the day.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
Yeah, thank god? Did I judged once at Debbie Avolos's
dance competition. I was more sore from just standing there
than doing five dances like a round.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
You know, it's more tiring, and as a as a guy,
I can't complain. I'm not wearing heels, you know, my
feet and legs are still sore. But like you're sitting
there in a three and a half inches lettos, like
I don't know how you do it.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
It's also like these competitions, just for my listeners, they
are like a mini fashion show, Like it really is
held at a Marriott airport by the airport right, or
like one of those convention centers, but like we are
dressed up, like this is no joke, this is a
red carpet event. And but again behind it all is
out that glamorous, but it is very That's the one
(11:09):
thing I do love, I think is that people, whether
you want to call it old fashion or not, people
still really care and like know how to hold themselves
with poise, you know, I think that's important.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
You walk into a ballroom nest competition at seven in
the morning and you see fake eyelashes, fake hair, fake boobs,
faked hand, you see spandex rhinestones, high heels, and that's just.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
The kind nasty spray tad you've gotten.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
To the girl yet. So it's like this little niche,
amazing hobby sport lifestyle that is actually one of the
coolest things in the world to do.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
It is, isn't it? It really is. I don't think
I would learn about like even just body awareness. I
think that is so important. How to hold yourself, how
to you know, even shake someone's hand like it is.
It all correlates, and I think it's that's the one
thing I would want if I have kids to learn.
But they can just go to Katillion for that. No
one needs to be staring at themselves in the mirror
(12:05):
and compare themselves to other people.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
The vanity side just really goes there.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
How did you get on Dancing with the Stars, So.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
I think probably the same way you did. I was
on the first season. They brought the show over Strictly
Come Dancing from the BBC, and I think, you know,
several American networks turned it down and Andrea Wong picked
it up, which was a great decision. So I believe
they called the NBCA president, the National Dance Council and
(12:36):
got like a Listrian McDonald Brian McDonald, Yeah, the top
six competitors in each division at that time, So contact
everyone for an interview. And I swear the only reason
I got that first interview is like maybe five minutes
into it. It was maybe Joe was doing it.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
I don't remember Joe Sunker.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
Yeah yeah, but he was like, you know, you have
an American accent, Like, how come everyone else that's a
good dancer is all Russian?
Speaker 1 (13:03):
Or are Ukrainey?
Speaker 2 (13:04):
I swear the only reason I got on the show
is just because I was born in America in the beginning.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
But hey, look at where that.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Got us, right, right time, right place.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
Totally.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
I have a memory, sharp, am I wrong in this?
I remember one time you and David and Jenya and
Giselle you were trying to raise money, like to.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
Go to naw We dance on the streets in Union Square.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
Yeah so yeah, in San Francisco Union Square with your
little boombox.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
Were there adeed as rip of Ways?
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Yeah yeah, oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
I keep talking about that all the time. How we
because my mother and I got in a huge fight
I'll never forget it, and she cut me off. It
wasn't for Nationals, it was to get to Blackpool. So
it was like my mom was like, that's it, You're
not going. I said, oh really watch me And then
so yeah, we were freaking We made two thousand dollars
one day. You did Wow one in one day. But
we had like Jenya by the way, for my listeners
(13:54):
is Alec Mazo's little brother. So Alec one first season
with Kelly, Monica and Jenny also danced past sense I'm
sure now, but I had interviewed edits on here as well.
But yeah, it's so time. I remember it like it
was yesterday. It was good times. I mean it really,
you know, look look where you are at nowt I
(14:15):
watched your first season always because I had to like
recap it and Rachel Hunter was so good the level
of choreography and the style of dancing. I wish it
was like this. Still, I haven't.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
Watched the show, so I do a lot of effects
now and lighting, and but I remember Cheryl like the
first or second season, so like I wanted to start
the numbers standing on the judge's table and Joe, no,
that's not allowed. And then I wanted to wear like,
like I don't know, Converse shoes for a jive and
they're like, no, we only wear ballroom shoes.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
I missed the authenticity that I think the og pros
and that the show really wanted to make sure that
they followed, not so much the makeup, because I looked
crazy with like I couldn't even open my eye that
had so much glitter on it my lids. But what
I miss is the orchestra. I miss the authenticity of
it being like a mini Blackpool, but like a show
(15:10):
number Blackpool, like full of show numbers. And that's the
thing I didn't I don't see. I did never felt
like when watching season one that the choreography ran like
it was like old school, like, oh, that was back
in two thousand and whatever. Five it still is very
still is very relevant, I think, yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
I mean that's the I think Ballard dancing is a classic.
