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 [Photo: newscom.com] |
This morning, Dancing With the Stars pro dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy met his new dance partner on the set of Good Morning America. TV Guide was there to ask him a few questions too. It seems that ABC is trying to keep the partners a secret a while longer for some reason. We now know that Maks will be with Denise Richards, country singer Chuck Wicks will be paired with Julianne Hough and that Cheryl Burke, Mark Ballas, Derek Hough, Maksim’s fiancee Karina Smirnoff, Alec Mazo & Edyta Sliwinska will be part of this season, but the restof the details are just rumors. As for the interview with Maks, here’s an excerpt:
TVGuide.com: How does it feel to be back competing on Dancing with the Stars?
Maksim Chmerkovskiy: We’re very happy, especially in this economy, that we get a job. It’s a little bit of a whirlwind because we literally finished our last day of the tour yesterday, in Philly. Some of the people already flew out to meet their celebrities, and this is my meeting [with Denise]. We start rehearsals [Feb. 10].
TVGuide.com: Did you get to indulge in any pet projects during your time off?
Chmerkovskiy: I didn’t have time off. I choreographed the tour, which went to 38 cities, and I was also the dance captain in charge of all the injuries and replacing people… . It was a crazy experience, and a lot of work. But it’s fine. I’m 29; I’ll relax when I’m 50.
TVGuide.com: How excited are you to be paired with Denise?
Chmerkovskiy: Very. Very. Things are happening up here [in my head], as to what we’re going to do for our first dance… . I’m picking up on all the things she’s been saying about her flexibility and the Pilates. Most of the things that are difficult for the celebrities are moving their legs and arms in different directions at the same time, to the music.
TVGuide.com: What sort of unique challenges face Shawn Johnson, who is just 4-foot-10? in a big girl’s world, so to speak. Her challenge will be to spice things up if the judges say that she’s too quiet and calm. But we all saw her at the Olympics — she’s amazing and focused and determined. A very hard worker.
Chmerkovskiy: I actually think her main challenge is that she’s so young
TVGuide.com: Some are speculating that dancing as a team could be tough on Julianne Hough and Chuck Wicks, her country singer-boyfriend. But I think if DWTS has shown us anything, it’s that it cultivates romance. They could come out of this stronger.
Chmerkovskiy: I don’t want to start the season with a usual Maks rant, so I’m going to plead the fifth on that pairing!