Gilles Marini On DWTS 15 Week 5 “It is going to be a wild week!”
Gilles Marini writes how last week’s dance wasn’t easy to learn while being in Miami working on other commitments last week. The first few days, he and partner Peta Murgatroyd had “no clue” what they were doing. By Monday night, “all went well”. He writes a little on this week’s up coming Rumba and the group dance too…
Food aside, Miami was a struggle as we were trying to learn and perfect the Bollywood dance style and OMG it wasn’t easy at ALL! The first few days we truly had no clue what we where doing and had to call in a Bollywood pro to help us. We practiced as much as we could but it was hard since we were away from home and didn’t have a lot of time since I was busy with other commitments. Once we got back to LA, we had all weekend to perfect the dance. By Sunday night we finally felt like we had something and were comfortable…which was a good thing since we were dancing in 15 hours!! On Monday night all went well and I feel like we did a great job. Bollywood is fun, colorful and full of energy and we had a great time performing it. And it was AWESOME having Paula Abdul as a guest judge!
And now..Let’s Get Ready to RUMBA…and to a Whitney Houston song no less! We will be dancing two dances next week. The Rumba and a group freestyle dance to Gangnam style! It is going to be a wild week!
You can read the blog in full at Parade.com.
Also, isn’t this a breathtaking shot of Peta? According to his facebook, Gilles took this photo while “shooting right up in the hills”. Not sure what that means…
ADDING: Below is Peta and Gilles talking about their dances this week with On The Red Carpet. Be sure you let us know what you think in comments.
ADDING2: TV Guide has a new interview up with Peta where she talks about she and Gilles’ new dance and the team dance as well. Here’s a take….
How are rehearsals going?
Peta Murgatroyd: Good. We kind of started both routines and got both half done. I think the rumba is going to take a longer amount of time because it’s a full dance I have to do with him. “Gangnam Style” is going to be a fun one. We put that one together very quickly. … It’s pretty much divided into the four solos and we have a beginning and end group sections. We already have the choreography for the beginning and the end. Now we’re just working on the solo stuff. … We’re definitely spending more time with the rumba.“Gangnam Style” already has built-in moves, so how much work do you even have to do?
Murgatroyd: Yeah, exactly! [Laughs] We have definitely put a lot of those tricks in there.I love your reactions when you found out that was your song.
Murgatroyd: Oh, yes! Well, that’s one of my favorite songs. It just kills me every time I see that video. When I saw we had it, I was like, “Oh, my God! That’s going to be amazing to do and replicate!”You guys definitely got the better song for a dance compared to “Call Me Maybe.”
Murgatroyd: I think so too! [Laughs] I’m sure theirs will be amazing. They’re all young and physically fit, so they can do it all.How did you guys put together the team dance? Did you designate a lead choreographer or do you guys collaborate?
Murgatroyd: We actually sent the celebrities out for, like, half an hour just because it’s easier when the pros work together. Maks and I took some of the leadership and got some of the group stuff down, so I would say we’re the co-leaders.I think it’s safe to say you’re happy with your team selection.
Murgatroyd: [Laughs] Yeah. I wanted first pick and we got it. I love those guys, obviously, Maks and Val. I love Cheryl as well. She’s a great friend and she was Gilles’ former partner, so it was perfect. I think there’s so much heart and soul on our team. The celebrities are just fun. They just want to entertain. They don’t really care about not having the best technique and that’s the best song for it.Gilles wanted to make it sexy with Kelly and Val. Can you really make “Gangnam Style” sexy?
Murgatroyd: [Laughs] I really wouldn’t call it sexy. I would call it a whole lot of fun. But, I mean, they’re just a sexy couple anyway.How’s the rumba coming along?
Murgatroyd: Our rumba is going to be crowd-pleasing and it’s to one of the awesomest songs ever, Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You.” That’s Gilles’ guilty pleasure song. He apparently used to sing it when he was younger and the other boys didn’t like it. I hope it’s going to be one of the best dances of the evening because most people are going to be doing a faster dance, like a samba. We’re going to come out with a serious rumba.
More with Peta at TV Guide.
