DWTS2013 Gleb Savchenko, Maks Chmerkovskiy, Tony Dovolani Get Ready To Dance, 10 Facts On Gleb
Isn’t this a great photo of Gleb Savchenko, Maks Chmerkovskiy, and Tony Dovolani? Gleb posted this picture at facebook and twitter of him in rehearsals for a new dance number on Dancing With The Stars next week. This is going to be fun, isn’t it?!!
Also, and speaking of Gleb, you can read a fun interview with him at Heavy.com for some fun facts you may not know. Below are two which I found interesting, but please, let’s hope he decides to take up a permanent residence in the United States too and the producers will still want him to come back next season?!!
1. The Guy Knows Everybody.
Gleb may be the newbie this season, but he’s pretty much known the rest of the dancers on the show for years. So, coming into the DWTS family in its 16th season wasn’t as intimidating as one would think. So how did Gleb know everyone already?Gleb explains, “Half of the people who are on the show like Karina, Val, Maks, Tony, Cheryl… I knew all of them before the show. I used to live in New York in 2004 and I used to teach in North Carolina with Karina. Every weekend we used to fly there and teach dancing to competitive couples. I use to teach in the same studio as Cheryl in Times Square, so I would see her like every single day. I knew Val for a very long time. We used to have the same teachers and Maks would come. I used to do a show with Tony in Vegas, so we all know each other.”
2. Gleb is Homeless.
For the show, Gleb is living in Los Angeles, which he loves. However, he also lives in Hong Kong and Sydney from time to time. Once Dancing With The Stars wraps this season, he has to sit down and decide if he wants to take a serious step and move to LA or if he wants to try to settle in one of the other two places. I can hear the hearts out there breaking just at the thought of him leaving the U.S. Maybe he’ll factor that in to his decision-making.
More at Heavy.com including some fun pictures you may have never seen before.
I am not one bit excited to see Maks return to the ballroom this week. I haven’t missed him at all.
I, for one, am thrilled that Maks back. It’s the first time this season that I’m actually excited for the show. 🙂
I wonder, how come these 10 Things You Didn’t Know articles never mention Gleb’s wife? I wonder if she’s going to get a say about where they put down roots?
@Evaine, My cynical bone is acting up and it’s telling me the show is determined to promote Gleb as hot, sexy and single. So maybe his faux-singleness was an unwritten condition of employment, or knowing which side their bread is buttered on, Gleb and Mrs. Gleb are just keeping mum and not doing anything to correct that impression. I don’t think I’d be comfortable with a charade like that, but it’s up to them. If they’re OK with it, and they’re both benefitting *shrug*
Possibly. I do remember Anna and Jonathan being open about their marriage for the most part but I can’t remember how Alec and Edyta handled it. That question about deciding where to live just bugged me, I guess.
Well, to be fair to Gleb (and his wife), the interviewer didn’t quote Gleb’s exact words for how he answered about the “home” thing. The interviewer wrote that part. Maybe Gleb did mention his wife, but, the interviewer chose to write “he” instead of “they” being the article is about Gleb?
Another thought is that maybe Gleb (and his wife?)likes to keep his(their) private life separate from the show (like Maks and Derek, etc. and I’d do the same if I were them married or not), but, I’m like Cidra on it too thinking TPTB would like to play the “he’s the hot bachelor” card as long as they can and maybe they’ve told him to keep quiet about it for now.
Weighing in, as someone who dates a professional ballroom dancer and has for 4 years…
…ballroom dancers (especially males ones) feigning singledom is actually pretty common, for two reasons. The first is pretty obvious: it helps to sell the “fantasy” of ballroom dancing – being swept up in the arms of a strong, skilled dancing man and doing all these romantic, passionate dances has a pretty strong emotional effect, and though most students can make the differentiation between real feelings and just playing pretend, it’s still the idea that you might have even the slightest shot at a passionate affair with your teacher that can keep things exciting. Yes, I realize it sounds borderline icky and somewhat false, but it does help students to really get into character for the lovier dances, and it’s rather like boy band members: they’re always “single”, so as to give the impression to these fervent female fans that they might actually have a shot with these guys…and it keeps them coming back. The real ballroom gf’s (like myself) usually get hidden from view – it’s the price you pay for dating someone in this line of work, but I’ve actually found it can be rather nice sometimes…if nobody knows you’re dating, no one feels inclined to offer up unsolicited opinions about your “arrangement”. 🙂
The other big reason ballroom dancers keep mum on their private lives kinda ties in with the first: it’s a bit of a protective measure against those students who CAN’T make the disinction between real & pretend feelings. I’ve heard of instances where students got a bit too intrusive with their pro, mistaking their kindness and the feelings in dances like the rumba for something real – and suddenly they start calling their pro during off-hours, they conveniently show up in the neighborhood, they happen to pop up in restaraunts where their pro is eating, etc. I don’t want to call it stalking, per se, but it can get that bad – all those lovey-dovey feelings in the rumba can create some powerful urges, and logic often goes out the door. So in cases like that – the less a student knows about you, the better. Most pros I know have unlisted phone numbers & addresses, and are very careful about what they post on their Facebook profiles, Twitter accounts, etc – it’s all a measure to kind of draw the line with their students, keep things from getting…inappropriate.
