Mark Ballas Previews He And Aly Raisman’s Samba For DWTS, Aly Has Message For Kids

Mark Ballas has penned a new blog at USA Today. He writes of what it felt like to get three 9’s last week with his partner and Olympian Aly Raisman. He also gives us a preview for what’s to come of their new dance coming up for Monday night and the pros they will be dancing with. Read on…

This week, we are taking on the samba and a new challenge that involves Aly having to dance next to another pro..

In my opinion, the samba is the hardest dance for a celebrity to learn. The body action and bounce of the dance can be really awkward for someone that is new to the style. But overall, Aly is doing great and is loving the sassy aspect of the dance.

We are really working on rhythm and timing and the samba bounce. I’m looking forward to getting out there with Tony and Whitney as well.

Also, Teen Vogue has a new interview up with Aly. Not much is mentioned about Dancing With The Stars, but, she has a cool message for teens and making good choices.

Did you deal with peer pressure to drink when you were younger?
“When you’re in middle and high school, there are always kids who drink alcohol. But, at least for me, those are the kids who aren’t doing anything now. Those are the kids who dropped out of high school. People always told me they respected me more because I didn’t drink, and that feels good. It’s all about making good decisions and getting good results.”

What’s your advice for teenagers?
“Surround yourself with good people. If your friends are pressuring you to do things you don’t want to do, they aren’t your friends. Encourage others to do what’s best for them. Of course, it’s going to be hard. Middle school’s a tough time.”

How can girls help their little sisters and brothers make good decisions?
“If you’re an older sister, make sure your younger siblings know you should have a goal in mind and dream big. And never give up! Realizing the importance of making good decisions is huge, because that will rub off on them. You can always set a good example. I’m lucky to be close in age with my siblings, so it’s easy to spend time with them—I dropped my little sister off at school today. It’s those little things that make a big difference. It’s always hard to have tough conversations with them, but they look up to you so much and will listen to what you have to say.”

More at Teen Vogue including a new picture of Aly with kids.