ADDING 3: You can also read a blog from Peta at People.com. She writes of wanting to “push boundaries and make sure Gilles isn’t completely in his comfort zone every week.” She also wants to bring out all of Gilles’ vibes and how he’s not just sexy, but, he has a funny and serious side too. Lots more at the link.
ADDING 4: Thanks Laila, here is a new interview with Gilles as well. Below is a take where he talks about his team dance….
“The only time we’re going to be able to dance with that minimum is to dance on ‘Gangnam Style’ because we have to replicate what the video was about,” he explained. (Speaking of sexy, check out Gilles in Buitoni’s Girls Like Guys Who Can Cook contest.)
As for the team the actor has put together, he couldn’t be happier.
“My dream always was to dance with Kirstie because I believe Kirstie is witty, sweet, sexy, down to earth, loves animals, entertaining, funny … she has everything,” he said. “I will be the proudest man in the room because I chose Kirstie. It’s true. It would’ve been easier to pick Sabrina (Bryan).”
He said he knows that having Sabrina on his team would’ve meant “an incredible dance,” but that that wasn’t what he was going for with his freestyle. Instead, Gilles said he put his specific team together because he felt this particular group would be able to portray to the audience what’s in his heart.
“We’re just going to entertain,” Gilles said. “We’re going to make people go crazy. … We’re dancing to a very funny song, and I’m so excited to show the world this. ‘Gangnam Style’ with Kirstie?!”
His picks and his hopes for the dance all go back to his purpose for participating in “Dancing With the Stars” again.
“I want the public to have a great time when they watch me, no matter whether I win the mirror ball or not,” Gilles explained. “For me, it’s very important to make people smile. … My only wish is to make people happy when I dance and nothing else. If I win this, I can turn around, walk away and give my trophy to (my competitors). … I’m there to make sure no matter what I do, I do it with all my heart and for people to enjoy what (pro partner) Peta and I did.”
I agree, Vogue, Peta looks beautiful in this photo.
A beautiful shot.
You look lovely Peta. Wishing you nothing but good things for your life.
Last season I absolutely loved Peta. This season my feelings are just “meh”. I guess the different attitude and demeanor of your partners really do transcend onto the pro, because this season I see a totally different Peta. That’s unfortunate.
Nice shot though.
I never liked her, long before Donald and long before the Douchelor, but the ethereal looking pic is nice.
Just saw Gilles’ OTRC interview. Gilles says they actually requested Gangnam Style as their music so they didn’t luck out, but that it was all karma people! Really, karma because they deserved it!
And, if that’s not enough, he said their team is full of fun and has heart as opposed to a team that has technique going for them. Yeah, the a-hole is still at it. He has all but ruined this season for me.
I just saw that too, katarina – disgusting. Basically made it sound like the other team was a bunch of assholes and that he had always wanted Gangnam style for the finale and so good luck is all on his side.
I can’t believe I was excited that Gilles was returning for the All-Stars season. What a let down. BOO!
I just saw the new interview too (and it’s posted in the first post above now for those interested). I’m disappointed. He goes on like his team has all the “heart” and “karma”. what? as if the other team doesn’t haven’t have heart or deserve karma? Sad.
Is it the angle of the shot or has Peta had fillers in her face and lips? Her face is usually long and thin and in this pic it is full and rounder. I don’t remember her lips being that large. Nice pic but to me she looks different.
This is the part that made me run for the bathroom!
“I went for the team that I felt had a lot of heart, that no matter what the age – what age we are, no matter how good or bad or whatnot we move, it doesn’t matter,” Marini said of his team picks. “I wanted a team that is great to work with and is fun and is the pure essence of the show.”
His team is the “pure essence of the show”. DWTS would have been off the air years ago if the team full of “C”s” were the “pure essence”. People like Shawn,Melissa, Joey, and Helio are the pure essence. Having fun, enjoying the camaraderie, not bitter, not desperate, and loving the experience while doing amazing dances.
I am so ashamed to say I was ecstatic that Gilles was doing DWTS. But, unfortunately the Gilles from Season 8 has died, and replaced with the evil twin from hell. What the hell happened to him? Minor success has really gone to his head.
