Dancing With The Stars Season 13’s New Pro Tristan MacManus!
As we posted in a teaser to you earlier, we thought we’d profile each of the three new dancing pros since many fans to Dancing With The Stars may not be familiar with them. I’m also asking Courtney and Heidi to also add some commentary and predictions at the end. Before I begin, I want to thank them for their takes as well as John for the idea. I’d also like to thank PureDWTS reader Magnolia and her TristanMacManus Fans Facebook Page and TristanDWTSFans Twitter for all of her help on the sidelines (be sure to join her pages if you are serious Tristan fan). I’d also like to thank Tristan MacManus Facebook, the Boston Irish, ABC DWTS, Supershag.com, and Google is your friend for information and pictures.
So, yes, first up is the amazing, talented, mysterious, handsome, and fun Irishman who has captured hearts and fans quickly on the show, Tristan MacManus!!
Born July 23, 1982, Tristan is a native to Bray, Ireland, which is a small town located on the east coast. Tristan started dancing when he was 9 years old. He, as well as his sister, were first encouraged and introduced to dance by their grandparents, Jon and Phyllis McCann, who were and are also dancers. However, his sister didn’t take to dancing or the attention like Tristan did. She ended up quitting and Tristan continued to dance. However, Tristan also liked soccer. So, he divided up his time between both soccer and dancing. Soccer dominated his time mostly at the time since he wanted to do what his friends were doing and no one really “danced” where he came from. Eventually, Tristan realized he wasn’t as talented at soccer like he was at dancing although even to this day, he’s remained an avid fan of the sport. Tristan then decided to return full time to dancing where he was trained and competed in Latin, Ballroom, Irish, and Jazz dancing. He danced extensively in Ireland and all over Europe capturing numerous titles as a Junior and Amateur at the European and World Championships and the All Ireland Championships.
After winning the All Ireland Championships for the last time in 2000, Tristan was getting burned out of competing. He moved on to perform in musical theater in the successful tour “Simply Ballroom” which initially started in London and then made a run in Las Vegas. After that, he went to London’s West End where he performed in the stage version of “Dirty Dancing.” He served as the production’s Dance Captain and Ballroom Supervisor.
After “Dirty Dancing”, Tristan then danced in the highly successful “Burn The Floor”, which travelled the world from Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, Singapore, Canada and the U.S.
In 2004, the handsome Irishman also snagged a part and appeared as a dancer in the film “Ella Enchanted” starring Anne Hathaway. He danced with Vivica Fox who played a “Fairy”. You might also be able to see him dancing in this scene?
That’s not all! While taking a break from touring, Tristan became a dance teacher. He taught for a year at Super Shag Dance Studios in Charlestown, Mass.. Tristan also taught in Ireland’s Trinity College and U.C.D.
It’s funny how things lead to another because the producers of Dancing With The Stars first approached Tristan to dance on the show when they saw him dancing in “Burn The Floor”. The call came just after he’d returned to the tour. He had only been back to work in Burn The Floor for two or three weeks, and he had to tell them that he wouldn’t be able to do Dancing With The Stars at that time. Luckily, they were insistent. They came back a couple of months later when Season 12 was first starting and asked if he’d be available. He was immediately added to the new Dancing With The Stars Troupe which, with his popularity, led to a promotion in Season 13 as a Pro paired with Nancy Grace. Nancy has described Tristan as “handsome, but, when the music starts, it’s like someone sprinkled magic on him and he makes a complete transformation.”
Tristan, here’s to you and may your run on Dancing With The Stars be a lengthy one!!
Here are Courtney and Heidi’s feelings, thoughts, knowledge, and predictions on Tristan and we look forward to yours too!!
Courtney: As funny as it may sound, the first thing I thought upon hearing Tristan’s troupe intro last season was “Yes!!! Another fun accent…and it’s not Russian or Austrailian!” 😛 I dunno, accents fascinate me – especially Irish & Scottish ones. Tristan just sounds so happy & positive when he talks! He definitely seems like he’s got a good head on his shoulders and is willing to put in the work to really help Nancy shine on the dance floor. And let’s face it: if anyone or anything can endear Nancy to the masses, it’s a bit of the luck o’ the Irish! 😀
Heidi: I think it’s pretty clear that the producers are trying to find the next Derek, Maks or Mark with Tristan – and it looks to me like they made a great selection! What a cutie and I confess to being a sucker for an Irish accent as well. 🙂 Now, at the risk of being the downer of the group, I will avoid getting too attached to Tristan because, let’s face it, the producers don’t have the best track record for finding a pro THEY consider worthy to stick around for several seasons. I thought Damian, for one, deserved another chance – he was partnered with someone with a tremendous…impact. 🙂 Nancy is the same sort of partner, albeit for different reasons. I worry for our boy Tristan. Although, if our suspicions about the future of Derek and Maks are accurate, then Tristan may be entering at just the right time. One thing’s for sure, he would ease the pain of losing one of the big dogs. 🙂
Well done, Vogue! Love the video clips too, though I can barely stomach a minute of “Ella Enchanted” much less three. And every time I see a BTF clip, I kick myself for not going when they were within an 8-hour driving distance from me. Oh well… I digress.