I’ve also always said that couples that tend to be in the public eye quit a bit often don’t weather the storm – so the quieter you are about it, the less attention you get, and the less media scrutiny & pressure you get. If Gleb wants to keep mum about wifey, I totally get it.
All good arguments and reasons, but it still strikes me as questionable. :/ Just my opinion.
Thanks Court. Makes sense to me and I get it too!!
Evaine, I’m not trying to start anything (I hope you know that’s not my style), and I respect your opinion, but I’m curious why it’s “questionable” to you. Didn’t Maks and Peta try to keep their relationship quiet when they started dating last season? Was that wrong? As a fan of the show, I appreciated that they preferred to keep their relationship private. I wish they’d been able to keep it private because (a) it’s none of my business, and (b) I don’t think it helped them either personally or professionally to have sleazy gossip outlets drawing conclusions and making assumptions about them.
Cidra, I don’t know. Maybe because there are pictures on his dance studio’s FB page of their wedding? Maybe because he’s never said anything about her anywhere – and she is a dancer too and was once mentioned somewhere in troupe rumours. Maybe because he just comes across as fake to me and this is just another way? I truly don’t know. *LOL* All the others, when asked, or the subject warranted, would say something at some point. Maybe it’s just ’cause I don’t like him at all? *LOL* It just bothers me and that’s my perogative. And a girlfriend/boyfriend you’ve just started seeing is different from a wife of 4 years in my book.
When asked directly, not only did he say he was married, but that he is very happy.
ABC or the producers of DWTS may have – encouraged – Gleb to keep the comments about his wife to a minimum. I used to work in the auto industry and my bosses encouraged me to keep my dating life mum with my clients, who were usually middle-aged men. I wasn’t forbidden or anything, but the reasoning was that if that 50 year-old guy liked the young girl who didn’t have a ring on her finger, then the sales might be slightly stronger – and they were right. If directly questioned I would say I was in a relationship, and I never did anything to disrespect him with my behavior. He was also in sales and he understood. Selling the whole package, I suppose 🙂
Anyway, it’s not like he’s saying he is out on the prowl and single, just not overtly mentioning her. He has been shown with her in public and being affectionate, so she’s not stuffed away in a closet somewhere while he is out galavanting with the female masses. If he does behave like that, then I would definitely feel like it’s crossed the line into the icky. But keeping mum on his private life? I’d rather have that then the fake showmances of Maks/Erin and Val/Kelly any day.
Thanks, Evaine. 🙂 I can see where you’re coming from. There are things I like alot about Gleb, but I have a few question marks. To answer those questions, I’d like to see him back for another season with a different type of partner (not necessarily younger or a ringer, just different) to see how he’s the same and how he’s different.
Yeah this short of a stint it’s hard to know who he is and what he is capable of. Even a full season didn’t prepare me for how much I was going to dislike Peta’s choreography and skill as a teacher after her great stint with Donald (which I now realize was ALL him). Likewise, I didn’t warm to Karina at first but now she’s my favorite female pro. I wouldn’t mind if Tony took a break to make room for Gleb next season.
Sandy, I agree with you. So, NOT looking forward to him grabbing Tom’s A$$, and whatever “persona” he picks that day to play. I figured he would be back, but didn’t think it would be this soon.:/Also, this whole dancing with Karina buzz that someone is trying to generate just looks like another desperate attempt by Maks and his people to keep him in the spotlight while he tries to get a start in acting.
I must have missed something. Maks asked specifically to dance with Karina? I thought the producers did the asking?