Wow!
Just when you can’t imagine he can stoop any lower! According to Gilles then, Shawn and her team aren’t good people, have no heart, are crap to work with, aren’t any fun and my favorite….Gilles team is the , “pure essence of the show”.
Maybe his agent can tell this dirtbag that looking like your attacking a 20 year-old Olympian who is considered by many to be America’s sweetheart, doesn’t look good, to put it mildly. Especially since Shawn has never had one bad thing to say about anyone on the show because that’s not who she is and she doesn’t need to. Yes Gilles, it is about karma and I can’t wait until you get yours.
It’s those dadgum Chmerkovskiys…they’ve corrupted Gilles..he’s gone over to the dark side. 😉 All kidding aside, I didn’t hear him attacking anyone. He just said he thought it was karma that they got the song they wanted, since they had requested it earlier..I’m assuming all the couples request certain songs at the beginning of the season. And he’s right..his team is probably not as technically proficient as Shawn’s team..and they are older. I didn’t like Gilles the first time he was on…I don’t like him now, but I didn’t feel he was implying that the other team wasn’t fun,or didn’t have heart. It’s a team dance, and you should be supportive of your teammates. Should he have said, we have the Russian mafia,bosomy Kelly, bitchy Cheryl,superior Emmitt and old Kirstie, but we’ll do the best we can?
@ Auntie Bellum
Yes, but being supportive of your teammates doesn’t mean you say or imply negative things about the other team IMO. Why in God’s name can’t any of them just say they’re excited for their dance, they think it’s going to be great etc. and stop right there. It’s when you through a dig in, veiled or not about the other team that makes them look bad. Because it’s not necessary. IMO
No, Auntie, he doesn’t have to say those things, but you aren’t going to tell me there are no better ways to phrase what he did say (and says regularly) are you? Because there are ways to build up your team without tearing everyone else down, if you have half a brain. And sadly, Gilles ego is too big and is sucking up so much oxygen that his brain no longer functions properly.
@auntiebellum, He most certainly made the us vs. them comparison. I’m not sure how you could insinuate otherwise. He’s not very subtle.
What a ass. Please go away, I’m hoping for anyone in the finals but him.
I just wanted to point something out. Last season Peta said she’d rather have a partner who was a good dancer than one she got along with. This season she has a partner whom *the judges THINK* is a good dancer and she doesn’t seem to like. Gilles, karma may have gotten you the song you wanted, but it was a bitch to Peta.
I agree, Auntie, I don’t hear Gilles attacking anyone. Inflating his own ego, yeah. Going over the top with the hyperbole about himself and his own team, yeah he was doing that too. I also heard him say that the other team was amazing (a paraphrase, but it was a positive and I don’t particularly want to sit through the vid again to check it. *LOL*). I don’t believe that he thinks badly of the other team, indeed, the other couples. He just thinks he is better. Annoying? Hell yes. Eyeroll inducing? Again, a hell yes. All in all, pretty mild trash-talking. That being said, he’s really unpleasant this season. *sigh* He gets no glitter from me.
Seems to me that Gilles is still burnin’ up over the fact that he lost to Shawn in a close vote, and that she is “all the talk” this time around too….hehehe….couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.
I certainly agree that Gilles is annoying, and to be truthful, that little video at the top of the page is the only one I’ve taken the time to listen and watch with Gilles talking. During his rehearsal packages,I usually go refill my glass 😉 so,I probably haven’t heard some of his comments….I guess he’s been tooting his own horn adnauseam, and everyone is just tired of it. Bottom line, I agree with most of you. Gilles is smarmy and unlikeable this season. And he’s made me dislike Peta , too.
Evaine, you’re right to withhold the glitter. 🙂
Anyone remember Seinfeld’s Soup Nazi? Evaine reminded me of that, when withholding glitter for Gilles.
Glitter Fairy distributes glitter as needed…. Glitter Nazi withholds as punishment… “NO GLITTER FOR GILLES! NEXT!”.
(in case it doesn’t come across in type as it did in my brain, this was meant to be funny….)
I laughed, Lori. 🙂 I remember Seinfeld’s Soup Nazi. Hee!
