DWTS – Dancing Media Before Christmas 2010

We’re inching closer and closer to Christmas. What are your plans for the holidays? I’ll be chilling at home with hubby and all of my pets. Did I tell you we took a stray cat in last summer? We promised she’d never have to fend for herself ever again and she’d always have a home. Well, she ended up being pregnant and had 3 kittens one month later in August. 😮 So, we’ve promised them too that they’d always have a home. lol Needless to say, we will be very busy caring and playing with them all this holiday and they are a gas. 🙂

In media things to start out your Christmas week, we have a cool new picture of Cheryl with her “Forever Tango” partner Jorge Antonio Ezequiel from the San Francisco Examiner.

Here is a nice take from the article.

“I had to work really hard and focus,” she says of the grueling three-week rehearsals. “I had to learn from the beginning — from learning how to walk and the Argentine tango hold and really just interpreting the music.”

But it was certainly worth the sweat. The Bay Area-native had a personal investment in being in the show. Burke was first inspired to further pursue dance after seeing a touring production of “Forever Tango” in The City when she was a kid.

“I’ve been ballroom dancing since I was 11 years old, ballet since I was 4,” she says, “but ‘Forever Tango’ inspired me to learn how to dance, especially partner dancing, and from then on, it’s been something I really wanted to do.”

It’s also been something millions want to see.

The original production was cheered by San Francisco audiences in 1994. It played an unprecedented 92 weeks. It later hit Broadway in 1997 and played for 14 months.

Bravo, its creator and director, was revered for how well he featured world-renowned dancers with musicians and for how it morphed into a hypnotic show-stopping sensation. It’s now the longest running tango show in Broadway history. It last graced The City back in 2008.

Bravo’s outing has 12 dancers, a vocalist and an 11-piece onstage orchestra, including the bandoneón — an accordion-like instrument that is a staple in tango music. Music, dance and vignettes trace the tango’s history — from the bordellos to acceptance in society.

“Argentine tango is very detailed,” Burke says. “It’s not just about learning the steps. It’s about how you move from foot to foot; how you interact with your partner. Every single thing you do has to tell a story and it has to be clear to the people that are watching.”

This show starts tomorrow in San Francisco and then it will travelling to Monterey, CA. Jan. 13th. Read The Californian for more details and ticket information.

Maks just posted a new picture of himself at an old Gladiator stadium on Twitter today. If anyone knows of where this stadium might be, let us know. He is looking well and happy, isn’t he?!

There is a new interview with Karina at I Need My Fix discussing her new work out video. She also talks of her future plans in clothing, costume design, being a Mom, and her dream to be like “Jennifer Lopez”. Here is a take. I didn’t realize she helped choreograph the dances in “Shall We Dance”…one of my favorite all time dance movies. Be sure to read the link for more.

INMF: Where do you see yourself in five years?
KARINA: With a couple of kids a boy and a girl. Dancing With The Stars, if it’s still around, something in this industry. I’m probably one of the biggest fans of Jennifer Lopez. I think she’s had an amazing career from dancer to singer to actress to business woman. I think she’s an inspiration, and it’s not like she came from a family where her dad was a producer and her mom was a studio executive. She came from the Bronx.

She came from a normal neighbourhood and she worked her butt off and she got to the very top and she’s gorgeous. I’m kind of hoping to follow her steps anyways possible even if they are just tiny little footsteps.

I actually got to meet her because I did ‘Shall We Dance’ the movie that she did with Richard Gere. I actually choreographed and I taught Jennifer and Richard Gere and I had a small part in it. I got to meet her and interact with her and even though it’s been so many years, I think the movie was out in 2001, and up until now, every time she sees me on the carpet or at the events she will come up and say hi. She is so down-to-earth.

I don’t want to come up to her and say ‘hey, do you remember me’ because I don’t know if she is busy or what. But she always waves or says hi or lets me know that she knows I’m there and says hi to me. I think it’s so admirable at the stature that she’s at, she’s SO down-to-earth.

And here is a picture of her showing off her engagement ring as well.

Speaking of cool pictures of our dancers, don’t miss seeing this Gallery of pics TV GUIDE released of “Season 11 Most Sexiest Looks” >>>> HERE . There are 13 fun pictures. If you were to pick your very favorite, which would it be? Mine would be a toss up between Maks and Brandy in #5 and Derek and Jen in #7(those leg splits will get me every time 🙂 ). Thanks to Heidi and Pure Derek Hough for this tip.

Ok, more later! Dont stop with those Christmas Dreams, safe travels, and much love to All!! 😉 xxx

DWTS – ‘Dance With Me’ Ho Ho, Can’t Get You Out Of My Head Media

Well, I hope you are really behaving yourselves now because Santa has a very close eye on all of you. Whether your dancing dreams come true or not remains to be seen. But, for now, he wants to know your “Dream Cast For Professional Dancers” for Season 12 and then he will see if he can make that wish come true. Pick 12 or 13 dancers. I will tell you my “Dream Cast” of pros at the end of this post.

And while you are thinking on that question (take your time because you don’t want to mess up and forget anyone 🙂 ), here are some news bits out there. First, Brooke Burke talks sex and keeping fit in “Shape” magazine. Here is the cover and a take for what’s inside this current issue from Fox Entertainment.

“You need to be healthy,” Burke says. “That means exercising to relieve stress and build energy. It truly is good for your sex drive to work out.”

