Normani Kordei Interviewed On Her Dancing Experience, DWTS, Val Chmerkovskiy, And More

Normani Kordei tells Billboard that her biggest challenge on Dancing With The Stars is “just to be quick”. Lots more below including how Val has been pushing her to the limits….

Normani, did you take a lot of dancing lessons when you were a kid? You have mastered all these dances pretty well and your kicks go so high. I was just wondering what kind of training you had?

I have been dancing since I was 3, and competitively since I was 9. I was in classes every single weekend I think that people kind of forget the fact that I am not a ballroom dancer, and this is all so new to me. So, I’m learning the technique. Like I said, I’m kind of having to unlearn certain things that I have learned.

What has been your biggest challenge so far?

I think in general just to be quick. You know, quicker feet and partnering is something new for me. I have never done that before, even when I was dancing. So just tighter movement with feet, and just staying active.

I can understand that, but it looks like you and Val have clicked from the beginning.

He’s dope. I have to say he’s a cool guy. Like inside and outside of rehearsal, he’s helped me in so many ways. Like even at the first one, I overthink a lot — and, ultimately, when we watch our videos after every live show, we are super proud because we know how hard we worked. He pushes me to the limit.

I can’t imagine how tough that was, rehearsing on a different continent during the Fifth Harmony Asian tour and then getting on a jet to fly out for a show. How did you do that? How rough was that schedule?

I do not know how I did it. People ask me and I have nothing in response. Like, I just don’t know. I think eventually, just staying present and accepting the fact that I am going to these places I have never gotten an opportunity [to go to before], like going to Asia. You can’t really complain about that. Plus, getting opportunities to see so many new faces and their stories while being on Dancing with the Stars, which is something that I also wanted to do.

So, I can’t really complain. But yes, it did take a toll on my body. But I drink a lot of water, and I took my vitamins and kept staying active. That helps, because once you kind of get lazy, it all goes downhill from there.

To read the full interview, see Billboard.