So you can go one hundred years and people are
still dancing the same exact steps. It might be more
powerful now, bigger movement and shapes, but it still goes
down to the root of two people dancing together and
moving across the floor in harmony, and like, at least
the first couple of seasons, that was the focus, and
(15:53):
then it got what.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
Television television friendly? Well, I think that if we look
back two at the stats of it, all right, I
know television is different nowadays. I totally get it. But
the ratings were so crazy it different. I think it
was different than us, like if you were to watch
us on mute versus so you think you can dance
completely different? Now maybe not so different? And why do
(16:20):
you think? I guess why is Ballroom so fascinating to people? Like?
Why is the show going on as thirty third season?
Speaker 2 (16:29):
I'm stunned it is. First of all, I think through
if but if you look back in time, people always
enjoy dancing, and they enjoy dancing together, and I think
often people are envious of two people that can dance
together romantic. It looks so fun, it looks so cool.
So I think that charm and the show will always
(16:49):
be there and have Maybe it's not as many people
now watching, but it's still people enjoy watching the competitive romance, romance,
the drama side, which of course the show plays up.
But you know, I think as long as they keep
casting it right, this show could go on forever. I agree.
(17:10):
I want to see world leaders dancing with the stars.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Like Putin, Putin.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
Kim Jong Yo, Trump, Biden.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
They have to stay in their respective countries.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
We'd have a you know, a couple billion people.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
You're kidding people, would you know the president of Ukraine
did Dancing with the Stars.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
Yeah I heard, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
I mean whenever they show clips, like it's really hard
to take them seriously, just say the least comedian.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
Yeah, but like that would be can you believe that?
Speaker 1 (17:41):
Do you know that Trevor Noah did Dancing with the
Stars in South Africa? So hot? I have the biggest
crush on him. Okay, let's move on to you had
a full I would say handful of partners that full
of personalities, right, like different personalities from Marie Osmond and
I still to this day Tom Brasron, who's no longer
(18:02):
obviously a host on the show, but we're still very
friendly and he was on this podcast, and that is
the one thing that we can't stop talking about still
is just that moment when Marie Osmond fainted out of
your arms, not really in your arms because she fell
to the floor, threw my arms. Yeah literally right through
was this? I think a lot of people are wondering, like,
(18:23):
how scripted? And we're going to do this little game
at the end here when it comes to conspiracy theory
versus true or false. But it was that scripted because
it came out of nowhere.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
No, it was it was a big surprise. Okay, you
know you always think, especially you know people that have
been involved with TV their whole life, They're always planning
and thinking, you know what, gimmick, can I get people
to vote for me? Have sympathy? And Marie was a
pretty vote you know what, that kind of thing. But
you cannot like control your head hitting the floor, and
like Tom and I heard this like bunk, like, oh
(18:56):
my god, she was out and like her one of
her brothers was there, comes running out like it was
so she hit her head. Yeah, like I heard her
head boom hit the floor. And the funny moment is
when like the Lynn, Carrien and Bruno, like I saw
them look down, they look at their paper. They looked
(19:16):
down like wait, this is not in our script, like
what do we do right now?
Speaker 1 (19:21):
And that, and they had already gave the number the score,
which was really not I wonder.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
Right, I can't even remember if the score.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
Because it was a samba. I just saw it last night,
Like I'm sure, pretty sure that they had already scored
because they have to right as soon as you're done,
but like three sevens for a faint.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
Yeah, a little awkward moment then yeah, yeah, but Tom
was so smart. He's like, let's go to commercial break.
You know, I think there was a lot of There
was a lot of reasons, Like Marie was like, I
mean we were dancing like eight hours a day. That's
when all those fires were in La. You know, the
air was really bad, so you know, who knows, maybe
she hadn't eaten enough that day or or something, and
it just but she dropped like a rock and that
(20:02):
that was. That was one hundred percent rail.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
I have a similar story with Christiane la Fente. He
broke his arm live on television, also doing the samba.