Of her relationship with her partner, actor David Charvet, she makes a confession:

“I’ll fess up here,” she said. “Sometimes we’re so tired, it’s just a glass of wine and a good night’s sleep. But the point is that we’re making a commitment to each other saying, ‘We love the kids, but we matter too,” she said.

She also confessed that she has done a few crazy diets in her day.

“I’ve tried just about every crazy diet you can imagine. But now I’ve learned what really works for my body. I also eat five small meals a day. And I never skip breakfast, even if it’s just a protein shake.”

Cheryl Burke has a new book coming out on Feb. 14th called “Dancing Lessons: How I Found Passion and Potential on the Dance Floor and in Life”. It chronicles her life as a dancer since she was 4. You can read more and pre-order it now at Amazon. Here is the cover.

In other Dancing things, here is Mark Ballas rehearsing and giving an interview in Houston for “Burn The Floor”. You can see his dance partner Giselle Peacock too. His dad Corky is interviewed as well. Corky talks about how he always thought Ballroom Dancing was a “sleeping giant”. So true!

Here Mark is debuting his new album “HurtLoveBox” as well. Not bad I must say for the little bit we’re hearing. What do you think?

Mark and Cheryl aren’t the only dancers with off season projects. As reported earlier, Edyta Sliwinska, Alec Mazo, Jonathan Roberts, and Anna Trebunskaya will be dancing in “Ballroom with a Twist” at the El Portal Theatre in LA from January 19-Feburary 13. Also, Gilles Marini and Jane Seymour will be rotating hosts during the LA premiere. You can read more and get ticket information at Theatre Mania.

Speaking of Edyta and Alec, she just posted this picture on her Twitter today. So cute. I miss these two on the show.

If you haven’t seen Maks’ “Dance With Me USA” site lately, be sure to take a look. You can see a cool video of him goofing around and dancing. Val, his brother, dances too and plays the violin. You can also read details for how to get private lessons with Tony Dovolani.

In other Maks news, he posted an update on his blog for why he is doing “The Bachelor” in the Ukraine currently. Personally, I don’t think he owes anyone as explanation on that. But, here is some of what he wrote. You can read it in full at the link.

First thing first. I AM doing the Ukrainian version of our “Bachelor”. The fact that I’ve turned down the American version has NOTHING to do with my ‘dislike’ of American women (the statement is so absurd that I can’t believe I’m even dignifying it with a reply). My reasons for doing it:

1) This is the first time since I was 15 that I have few months without any physical activity. I am truly tired. I’ve realized it this past season and can’t tell you how hard it was for me to get through it. The person that helped me was Brandy and for that I am forever grateful to her. She truly was god-sent and I will never forget everything she did for me. Without her help I would probably not have lasted though all the injuries, ‘media issues’ and my grandmother’s death.

2) The idea that I would find ‘the one’ on a TV show is something that I can’t ever fathom, but after speaking to producers I have realized that a show where characters are doing it solely for TV exposure simply would not work. Our audience would not understand it and the show would be a disaster. There has never been a show such as this in Ukraine and it makes me think that a first season would be the most ‘real’ as far as participant’s perception of ‘what its all about’ is concerned. I thought about everything VERY long. I’ve spoken to my family. I’ve spoken to people around me and decided that this might be something to try and see ‘how it’ll work’. I’m going into this with a thought of ‘why not?’. I know it’s hard to find someone you can connect to on a project like this, but nothing is impossible. For the sake of the show I can’t reveal anything, but I must say I am very pleasantly surprised so far.

3) I feel good about the fact that I can ‘give back’. My family and I left when I was very young and to have made something of myself. To come back here as a person to be looked up to is an amazing feeling. I have been speaking to lots of people for whom my family and I are an example of what is possible, and I feel great that I can help ‘direct’ young people’s drives to better themselves while the government here is figuring everything out. It is not an easy living here. Kids don’t have as many opportunities as I had and people aren’t looking at me with a frown but with pride.

4) This might be the most important reason of all. This is the first thing in a VERY LONG TIME that I’m doing for ME. For the first time I don’t really care what people think. First time that I’m not being ‘judged’, ‘placed’ or ‘criticized’ (well, maybe criticized, but you know what I mean). My profession required me to do things to ‘please’ others. Be it audience, judges, my coaches, etc. Maybe if I weren’t such a stubborn person and didn’t have such strong opinion about everything I would ‘please’ everyone better and would have achieved more in my life. But, I am who I am…

There isn’t much news to report on Derek right now and some of us are in serious Derek with drawals. lol. But, hey he made it to #10 in a “Best Celebrity Hair” Poll at the NowMagazine.com.

Top 10 Best Celebrity Hair

1. Harry Styles

2. Matt Cardle

3. Prince Harry

4. Mark Ronson

5. Olly Murs

6. Justin Bieber

7. Wagner

8. Jimmy Anderson

9. David Cameron

10. Derek Hough

Ok, that is all the DWTS news for now. So, have you thought of who you’d like for your “Dream cast” of Pro dancers in Season 12? Here’s my list. I can’t wait to see your list;

For the Guy Pros:
Derek Hough
Maks Chmerkovskiy
Val Chmerkovskiy (yes, how I would love to see Val brought on board. He’s equally as good as Maks is)
Damian Whitewood
Tony Dovolani
Jonathon Roberts
Alec Mazo

For the Female Pros:
Edyta Sliwinska
Peta Murgatroyd
Anna Trebunskaya
Kym Johnson
Julianne Hough
Elena Grinenko