I haven’t seen anyone making a big deal out of Maks and Anna helping out Karina and Jacoby other than people who aren’t Maks fans and some of the media who mention the 4 years past engagement. Most of the buzz I’ve heard/read has just been of the Maks is Back variety.
Maks is back!!!! Happy dance. Please let’s all move on from the Karina and Maks drama. It happened, it wasn’t pretty, they moved on and we should do the same. They’re both professionals and will do whatever they have to do to not embarrass themselves or the show. Please just stop it. By the way, pretty sure Maks was asked to come back next week, not the other way around.
I’m pretty sure Val did an interview that was pretty much all Maks and Karina and their terrible breakup and how it’s “water under the bridge” now…that being said, I don’t think it was generated by Maks himself. I think the media tried to create something out of nothing, and they’re doing what they can to put an end to it. Feel free to disagree, but I genuinely believe that they’ve both since moved on and have a good professional relationship now.
I don’t find it that odd that Gleb doesn’t say anything, for the reasons Courtney mentioned and because I’m a fan of Derek who recently dated a woman for at least 4 months and never uttered her name in public. Never admitted she existed. Hell, he took her to Aspen and took her home for Christmas and his dad tweeted pics…which were subsequently deleted. He had been dating her for a while before anyone figured it out. Hell, he could STILL be dating her! I don’t get why there is a different standard for marriage versus dating – private is private. If that’s what they want, it’s what they want.
Lizzie has a job. That job is PR – any way she can get it. 🙂
P.S. I believe it was the NY Daily News…had Lizzie’s finger prints ALL over it.
Maks is under CONTRACT. He pretty much has to come back if asked. Since several other pros were also asked back at the same time, there is nothing unusual about it. As for the Maks/Karina shit – talk to Lizzie. I would lay money on her being the source for the NY Daily News. Totally her style.
Hi all,
Does anyone have a link to this NY Daily News article being referenced and is it the same as the Val interview mentioned. I’m googling and can’t find a match. Please. Thank you!
You are so right about Lizzie and the way she conducts her business. Her style is very obvious.
Regarding Max I was a huge fan of his and then I started seeing a very different Max which some of you have mentioned regarding his behavior, attitude, etc. If he has had time off and did some thinking and they ask him back next season as a regular pro, and if he wants to return then I will take a wait and see approach. Regarding the upcoming week he was asked back and as PH pointed out he is under contract (I didn’t know that previously) so he has to return and I have no problem with it and I think it will be good for his fans who have missed him. I also am a huge Karina fan and just using her dance with Val even though it was super short I thought they were both terrific and I just think that what happened between Max and Karina 4 years ago is water under the bridge. I think I remember one week in the skybox when people congratulate each other I saw Karina and Val share a quick congratulations kiss on the cheek. Could be wrong, but thought I saw it. I think it is just media garbage and as PH mentioned could very well be the publicist’s work.
Just like people who are not in the spotlight break up and as time goes on the hurt, anger and whatever fresh emotions they experienced back then is gone. Dance is their job and just like in regular life they have to carry on. I compare it to someone who has divorced and have kids together. There are going to be many times that they have to interact with each other. Hope I explained that in a way that makes sense and jmho.
I agree with what Courtney, Figamentation, PH, Vogue and others have said regarding Gleb. What he and his wife decide to do is between them and it is none of my business as long as the both of them are okay with it. When I still worked it was at a very large corporation and at one time dating employees was frowned upon, but people still did it, but kept it private. If it became serious enough where you ended up marrying then it meant one of you had to be automatically transferred. I was glad that rule finally went away since I later married my husband who I also worked with. I know someone who did marry when that rule was in effect and had to keep it a secret for several years because neither wanted to be transferred. I can understand for many reasons when you are in the public eye and everyone wants to know everything there is about you and they would prefer to keep it private. Not all in the public eye are like that, but many are. I would have no problem with having Gleb back next season. I think his time was too short this season. I wasn’t sure at first, but then he started to grow on me. I would like to see him back with someone that he had a better shot at lasting longer to show us more of his choreograph and how he really is as a teacher.
I just find it very interesting that the people who say they don’t like Gleb are the same ones looking so closely at his private life and how he conducts it! Why? If I’m not interested in a celebrity or don’t care for the way they present themselves in public, I wouldn’t go out of my way to read about their relationships and post comments about them online. But not everyone thinks like I do, or cares how they come across online.