Maybe at the samba there's a samba curse. Oh my god.
He was dipping. He was supposed to dip me and
literally I heard his arm pop. Like whatever. It was
like anyway, I told him not to work out because
this guy was working out so anytime you had to
(20:25):
wear a sleeveless shirt. He was like, I'm going to
pump some iron.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
You know.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
He lived at the Palazzo with the freaking gym there,
and I was like, if you work out, I'm going
to kill you. Cut to we make the final, though,
because you know what, we would have never made that
final if it wasn't for his arm breaking.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
It creates drama, but you know totally, some some guys
break their arm, you know, doing mma, and some guys
in ball dancing see dipping me, yeah's are almost the same.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
Well that's the thing. Like, this is why I still
believe ballroom should be an Olympic sport.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
Never would be, really, I mean it's too based on
the opinion.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
I mean, break dancing just got into the Olympics. Okay,
scratch that, just saying there is a chance.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
There's a breakdancing. Well, there's a ballroom dance syllabus.
Speaker 1 (21:09):
The thing is, well, there's syllabus everywhere in sky skating.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
But this is what I think is the beautiful part
of ballroom is it's so there's like, if you do ballet,
you can only have one body type, one amount of flexibility,
one length of legs, and if you don't it doesn't
matter how hard you work, you will never make it.
But in ballroom you can be tall, short, wide, thin, flexible, stiff.
You can come up with choreography and taking the steps
(21:32):
and syllabus designed to showcase your good talents and what
you can do.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
So yeah, so.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
Hard to judge. You have six people doing a lockstep
in Chatcha and all six are different, and it's apples
to oranges. How can you say one is better than
the other?
Speaker 1 (21:47):
I definitely can. Wow, it's a style is it's a
style preference obviously regardless though with anybody, I think, but
there is a technique book, and I think if you
were to really do this in the Olympic in order
for it not to be political, but by the way,
it's all political, like our world is political. I don't
think there's any way to avoid it. But I think
(22:08):
if you were to do some similar to like an
Arthur Murray teacher or Fred Astaire, literally you just have
them study it, and you know, obviously we wouldn't know
any of them because they're not in the business, and
then voila judge it.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
Still it's still opinion.
Speaker 1 (22:23):
Any who. This is a long that's another podcast. But
what was your seven I guess go talk to me
about your seven days, like on Dancing with the Stars,
whether it be what doesn't matter the partner, right, but
like what was our schedule like and how rigorous was it?
Speaker 2 (22:38):
Well, it kind of depended on the celebrity, you know,
with Mac Gray, like I wonder what the like like
Dina or the show producers sell the celebrities on, because
I feel like some came in, like like the athletes,
that they're ready to go like ten hours a day.
The athletes, Yeah, I thought I only had to practice
for an hour, you know, and then they get hit
by a mack truck of choreography to imen steps technique
(23:02):
style and like they just get overwhelmed as you go through.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
So, I mean, this formula is brilliant if you really
think about it, because it's your ass at the end
of the day.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
And then once you're committed on it, you can't back out.
So did anyone ever back out of the show?
Speaker 1 (23:15):
Well, Sarah Evans. I just interviewed her, actually, and Sarah
Evans had to back out because, dude, to personal issues.
Do you remember that season three with Tony Deblaani She
said that she would have won. I said, really, over
mister Emmitt Smith, Sarah, would you like to confirm this?
She goes, no, I think I would have won, and
I think she's right. The country fans are nuts, super loyal.
I think that's why Drew and I won because we
(23:35):
danced to freaking big and rich save ohors Reddica. I'm
telling you that's the only reason Super Smart show that wasn't.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
No.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
I hated it. I didn't even want to do it.
I'm not going to even take credit. It's all Drew
with Rachel. She seemed a little lazy in the beginning
from what I saw in the packages, like meaning like lazy,
just kind of like maybe nonchalant, just like, and then
(24:04):
she got really competitive, and I felt like, you guys
should have at least made the final. Obviously, I thought
we should have won, right, I mean, I was just
gonna s we get there.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
Yeah. It was more just kind of her personality and attitude.
She's just very low key, laid back, easy going. Yeah,
and she had legs for days, and she learned so
quick at such good rhythm, and you know, for being
a taller model, she could really move to.
