DWTS Week 7 – Kym Johnson: “We’re Putting Overtime In This Week”

TV Guide has a new interview up with Kym. She and Hines have been working tirelessly and having fun. For instance, Hines has even been dancing with a pillow this week which you can read about at the link. Below, you can read more on tonight’s Tango (I have a feeling this dance will be right up his alley and in a big way!). More below on their team Dance as well.

How’s the tango coming along?
Kym Johnson: Well, we’re putting in overtime this week. I feel like the competition has really kicked in now. I love the tango. I think Hines will be great at it. He’s such a natural dancer. I’m so lucky! He’s so easy to teach. [On Wednesday] we had a six-hour rehearsal and he got all the steps down. After that, it’s just about polishing it and working on the technique. In the tango, we really have to focus on the posture and his knees because the tango’s really flat. He just really has to get into the character of the tango. In our paso doble, we did really well. He sort of channeled the football player in him, so he has to do that for the tango as well.

Are you guys going for a theme or a story of any kind?
Johnson: We were going to, but this week, we have some of the ballroom greats — legends of ballroom dancing — coming in to watch our rehearsals and we’ll have a guest judge. So we’re focusing on making this week more about the dancing and being very technical and more traditional. We’re not going with any gimmicks or story. American Week, Guilty Pleasure Week — they’ve been really, really fun. I enjoyed that and telling a story through the dances, but we’re not doing that this week.

You guys also have the team dances. Are you excited you get to do the cha-cha again?
Johnson: Yes! I’m really excited. That was [our first dance], which seems like a lifetime ago now. It’ll be nice to revisit the cha-cha. It’s really fun doing the team dance. It brings everyone closer and it’s fun working with the other celebrities and pros. We have Kirstie [Alley] and Kendra [Wilkinson], so our team is very good at shaking their butts — we’re going to focus on that. We’re Team Booty-Shakers! … We don’t have a name yet, but I’m going to suggest that one!

This is the first week with two dances. How has Hines been handling it?
Johnson: He’s really been great with it. He always steps up to the challenge. It’s hard, but he’s getting there with it. Athletes definitely know how to handle the pressure and he’s great with dealing with the pressure. I’m not too worried about him, honestly.