DWTS Patti Labelle And Artem Chigvintsev Ready To Take On The Competition, Added Steps To Dance

The Philly Trib recently spoke with Patti Labelle about Dancing With The Stars. She says she and Artem are ready to take on the competition. They’ve even added more steps to their dance. Below is more. You can read the full artice at the link.

ETA: Check out a wonderful new interview with her at Parade as well.

LaBelle had declined several invitations to be on the show, but cited her age as the reason she finally accepted the offer.

“Being 70 years young, I said, ‘You know, at 70, you have to do everything! Don’t let anything scare you. Don’t be afraid of failure, don’t be afraid of anything! Just go out there and do it!’ because I’ve been asked so many times, I said, ‘I’m going to finally say yes!

“When I said, yes, [my son] Zuri called me back the next day and said, ‘Mom, are you sure?’ I said, ‘Zuri, I’m really serious!’ He said, ‘Okay, I’m gonna make that call, because they’ve been calling a lot.’ I said, ‘Well, just tell them I said, ‘Yes!’”

Despite the understandable case of nerves, LaBelle feels that she and Artem are ready to take on the competition and said, “We’re doing much better each day it progresses to be better. We’ve changed steps — I thought we would change steps in the mix to make it easier for me, but we’ve added steps! So I’m going along with Artem. He’s professional, I’m just the lady that said, ‘Yes!’”

LaBelle revealed that she will begin the competition with the Foxtrot, appropriately performed to “Lady Marmalade,” the number R&B/pop smash hit by her former group, Labelle.

LaBelle, who is receiving lots of encouragement and advice from her longtime friend Gladys Knight, who also competed on DWTS, disclosed that she is maintaining her normal concert schedule while rehearsing with Artem.

“Friday and Saturday, Artem went with me to Mississippi and Alabama, and he came onstage and we danced to ‘Lady Marmalade’ and did our little Foxtrot,” she said. “I continue to work with my shows and with this, so I’m allowed to do whatever. I wouldn’t have said ‘yes’ if it was a total shutdown of what my life is.”