Speaker 1 (24:31):
Totally the best one that I think the show's ever had.
Between her and Stacy Keebler, it would be close. I think,
how did the show change from season one till your
last season? For you in your eyes so.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
It to me, it just became a bigger, bigger production,
and then it became more and more about social media
and what people were doing not just on the floor,
but also off the floor. You know, the drama, the stories,
and I was never a part of that.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
When you say off the floor, you mean like the
romantic connections that they would try and force or I.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
That only a little bit. But I feel more like
at first, none of us had an agent, none of
us used Twitter, none of us did any social media.
Speaker 1 (25:15):
My Space.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
Do you remember, like the first one or two seasons,
we'd go up to the green room, like on the
fourth floor. All the celebrities and teachers would be there.
You'd have a drink, you'd watch yourself on video about it,
and then you dial in your own number to vote
for yourself, or.
Speaker 1 (25:31):
You do it before you watch it, just dial in.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
Yeah, yeah, is whatever the limit was, you know.
Speaker 1 (25:37):
I remember the judges Len Goodman would be smoking cigarettes
up there. I swear to god. We would party with
everyone like it was. That was when it was the
It was so good. Yeah, it was the best, and everybody.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
Was a friend and felt supportive. And then to the
show and on everybody saw, okay, this is my chance
to get rich, be famous, And it was like the
egos spread and not necessarily a bad thing. Maybe in
every context, but everybody became out for themselves and what
can I do to make my brand and my name bigger?
Speaker 1 (26:06):
Yes? And and by the way, we all have egos,
like this is not you know anything, it's not new information. However,
do I mean, why do you think we want full on?
We want other people's approval for a reason.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
I'm look in the mirror all day long as we.
Speaker 1 (26:20):
Oh, I know, hence my like there's just a lot
of unhealthy but beautiful Also, it could be both. Did
you get asked to do Len Goodman's tribute?
Speaker 2 (26:29):
I saw an email or something about that, but I'm
just so busy with my teaching life and family and yeah,
I think I was out of town then.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
So okay, so are you just completely like okay, so
what happened did you? Was it your choice to leave?
Speaker 2 (26:47):
So, like, let's see the third season, I think they
the third, fourth season, I can't remember. They didn't ask
me back that season for whatever reason. Then I did
the next three or four. Then I went back and
did a competition again in the baller world. So I
turned them down. Whatever season that was.
Speaker 1 (27:04):
You did turn them down?
Speaker 2 (27:06):
Yeah, and then whatever the last season I did, I
think that was with Macy Gray. I think I was
just kind of done, and yeah, I felt again even
though I was still well. Now I realized I was
younger men, but I was feeling old Ben. But I
was in you and Mark and Derek and going like, okay,
(27:26):
you know, I think it's it's always time to it's
good to go at the right time. You know, I
don't want to be the sports athlete that's you know,
it was a great you know athlete, and then still
they're trying to score and not what they were.
Speaker 1 (27:37):
Macy Gray, I will never forget you were like you
had to travel to England or something. Right.
Speaker 2 (27:42):
No, we we did like a twenty some day tour
through all of Europe. We were even Moscow up in Sweden, Denmark.
Speaker 1 (27:50):
This.
Speaker 2 (27:51):
Yeah, the last couple of days was like I had
a hotel right in Red Square Moscow, like looking out
over everything. Was it?
Speaker 1 (28:00):
Wait, how many hours did you reheard? Because I remember
you were like we rehearsed for thirty minutes maybe, so maybe.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
We didn't have a lot of rehearsal.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
No, and you know it's in then, so you're exhausted.
Speaker 2 (28:12):
Well, you know how a tour is. We take the
bus at night, you know, get there. Then she has
her you know, stage rehearsal, music check, everything like that.
Then we do you know, thirty minutes and take a
nap and then like it was this whirlwind again. Macy
was someone who I don't think realized the work that
was required to do it, but it was a blast.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
Why does that affect us? Because I always say this,
like this is so consuming, This whole show is consuming.
I also was supposed to dance with Charlie Sheen one season.
Cool and yes, but then he had asked me like
on the side, like they opened up the studio for us.
