Louis Van Amstel Interviewed About His Time On DWTS, Dancing In “Dance Legends” (Preview)

For those Louis Van Amstel fans out there!! PureDWTS reader Carlos has sent us an exclusive interview that took place with his friends Érico and Isaias’! Both are Dancing With The Stars fans and Érico has a blog that focuses on “Dança dos Famosos” (the Brazilian version of Dancing With The Stars). Isaias also posts at PureDWTS on occasion (and I think Erico has too?). They are also from Carlos’ Brazilian Dancing With The Stars Facebook Page (which is a fun spot if you are looking to discuss Dancing With The Stars from Brazil and every country). So, without further ado, here is this fun new interview with Louis. I love when they ask Louis how Dancing With The Stars has changed his life. They also ask him about his favorite dance (any guess to what that is before you start reading?), how he would evaluate his time on the show, and choreographing for Dancing With The Stars behind the scenes. Lots more below (as well as a news item on Louis afterwards). THANK YOU CARLOS, ERICO, and ISAIAS!!!!

Érico’s questions:
1- Hello Louis. You are one of the most experienced teachers on DWTS. How do you evaluate your participation during all these seasons?
I can honestly say I have no regrets on the show. I put a lot of work into each season and play the hand that is dealt to me. All of my partners have been so amazing, I am so thankful for each one of them- and remain in contact still. A lot of my participation is behind the scenes as well. They ask me to choreograph the group dances often, and that’s a lot of fun to be able to do for all of my friends!

2- What’s the best partner you ever had? Which partner did you like the most?
I can’t say I had a “best” partner because they were all so great- but the one I am most proud of and I love to death is Kelly. She made such a transformation right before my eyes and before America’s eyes, and became such a lovely beautiful woman- not that she wasn’t already. She became healthier, eating right, exercising, and her skills improved so much. It was so great to see and be apart of it. And we still keep in contact and have a great relationship.

3-Among all the partners you’ve had… With which one felt closer to victory?
Definitely Kelly! We made it to 3rd place! That felt like a win to me. Especially all that we went through together.

4- How did the show changed your life?
I would say it has enhanced my professional life. Since they asked me to be on the show I have gained a lot of notoriety, and it is also how LaBlast started. It has always been my goal to help people feel better about themselves from being healthy and exercising- and LaBlast is a program designed to help people exercise while having fun by doing a lot of the dances you see on Dancing With The Stars!

5- I know it is a difficult choice. But what’s your favorite season, why?
That is difficult! This last season with Sabrina Bryan was one of my favorites. All the dancers have been doing this for a while now, and we have become very close to each other. That makes it a lot of fun, we have become a crazy family lol. And then having Sabrina as a partner was amazing, she is such a great talented girl- its a shame she wasn’t able to show American all that she was capable of.

6-How do you deal with the repercussion the program has worldwide? Have you ever imagine that the show would reach so far? How is the reception from fans from other countries?
Stemming from the BBC British version, it has really taken off here and in other countries. I have noticed that it has been very well received, a lot of people watch it and not just Americans. When they asked me to join the cast I knew I wanted to do it and it would be a lot of fun, but I never thought it would turn into something so popular!

7- Sabrina suffered another shocking elimination with you last season. What do you think about the DWTS’ elimination system? Is it fair?
Yes, that was a hard thing to go through. The elimination system is tricky because unfortunately its not about the skill of the celebrity and how well he or she does with their Pro partner, the elimination system is based on the popularity of the celebrity- so people with a larger fan base are always going to be ahead of those that don’t. Hopefully they will start to change that.

Isaias’ questions;
8- Some people considered All Stars Season a mistake. Do you agree and why?
I can see how they can see that but I don’t think so. I think its great to switch it up every once in a while, it keeps the show fresh and it keeps people watching

9-You choreographed DWTS live tour twice. What’s the sensation of dancing to a lot of people in other cities from Detroit and Seattle?
It is absolutely amazing! It’s one thing to dance in front of the live studio audience and knowing it will air to millions of people- but actually doing it live in front of them is a whole new ball game. Its much much different, such a rush!

10- Which dance you like the most?
That’s a hard question! I really love the Latin dances, that’s what I competed in professionally. Rumba, Salsa, Paso Doble- the Latin dances are so fierce and they have so much raw emotion- its a lot of fun! And sexy! lol

Just a side note! Louis will be performing this weekend in New York City in “Dance Legends” with Julie Fryer! Below is beautiful preview of them rehearsing. For ticket and show information, see this link.