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“[He’s] handsome, but, when the music starts, it’s like someone sprinkled magic on him and he makes a complete transformation.” These words came from Nancy Grace during Season 13 of Dancing With the Stars, and we couldn’t agree more. While thinking back on all of Tristan’s performances, we thought it would be fun to pick out a few favorites and share them with you. We looked for dances that we watch over and over, and they are also the ones that we spend a lot of time talking about on our website forum (MacManiaLand tab at the top of this page). We think you will enjoy our top 5 favorite DWTS pro dances featuring Tristan MacManus. In our next post, we will feature our top 5 DWTS performances with his DWTS celebrity partners. After that, we’ll let you know our choices for hisTop 5 “other dances" and there are some beauties! #1 Tristan and Kym Johnson dance a beautiful Rumba to “Mr. Know It All” in Season 13. Talk about impact! Kelly Clarkson performed while Tristan and Kym danced, and even Kelly was a little taken back by all of that heat. This dance impressed us then and is still our favorite. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UDKAHCarJU 
Screencap Courtesy of ABC
#2 Tristan and Chelsie Hightower Samba to “End of Time" in Design a Dance. The costumes, music, and pros were chosen by the fans. This Samba was well worth the wait! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkEag-kSOHk 
Photo Courtesy of ABC
#3 Tristan and Karina Smirnoff dance to “Dark Waltz” as sung by Jackie Evancho in Season 14. This abbreviated performance had maximum impact, and we will never forget it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=448duZYqx0w 
Photo Courtesy of ABC
#4 Matt Nathanson and Sugarland performed “Run” and Tristan and Peta Murgatroyd turned up the heat with this red-hot Rumba from Season 14. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1A7yeaCYeM 
Photo Courtesy of ABC
#5 Tristan, Kym Johnson, Sharna Burgess and Sonny Pedersen took it to the next level with “You Make Me Feel” as performed by Cobra Starship and Sabi. We loved this dark, edgy performance as much now as we did during Season 14. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6eWkTMT0RQ 
Photo Courtesy of ABC
We hope you enjoyed our stroll down memory lane. What do you think of our Top Five? What do you think were Tristan's top DWTS pro dances?
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Recently, we gave you a Guided Tour of MacManiacs.org but things have changed a lot since then! With Tristan’s move to Strictly Come Dancing in the fall, we have made a few additions, updates, and cosmetic changes, and we will be making more as the weeks go by.
Below are the direct links to the different pages as well as a brief overview of the various sub-pages. We hope you find this helpful, but if you have questions, just leave them below in the comments section or email us at macmaniacs.org@gmal.com. Of course, we would love to have you join our forum, MacManiaLand, which you can do by going to the MacManiaLand tab at the top of this page and by completing a super quick and easy registration. Home Page *Home Main Page http://www.macmaniacs.org/ *Registration (accessed from Home Page Pulldown Menu) http://www.macmaniacs.org/registration.html (currently most pages are open and no password is required but on occasion we do lock various pages so if that occurs you will need a password to access them. That is only available to those who register for the site) Special Feature *Special Feature Main Page http://www.macmaniacs.org/special-feature.html The contents will vary but currently you will find the following on the main Special Feature page: Interview with Sasha Farber and Emma Slater (June 2014) Blog – Tahyna Tozzi-MacManus (March 2014) Interview – Tahyna Tozzi-MacManus (March 2014 Blog – Jason Leppert @Popular Cruising (January 2014) Interview – Jason Leppert @PopularCruising (January 2014) *Spotlight (also accesed from Special Feature Pulldown Menu) http://www.macmaniacs.org/spotlight.html Currently featured on the Spotlight Page: Interview with Andy Steinhauser – Host of The Story With Andy Steinhauser on LA Talk Radio (April 2014) 2 Interviews with Singer/Songwriter Nikki Lorenzo – Singer/Songwriter (January and March 2014) Updates http://www.macmaniacs.org/updates.html The Update Page has frequent changes and additions. Use the Updates pulldown menu or these links for sub-pages: Strictly Come Dancing – 2014 http://www.macmaniacs.org/scd---2014.html Appearances http://www.macmaniacs.org/appearances.html MacManiaLand Our forum – registration required. http://www.macmaniacs.org/macmanialand.html MacMusings That’s our blog and there are 32 months worth of entries – around 150 or so, and they are archived by month. http://www.macmaniacs.org/macmusings.html Gallery Main Gallery http://www.macmaniacs.org/gallery.html photos up until August 2013 Gallery 2 http://www.macmaniacs.org/gallery-2.html photos after August 2013 Throwback Thursday http://www.macmaniacs.org/throwback-thursday.html a new feature with a different photo added each Thursday 6 Seasons – DWTS http://www.macmaniacs.org/6-seasons-dwts.html a retrospective of Tristan’s six seasons on DWTS More Finally, under the “More” tab, you will find a wealth of goodies. We have links. Lots and lots of links. All of it is cataloged by date, and we add to it constantly. As we dig up old articles, photo collections, and videos, we simply post the links and as new things come in, they are also added by date of the event. Also under the "More" tab you will find other featured pages. There are 3 pages of links: 1) Performance video. Here you will find links to just about any of Tristan’s performances that are available on