It was a whole tryout right, which they don't do
with everyone, but like with big names like that, Yes
(28:54):
he wants to try it out. Okay, great, Maybe they
shouldn't have chose me because I don't lie, and because
you know, if I lie, then I'm going to First
of all, we're the ones that are going to get
the shit and the stick here when it comes to
the celebrities, expecting one thing and it being another. So
when he asked me about like celebrity like basically do
(29:14):
I have to go and do press? I said, oh, yeah,
we're all going to good Morning America, buddy, we're doing it.
We're going there as a we are part of an ensemble.
Like this is not not until like towards the end
then obviously whoever whatever, But like we do this. This
is a cast announcement. This is in your contract as well.
As I said, first of all, this is seven days
a week. And I don't regret saying any of this,
(29:37):
even though he obviously decided not to do the show
because it.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
Wasn't his dancing talent that he backed out with.
Speaker 1 (29:43):
I don't think so. I think honestly it was what
the schedule was, but what I told him it was
because like I'll tell you this much, Terrell Owens, when
I danced with him, he was told that he could
wear his labels like his actual clothing line. No, that
wasn't the case, and so the back and forth, and
then I got him in a bad mood, and then
our rehearsals all messed up, Like it really isn't necessarily
(30:06):
it doesn't work in our favor whatsoever, let alone, just
we want our celebrity to be in good spirits really, right, yeah.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
Because that controls their performance and their practice, and they're
they're just.
Speaker 1 (30:17):
Did you ever run into that issue with any of
your celebrities, like Heather Mills.
Speaker 2 (30:22):
I know that she Heather was actually super Again, let's
talk about Heather because it's out of all the partners
I've had, we stay the most in contact. So she
was just here at my house a couple of months ago.
Oh really, I'm going to England in two weeks and
I'm supposed to see her there. So we regularly love
that together. And for all the bad press Heather got
(30:45):
in England, she is just the nicest, most loyal, most
caring person. And again, I wish I'd kept up better,
you know, with all the people I danced with, But
for whatever reason, Heather and I regularly talk and she
is just she has her chain Mpiano causes with the
you know, the veganism and against animal cruelty and stuff,
and we just have stayed great friends.
Speaker 1 (31:08):
Wow. Okay, So let's talk about this because I think
she was one of the first controversial characters that were
that was cast on the show. I mean other than
like master p but he didn't want to do it anyway,
he was forced to do it. But like, what was
that like for you?
Speaker 2 (31:22):
So a little bit, I guess I just didn't really
think about it. I just thought, oh, I have this
super famous lady with you know who. My parents loved
the Beatles and I did as well. Actually, and you know,
the show's talked to me and said, we really need
someone that's going to take care of her and be
pressed savvy and be careful. And you know, she has
(31:43):
a disability, so right with the leg and everything, because
I think in the future they had more people with
disabilities like loss of limbs or something, but Heather was
the first one, and it was it was amazing what
we did too, Like she did that backflip and there
was she worked really really hard with the injury Heather
(32:04):
head to her leg. I think they put like show
me the X ray. There was like the surgical metal
plate that went through her abdomen and if she didn't
work enough out like physically, the plate would drop, which
then would cause her not to be able to walk
at all, serious injury. So like it didn't matter where
we went, she was always staying fit, always eating right,
always exercising, Like that was not just a lifestyle choice,
(32:28):
it was a lifestyle must for her. So I really
appreciated her work ethic wow, and her attitude for what
she went through in life and what.
Speaker 1 (32:36):
She Yeah, wow, it's so crazy because like from the
outside looking in mind, you I know she's lovely. She
gave us all the girls a toothbrush that vibrated for
other reasons other than to brush your teeth. But I
love her, like I love how she's just so funny.
Like I just remember really getting along with her and
how open she was. I loved, But like, I don't
(32:56):
think I think people think maybe Amy Purty was the
first when it comes to like a big disability, the
huge disability that could literally you know the fact that
you know she had prosthetics and you know, but still
this must have been very challenging. How did you work
around it? Like, I know, you're one of the most
patient patient beings in the plant on the planet. Like, seriously,
(33:16):
I think that they were smart to give someone like
Heather to you. Was it? I mean she was very
mobile right like I saw her, Like.
Speaker 2 (33:27):
It would be interesting with her with her leg like
sometimes walking would be harder than doing like a turn
and a lunge. Yeah, very like I just I had
no understanding how hard it was for But I'd love
the challenge to be honest, Like, one of the things
I like to do the most right now is choreography.
