Kym Johnson On What Makes A Good Partner On Dancing With The Stars And More!

What a fascinating interview with Kym Johnson in Shape Magazine. Kym discusses what she teaches a celebrity first on Dancing With The Stars and what makes a good partner. She talks of the dynamics and how she once fell in love with one of her partners. More below…

SHAPE: What is the dynamic between the different stars and professionals in the rehearsal studio?

Johnson: We all train at one place where they have a replica of the main studio, which everyone fights for and they have all these other rooms. Everyone goes into the little kitchen area so the celebrities can talk about how everything’s coming along and who’s doing what wrong! It’s not like you’re on your own. We’re all there together. It really is like a family!

SHAPE: Those dances can be pretty intimate, have you ever fallen in love with a partner?

Johnson: I did in Australia. I ended up with the guy that I won with. We dated for a second and it was a disaster. It didn’t end well! I learned a lesson from that and I’ll never do it again. But if you’re both single it may happen!

SHAPE: What makes a good partner?

Johnson: Someone who leaves all inhibitions and checks their ego at the door. You have to be prepared to try things, which most of them do. It’s very daunting. You’re total strangers and the next thing you know its ‘put your hand here, hold me there.’

SHAPE: Before coming on the show, how would you recommend a celebrity prepare?

Johnson: If I was going to be on the Dancing with the Stars, as a celebrity, I’d definitely take dance lessons before hand, something—anything! Or I would get the fitness DVD. Kristi Yamaguchi told me she did the fitness with her daughter and learned the jive steps before coming on the show.

Lots more at Shape.com.