Dancing With The Stars

Exclusive Interview with

Corky Ballas

 

Corky Ballas became a household name this September when he was partnered with the talented and funny Cloris Leachman on Dancing With The Stars.  However, long before he and his son Mark joined the hit show, he was very well known in the ballroom world, winning several championships with his partner and ex-wife Shirley Ballas. Corky was kind enough to let me interview him about his experiences on the show, what it was like working with a legendary actress and being a teacher to three of the show’s most popular dancers.

 

HOW DID CORKY GET INVOLVED IN THE BALLROOM WORLD?

 

Corky began dancing seriously at the age of twenty-one, despite protests from others who told him he was too old to be entering the professional dance scene. However, his love of dance and determination led him to entering dance competitions and meeting Shirley Ballas, his former wife and dance partner. Corky and Shirley went on to win several titles and competitions, eventually becoming world champions. Some of the titles he as won include World Pro/Am champion, eight time Undefeated United State Champion and World International Champion. 

For more on Corky, please visit  http://tvgrapevine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3221:dancing-with-the-stars-exclusive-interview-with-corky-ballas&catid=36:dwts2008&Itemid=57
 

 

Fabian Sanchez

 

   I recently had the chance to talk to mambo champion Fabian Sanchez, who participated in season six of Dancing With The Stars.  Although he and his partner Marlee Matlin placed sixth in the competition, they quickly became fan favorites. During our conversation, Fabian told me about how he got involved in the dance world, what it was like teaching a deaf student and what the future holds for him and his career.

 

HOW DID FABIAN GET HIS START IN BALLROOM DANCING?

 

   Fabian started his dance career when he was twenty years old and waiting tables in Alabama. He was discovered by Alan King, who happened to be the regional owner of Fred Astaire Dance Studios. The owner loved his personality and offered him a job teaching at his school.

 

Although Fabian had only been a social dancer at the time, he jumped at the opportunity. He began taking ballroom lessons as he was teaching and within a year and a half, was competing with his dance partner.

Turning to Dancing With the Stars

Q: I read the following: John O’Hurley regards you with the highest esteem and speaks for the American dance community when he states that it was you, Charlotte, who showed him the true beauty of the dance, who taught him that he actually could dance and that in dancing there is the supreme release of the spirit. What was that experience like for you?


Charlotte: DWTS was a wonderful experience. I was given a stellar partner and John and I had an absolute blast. Initially I am not sure John actually realized how much we were going to have to work. He would give me 2 days a week for 2 hours a day to rehearse, which would have been impossible. I thought, that the only way I would get him to commit more of his time, was if I made him fall in love with dancing, the way I had always been. So that became my “mission”, and I believed that I succeeded in that. We worked really hard and John really committed himself to the process and he trusted me, which is such an important part of dancing. That I was able to communicate the true purpose of dancing to him, was an added benefit and only possible because John recognized what supreme release of the spirit is!

It was fun to be part of the very first shows because there was no expectation attached to the outcome, as no one knew whether it would be a success or not. Therefore the whole experience was very innocent and exciting. We all worked so hard to make it happen and were on such a high because America responded. Of course on a personal note it gave me an opportunity to look into a completely different world and to learn how TV is produced, have an insight into so to speak into “another life” by momentarily doing interviews for TV and press etc. Certainly something very much out of the ordinary for me with regards to the scale. Denmark is a small country compared to the vast publicity machine that drives American entertainment.

ballroomdancechannel.ning.com/profiles/blogs/interview-with-charlotte 
http://www.ballroomdancechannel.com/salsa-basic-step-free