So I travel all of the world right now designing
(33:48):
steps and routines and again, like we said, figuring out
what what are we trying to hide in this couple
and what are we trying to draw out? And how
can I do the chography around that. So it's a
great challenge for me on Okay, we can't turn on
this leg, so we have to alter the choreography to
make the turn here and yeah, this way. So it
just turned into an enjoyable, actually thing for me to conker,
(34:12):
not just teaching someone to dance, but figuring out how
to embellish what she could do with her leg.
Speaker 1 (34:18):
The press made her out to be this devil of
a woman, right because like, how dare you whatever? I
don't even know what the story was is she would
you be safe to say that she's definitely the opposite
of what the press puts her out to be.
Speaker 2 (34:32):
Completely the opposite. Now, now, Heather is a strong woman
and she will speak up. She will if she sees
something done wrong, she will talk about it one hundred percent.
She's not afraid to back down. But she is just
an angel. Like I remember being in England and we
were out there in the park or something with some
of her family and the paparazzi were trying to film
(34:53):
the kids and she's like, no, no, no, no, get in
the way. Stop. You know, you're not allowed to do this.
So they say, well, we're going to keep going till
the police come. So she had to call the police,
you know. So the next day in the paper it
says Heather Mills waste police time with like, you know,
frivalent calls.
Speaker 1 (35:11):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (35:11):
So it was like I saw these things happen in person,
and yeah, like yeah, it's just it's not you know,
I think anyone in politics or that's famous, they have
that risk. That's no, you know, you're not one hundred
percent going to do the right thing. But at least
what I saw of Heather, she was always nice and
considerate and just got smeared a lot.
Speaker 1 (35:32):
It's just different in England. They're really vicious. And I
know that they came here at some point, right, like
this was a whole thing because this is fresh off
her divorce with Paul McCartney.
Speaker 2 (35:42):
Right, yeah, so Carthy McCartney artney, Yeah, you're still young,
shoe no flying back and forth from England each week
during the show, so wow. They had the results show
on Tuesday, so I think it was like six o'clock
California time. So we'd catch like a nine thirty flight
to London and we'd drive the three hours to Brighton
(36:03):
or she lived, and then we'd rehearse there and then
fly back. So it was it was crazy.
Speaker 1 (36:09):
That's insanity. What okay? So I had I don't know
what your relationship is like with Anya. I had Anya
here on the podcast, and she actually really was very
vulnerable with her story and and her I guess her
experience on the show for those because there's I got
a lot of questions from fans asking like, would you
(36:30):
ever first of all, come back to the show. What happened?
Is there peace in your life? And between the two
of you, are you guys good? You know, I don't
want to put pressure. If you don't feel comfortable in
answering any of this, please don't.
Speaker 2 (36:41):
So yeah, I mean it didn't work out between us, Yeah,
but there was nothing bad that happened, so there's no
I think huge bitterness or fight. Yeah. Yeah, So like
I run a very large dance competition in San Diego,
and I have her come judge, you know, every couple
of years there, so we we still see each other
in the dance business. Yeah, so yeah, yeah, time moves
(37:05):
on and wound's heel over time and it's you know,
as long as you grow and move on from that.
So it would be a good experience totally.
Speaker 1 (37:15):
And you guys were so great together as competitors. She
definitely brought out something in you and vice versa, like
she had this fire I'll never forget, like because were
we competing against No, he never competed against each other,
did we? In the Latin? Maybe maybe that's weird. It's
weird because you taught me as a teacher, you know,
you were my teacher, and it's like, okay, yeah, I
(37:35):
guess maybe with Jose towards the end, Yeah, rapid fire
conspiracy theory or true or false? You've got three options?
Are you ready quickly? Was it your decision to leave
the show? Conspiracy theory true or false? Yes, my decision,
(37:59):
Maria's and fainting was scripted. We don't get to choose
our celeb partners.
Speaker 2 (38:05):
I never did not either.
Speaker 1 (38:07):
Pro dancers all got paid the same when you were
a part of the show.
Speaker 2 (38:11):
I don't know what other people got paid. I think
we did.