“Seems to me that Gilles is still burnin’ up over the fact that he lost to Shawn in a close vote, and that she is “all the talk” this time around too””
Totally agree, This time around not only she will beat him again, but I’m sure that is not going to be close like last time.
I’m hoping that at least three people beat him. Shawn, Apolo and either Kelly or Melissa. I think Melissa is a long shot, but I would love to see her in the finale again. I think Tony has earned it this season. And she’s just so darn likable.
Me too, I don’t him in the finale at all, I want a fun finale with no crazy over scoring.
I know I shouldn’t bother to try to keep you from your Gilles bashing but what he’s says he has said since season 8. He is under the impression that DWTS is about people with no dance experience learning how to dance and their journey to do so. That’s why he believes the team he chose exemplifies that. Also please note his complement to Derek and Shawn. He was glad they danced before Derek because he had seen their dance in rehearsal and knew how great it was. Wish you could look at the positive and not the negative. That’s what I do with your friend Derek whose guilty of arrogance to the 10th degree.
Nora, that was your one chance. You do not tell other people how to think, feel or post. Do it again and I will delete you with no hesitation. His beliefs about what DWTS should be are his and have nothing to do with the arrogance, ignorance and over the top self love he’s been exhibiting since the first episode of this season. That would you would even compare him to Derek, who is probably the most humble male pro on the show, is laughable. And telling.
@Nora
Here’s the thing Nora, I think 99% of the people liked Gilles form Season 8 and they were excited to see him come back. Now do you think they just changed their mind for the hell of it? It’s the way Gilles phrases his “compliments” that keeps getting him in trouble, well that’s part of it IMO.
Example, when you say he complimented Shawn and Derek, yes, but then no because he then he does the back-handed compliment of,
“I’m so happy we danced before Shawn and Derek,” Marini said. “Because I knew – we watched rehearsals and we were like, ‘We’re dead. This is incredible.’ So, we’re very happy we danced before and we had the first 10.”
When Gilles had to throw in we had the first 10, which is great, it makes it seem like he’s pointing out that as incredible as he thought Shawn and Derek were, they weren’t as good as him.
Then he does it again with, “It was karma,” Marini told OTRC.com of the song pick. “We requested that song in case we go to the finals – we wanted that song so bad. And I believe we are good people and karma went around and I asked Shawn Johnson to pick first the song and the other one that was left was ‘Gangnam Style,’ so I call it a pure karma moment.”
Now had Gilles just said they were so thrilled to get their song because they has requested it in case they went to the finals, then great that’s fantastic. But no he has to start with the comparison of adding it was karma because you see, they’re (Gilles and Pets/his team) “good people” and karma went around and completely passed over Shawn and Derek because I asked Shawn to pick first.
You get where I’m going with this? If Tony or Melissa or Shawn or Derek were talking like this continuously, they’d be getting nailed for it too. IMO
Nora, when has Derek been arrogant? You must not be watching the same show and listening to the same interviews that I do.
The Karma thing , and the we are good people was jus the worst, dude just shut up, you are not even that good of dancer. He could never had done a mambo like Shawn’s ( not even talking abou the tricks, just the dance), Derek;s choreo are much harder than Peta’s.
I kind wish Shawn And Derek had danced first now, as crazy as the judges are with their score, no person in their right mind would give a 10 to Gilles after giving a 10 to Shawn’s amazing mambo.
I’m not feeling Gilles love like I wanted to this season, but I didn’t find that video clip to be that offensive. I just didn’t didn’t take it like he thought Shawn’s team did not deserve karma at all. Only that even with not taking a first choice at song, he ended up with the one he wanted. He attributed it to karma, Bristol said “thank the lord” for something she saw as good fortune one time, Shawn said someone was watching out for her when her heel was broken, I truly doubt Shawn meant “someone” was watching out for her and ONLY her, and I kind of doubt Gilles meant ONLY they deserve good karma.
I also think he did compliment Shawn, and was only expressing that if they went after them they would not have received the FIRST 10 of the season. To me, it’s a hollow victory as it’s only due to dance order but I’m not offended by it.