Courtney, you always crack me up. Yes, we’re all hoping Nancy’s fans come out in droves to vote, if only to keep Tristan on for longer than a couple of weeks. He deserves it!
Heidi, I always have that fear when a new pro is brought on. I always think of Fabian and Damian, two guys who certainly lasted long enough to make an impact but sadly, we have seen hide nor hair of them since. I truly hope that doesn’t happen to Tristan. This could be such a great thing for his career, and since he’s worked so hard for so long, it would be nice to see great things happen for him.
I can’t wait to read the profiles on the others, as I’m sure they will be exceptional as well, ladies!
Oh, and Tristan does not use Twitter. There was an account set up for him but he doesn’t plan to tweet. So, we’re going to do it for him. Please follow @TristanDWTSFans to support him and his efforts!
PS, after watching that BTF clip, I’m even more excited about Sasha and Sharna!!!
I’m with you Courtney! I also was excited about hearing another accent when Tristan did his intro for the Troupe. Who doesn’t love an accent? Especially when it’s coming from a cute guy. 🙂
I like Tristan a lot. I hope he does get to stay for more than one season because he seems to have it all, we just have to see how good his teaching is. Looking forward to seeing his first season!! Oh yah.. I might be slightly crushing on Val because he just looks like a more adorable/cuddly version of Maks. Haha! I’ll be sad to see Maks and Derek (wahhhhhh!) leave the show, but they definitely have bigger and brighter projects to move on to and they might even come back every once in a while to do some results show dances! But I think Tristan and Val are going to be great new pros!
Hehe, if Derek doesnt keep his shit together, a certain site may transition to PureTristan. 🙂 I have a feeling that Tristan would make a fan site easier than what Derek does.
LOL Heidi!!^^
I agree with you all about how adding Tristan and Val will make losing Derek and Maks a little easier.
I love all the accents too!!
Heidi, you know I’m going to want in on that. 🙂
Looking forward to seeing Tristan this season. He looks and sounds like a great addition. And I agree Magnolia, let’s hope Nancy’s fans vote.
What a waste to put him with Nancy wish he got Kristin, like Val and Elisabetta, if they see them replacements, would be nice to see him with someone like Kristin. Would make a hot pairing.
Vogue, thanks for the write-up and vids. I could get very, *very* attached to the delectable Tristan 😉 He’s the complete package — looks, talent, personality (and I won’t even mention the killer accent because just thinking about it makes my glasses fog up). Finally, there’s a twinkle in his eye that tells me he’s got a nice sense of humor. Hope he proves to be a capable teacher and clever choreographer.
Memo to TPTB: You, foolishly, didn’t sign up Damian. Don’t make the same mistake twice. So are you listening???
@Melissa — I agree I’d have liked to see him with Kristin. Let’s hope Nancy’s fans show up and vote. If so, this combo might keep Tristan in the game longer. (unless Nancy turns out to this season’s Wendy Williams *ugh!*)
What? No mention of that darling overly-mobile tongue??? 🙂
LOL Evaine!! 😉
Cidra, thanks! I agree. He is the complete package and then some!!!
Dear Nancy, please let Tristan do the talking during interviews. Love, a new fan.
Tristan seems like he’ll be a great pro! I can’t wait to see Nancy and him dance. Question. Where the pre season photo shoot pictures??? ABC, lets see em’ already. 🙂
Yummy Yummy, rub my tummy !
I agree, Melissa, plus I think Tristan is WAY hotter than Val. By ten miles. But, I think the producers are hoping to capitalize on the sibling angle of Maks/Val. Part of me hopes that gets spoiled by one of the men or Ricki, cuz I’m mean like that. 🙂 I don’t like it when everything goes the producers way. But, from what I’ve heard of Maks, he won’t put up with shit he thinks is stupid.
I have a lot of thoughts on the Maks-Val situation, but I probably won’t say anything here for fear of getting my a** kicked on the playground. But I will say that if they were hoping people would become devoted to Val just as a mere extension of Maks… I don’t see it happening. Maks has endeared himself to fans, and Val just comes across as a very poor substitution.
I don’t see it either, Magnolia – it just doesn’t work that way, I don’t think. You gotta have that certain something and Maks has it, but does his much shorter, less hot brother have it?? Tony says that Val is the better dancer of the brothers – but I’m pretty sure that doesn’t matter in this instance.
Not to mention that I don’t think Maks or Val would play into a rivalry of any kind.
Courtney ,I think Nancy will need a lot more than the luck of the Irish! LOL
Thanks for posting. I’m looking forward to getting to know him on DWTS. I love Irish accents, too. Add me to the ones who wish he had been paired with Kristin. The would have made a hot pair, too.
I can’t see him easing my pain of losing Derek. But I wish him well!
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