Speaker 1 (38:13):
Oh, come on, Jonathan, Yes that is true. I believe
not now. I think it's seniority obviously.
Speaker 2 (38:18):
No that the first season.
Speaker 1 (38:20):
Can I talk about that, Yeah, we can talk about anything.
Speaker 2 (38:23):
I think we got paid fifteen hundred a week the.
Speaker 1 (38:26):
First Oh that's so bad.
Speaker 2 (38:27):
And there was no expenses paid. And like I remember
doing the rehearsal for the final for the because it
was six episodes the first season, and the mirror ball
was made out of cardboard in the inside and fell
apart halfway through, like the dress rehearsal.
Speaker 1 (38:43):
Do you know what it was? I just got Someone
just told me three years ago. It was a lamp shade.
My first two freaking mirror balls, right, two and three
seasons two and three. First of all, one is gone
in the trash. And not because I'm pissed off at
anything or the show or I hate I don't want
to remember it. Mice that were living in my storage
in Los Angeles literally bit through this dirofoam, okay, and
(39:04):
the mirrors were already off.
Speaker 2 (39:05):
And get another thing about Heather Mills, so they would
only find me economy to England, so Heather paid herself
to upgrade me to business. So because without sleeping all
the ways back, it would have been a nightmare.
Speaker 1 (39:16):
What season was that, Jonathan four? Four? Maybe the show
is rigged conspiracy theory or true depends how you define rigged.
Kyle Massey was say, true, Okay, pros and celebrities work
seven days a week on the show.
Speaker 2 (39:32):
Some do, some don't.
Speaker 1 (39:34):
Oh, come on, you have to.
Speaker 2 (39:36):
Yeah, I worked seven days a week.
Speaker 1 (39:38):
We helped design our wardrobe. Yes, the show is scripted.
I said this already, didn't I.
Speaker 2 (39:44):
I don't remember. Uh, the judges are scripted for sure.
Speaker 1 (39:50):
That was my next one. Danta, Wait, what do you
mean by staymore.
Speaker 2 (39:55):
About the judges? Yeah, well, for sure, they watched the
dress rehearsals. They see what's happing? Thank you? Like duh.
If they're not sure I would do that.
Speaker 1 (40:03):
Well, they're also not that like fast. I mean like
Tom bergerwund maybe right, like he could definitely whip it
out of his back pocket. But like I was just
going to say, judges watch dressers. Judges are told what
to score the couples.
Speaker 2 (40:15):
How can I know? Like when you judge a charity
event like I'm doing this Friday, like so I have
to walk in Cole. Haven't seen anyone like. Sometimes my
comments are great, sometimes not so good, like right the Stars.
The judges comments are always good the time. I'm not
(40:36):
saying accurate, but at least there they have.
Speaker 1 (40:38):
Work anymore they're mean.
Speaker 2 (40:40):
I haven't even seen it, so I don't know.
Speaker 1 (40:42):
No, but even your season they were mean.
Speaker 2 (40:45):
It's just more honest, but it was better that way.
Speaker 1 (40:47):
Loved it. Yeah, what do you think of the judging
panel today?
Speaker 2 (40:51):
Who's the judges?
Speaker 1 (40:52):
Derek A Hoff, Kiri and and Bruno?
Speaker 2 (40:54):
Still great? I love seeing the original and Derek who
is you know, such an amazing dancer and can add
the ballroom knowledge part to it?
Speaker 1 (41:06):
Do you think Len Goodman could be replaced?
Speaker 2 (41:10):
Not his personality and expertise? I mean Len was a legend.
Speaker 1 (41:13):
Which of your seven partners was most disciplined?
Speaker 2 (41:17):
Uh? Heather Mills always late, Macy Gray?
Speaker 1 (41:22):
Who swept the most?
Speaker 2 (41:25):
Me?
Speaker 1 (41:26):
Marie Osmond?
Speaker 2 (41:28):
No?
Speaker 1 (41:28):
Me, oh, I did same, I'm a swetter too. Who
got distracted the most?
Speaker 2 (41:34):
Probably Marie Osman? She was pretty busy with eight kids?
Speaker 1 (41:37):
Who was really needy?
Speaker 2 (41:39):
Mm? They were all okay?
Speaker 1 (41:43):
Who was the most stubborn.
Speaker 2 (41:47):
The most stubborn probably.