He has offended me some this season with things he’s said, but I think this case is just more of his tendency to hyperbole and drama. And coming from a language that is very expressive and trying to then function in English. My opinion.
I agree with you, Jess. I also think that he makes Peta ‘tired’, if you know what I mean. I get the feeling that sometimes she’d love to stuff a sock in his mouth just so he’d shut up for two minutes. *LOL*
I wonder why Gilles says he picked his team. Based on the whispering, it looked like Peta picked her boyfriend and his brother and they threw in Cheryl/Emmitt, since there was no way they were picking Bristol or Apolo (since Karina was part of that package).
I agree that he might be making Peta tired, he’d make me tired.
I also thought after their dance last week, she was waiting to see what the judges thought before she got happy, it looked to me that she was expecting criticism. I’ll bet that even though she might be getting tired of him, she’s also glad there’s so much love from the judges for him. And from a lot of the general audience.
Well, there was no way Derek was picking Kirstie, Peta was picking Apolo (Karina), or anyone was picking Bristol.
Hard to say, Sheery – Derek picked Hope and Maks after all.
From the first-look-videos you can tell that Team Shawn’s dance will be more exciting. They showed more moves in a 15s clip(reversals included) than Team Gilles in a 25s clip.
A new TV Guide interview with Peta has been added to the first post for those interested in reading it. She gives a preview for what their dances might be like this week.
Peta looks great!
They are so relying in the song for the rumba. The power of the song will carry the dance no matter what they actually do on the dance floor. Carrie ann will cry and say it was the most beautiful dance she ever seen on the show and they will probably get a 30. I really hope I’m wrong.
About the group dance, it will be a mess for sure.
Totally agree with #28.
His attitude of “I’ve been working harder and want it more than anyone” pisses me off so much I can’t see straight. I have heard it before from contestants and it’s pissed me off then! How dare ANYONE say that he or she is working harder or wants to win more than another contestant. You can be the biggest competitor out there and give it 150%, but don’t care insult other people by claiming they can’t want it more than you.
I used to love to watch Gilles Season 8 AT, Mambo, and Salsa on YouTube all the time, just because they were entertaining and I was SO, SO upset he came in 2nd his season. But now his attitude is so annoying, I can’t even enjoy watching them anymore.
I loved Apolo when he was on and voted for him, and thrilled he won. So when Gilles was announced, figure it’d be fun to watch Apolo again but vote for Gilles. But nope, not with this entitlement attitude of his.
I love Karina and Apolo’s partnership. He’s a great dancer and I think even better this time. Gilles annoys me. So no choice between who I’m giving all my votes to.
I can’t help but wonder how he’d be if he was paired with Cheryl again. Would she tell him to chill the hell out? I’m thinking she would and maybe he wouldn’t be as obnoxious now.
I don’t think Cheryl took Gilles’ crap. He mentioned in an earlier interview that last time he was on he felt like a puppet.
I really liked Gilles during season 8 but those feelings are gone now. Only way I’d want him to make the finals is if he were there with Shawn and Melissa and this time lost to both of them. LOL. My dream finalists right now are Melissa (hope she’s ok and can continue), Shawn and Apolo. I was ecstatic that Shawn and Derek picked both Melissa and Apolo to be on their team.
Gilles “pure essense of the show” seems to be another dig at those with prior dance experience.
If Gilles was with Cheryl again, I could also see it being more of the William Levy stuff that we saw with her last season. No way to know I guess. Cheryl does seem to be having some fun with Emmitt though – maybe HE’S not taking any of HER crap. 😀
@Mmc Actually, I consider it to be more than a bit disrespectful for Peta to suggest “she and Maks” took charge of the Gangnum dance when Cheryl has had more success on the show than both put together, and she’s supposedly such a good friend to boot.
The TV Guide interview with Peta sounds like a Peta I can recognize. Do I read in too much when I say she sounds a tad embarrassed and eye-rolly when asked to comment on some of Gilles’ behavior and quotes?
The People interview with Peta sounds canned – hard for me to hear her voice here.
Clicker interview with Gilles? LOL that boy sure knows how to hurl a backhanded compliment – looks like more a character issue than a language problem.