Speaker 1 (41:49):
Marie who was a diva. Max from Rokkowsky, who's a
joy to work with the matter what day it was.
Speaker 2 (41:58):
Heather Mills, most if most stiff, Uh, Monica Probably Monica
Slas from the tennis.
Speaker 1 (42:06):
Yeah, the funniest three, more.
Speaker 2 (42:08):
Funniest, Maria Asmund, most shy, the most shy, Monica Selas.
Biggest flirt, biggest flirt in a good way. My part
on the second season, Giselle Fernandez. She was great like
her Latino background.
Speaker 1 (42:23):
She was she was great.
Speaker 2 (42:26):
What is she was?
Speaker 1 (42:28):
I mean, honestly, like another one that you got eliminated
too early like she was. First of all, she was
obsessed with wanting to work, like to the to a fault.
Speaker 2 (42:36):
Yeah yeah, and a flexible, amazing body. Worked hard. Yeah.
That's the unfair part of the show that I wish
wasn't there because she she should have gone to a final.
Speaker 1 (42:46):
Do you think that that part of it is unfair
or is it real?
Speaker 2 (42:50):
Well, I mean we can't see what goes behind the scenes,
but if someone is a terrible dancer has a lot
of fans, they're still going to get boats because people
love them to see them or if they're a terrible
answer that they improve each week. Maybe they're not as
good as someone else, but people see them improving and
get behind them. So there's you know, there's so many
aspects like that.
Speaker 1 (43:10):
Fan questions quickly. First of all, you have so many
different you have so many fans, mind you, I did
this whole Instagram thing definitely like you had about I
would say solid thirty to forty fan questions. But we're
not going to get through all of them. Mind you, fans.
This is great to what not total dummy? Maybe you
should be a little bit more active on social media
so you could have reposted my story. That's one of
the questions. Why are you not so active on social.
Speaker 2 (43:33):
We need social media.
Speaker 1 (43:35):
We need to change you do, Jonathan, We do.
Speaker 2 (43:38):
I've moved on from that brief time of not doing
very well with social media.
Speaker 1 (43:43):
I know it's the thing. What are you up to now?
From at Adriana dot sinep Prix.
Speaker 2 (43:49):
So now I have my two beautiful girls, I travel
and teach all over the world, and I just join
the actually Freda Stare franchise, So I bought Anya, so
I'll be opening Freda Stare dance studios in northern California.
Speaker 1 (44:00):
Whoa, and then another congratulations, by the way, that's huge,
that's awesome. Will you ever return to Dancing with the
Stars is the second part of her question.
Speaker 2 (44:09):
Never really?
Speaker 1 (44:12):
For example, why didn't you do the tribute? You just
didn't like you weren't. Did you respond to the email? Interesting?
Did it were you? Did you leave on bad terms? No?
Speaker 2 (44:22):
No, great terms. It's just too busy, Like there's no more.
If I want to see someone from the show, just
call them, you know or whatever. It's it was time
to move.
Speaker 1 (44:31):
On, you mean, like, no, I meant for Lenn Goodman's
tribute though, like when who reached out to you?
Speaker 2 (44:35):
I don't even remember. Yeah, I don't even think the
email I saw like Lenn Goodman tribute and I don't
think I went further than that.
Speaker 1 (44:43):
Got it? Okay? Last question, what is any advice you
have for any current pro dancers or anyone who may
be a pro dancer in the near future. What advice
do you have for them?
Speaker 2 (44:53):
It shouldn't be about you, It should be about your
celebrity period.
Speaker 1 (44:58):
Thank you, Jonathan good Night A men. Thank you seriously though,
thank you for your time Jonathan. I miss you so much.
Speaker 2 (45:05):
Good to see you.
Speaker 1 (45:06):
Thank you guys so much for listening, and thank you
to Jonathan. Make sure to rate and review wherever you're
currently listening to this episode, even if you did it already,
as it's vital to the longevity of this podcast. And yes,
you heard me right, there's no limits when it comes
to rating and reviewing. But I also want to let
you guys know a friendly reminder. We dropped two episodes
per week, every single Mondays and Fridays, so mark your calendars,
(45:28):
set your notifications on high alert, and I'll see you
next time. Love you bye.
Host
Cheryl Burke
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