video. http://www.macmaniacs.org/links-performance-video.html 2) Interviews. These are links to interviews with Tristan in any form, whether written or on radio or television. This does not yet include this website’s interviews with Tristan as those are posted on our forum and will remain there permanently. We are in the process of also getting those all onto our blog page as a separate very special treat and at that time we will link each interview directly to the blog. http://www.macmaniacs.org/links-interviews.html 3) Miscellaneous. You will find tons of links here, and this page has three parts: Assorted video (all kinds of special clips that just might not always qualify as interviews or performing – promos, AfterBuzzTV, deleted scenes, GMA clips, etc.), Photos/Photo Collections (links to lots of photos of Tristan from many different sources – Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Zimbio, etc.) Articles - Anything Tristan-Related. http://www.macmaniacs.org/links-miscellaneous.html Other pages under the "More" tab: Interview with Dancing With the Teachers/Stand Up to Cancer http://www.macmaniacs.org/dwttsu2c.html Announcements http://www.macmaniacs.org/announcements.html **************** If that isn't enough, we're all over social media as well, and we hope you will check out the following Twitter pages as well as the Facebook Fan Page, Instagram, and Pinterest. Social Media Tristan’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/TristanMacManus @TristanMacManus Fan Twitter: https://twitter.com/T_MacManusFocus @T_MacManusFocus Backup Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheMacManiacs @TheMacManiacs Team Twitter: https://twitter.com/TristansTeam @TristansTeam Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/TristanMacManusFanPage Tristan's Fan Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/tmacmanusfocus/ Tristan's Fan Instagram: http://instagram.com/t_macmanusfocus Additional Support Twitters: https://twitter.com/TMacManusFans @TMacManusFans https://twitter.com/TristansBedhead @TristansBedhead https://twitter.com/TweetForTristan @TweetForTristan https://twitter.com/TeamMacManus @TeamMacManus https://twitter.com/BestOfTristan @BestOfTristan https://twitter.com/TheMacLunatics @TheMacLunatics https://twitter.com/ProTristan_SCD @ProTristan_SCD https://twitter.com/Tristan_SCDTalk @Tristan_SCDTalk https://twitter.com/Tristan_SCD @Tristan_SCD  Photo Courtesy of Emma Slater Tristan is preparing for a very busy summer schedule which includes several Holland America Dancing With the Stars: At Sea cruises during June-August, rehearsing for and performing in Edyta Sliwinska and Alec Mazo's production Dance Temptation in August at the Fallsview Casino Resort (Niagara Falls, Canada), and finally heading to London to appear in the 2014 series of Strictly Come Dancing. We are fortunate that he found time to fit in one more round of questions before he takes off on the first cruise. You told us in the last interview that you have been rehearsing with Peta Murgatroyd for Dance Temptation, and she mentioned it a couple of days ago as well. Are you and Peta choreographing the numbers you will be performing or is a choreographer working with you? We are choreographing the solos and short solos in each section but the group numbers are things that have been choreographed I'm sure by Alec and Edyta. I won't be at the cast rehearsals as I’ll be on the cruises so I’ll play catch up a bit afterwards so trying to get as much as possible done now where we find some 'free' time. In a recent interview you mentioned that you make a killer Banoffee Pie, and in a new interview we did with Emma Slater, she told us your Banoffee Pie is by far her favorite dessert. One of our site members wants to know if there’s any chance you’ll share the recipe, Chef Tristan… Hahaha – No. So you can dance, sing, cook, play football, and train a puppy (sort of). What other talents do you have? I have no other talents and I struggle at the best of times with the talents you assume I have!! We keep coming back to your comment in a recent interview that you love Jimmy Fallon’s show and the lip sync battles. If given the opportunity to go one on one with Mr. Fallon, would you do it? If so, what songs would you choose? (or if you’re the shy type as far as lip sync goes, which songs would you like to see Jimmy take on?) I wouldn't imagine I would be ever on it, no. I’d do one for fun but probably not on the show, maybe in a bar somewhere. I have to be in a certain mood to do stuff that requires people’s attention to be on me and with stuff like that you have to go hard or go home. ALWAYS Journey and maybe something from Busta Rhymes – hahaha! We actually think Jimmy Fallon is one of the funniest people on the planet and all of his skits are epic. Have you seen the “tight pants” skit – in particular the one he did with Jennifer Lopez recently or the one with Will Farrell? Yeah I loved that skit but with Will Ferrell for sure - didn't need a re-do just yet!! It’s like trying to do COWBELL or Chippendales although it’s not as epic as those two! You’ll be going back to Alaska on the cruises soon, and last year Emma Slater posted a photo of you with a very impressive camera. How advanced of a photographer are you, and do you have a particular style of camera you like to use? What do you like taking photos of? (landscapes, people, places, etc.) I don't remember that. It must have been someone else's camera I was taking a photo with! I’m not a great photographer – no – ha! But I like taking shots of scenery. I love trees (I don't know why!?!) and for some reason I always take 'action' shots which is just a normal photograph but you turn the camera at an angle and for some reason it makes me feel like a hero...... Because you didn’t grow up in the U.S., you were obviously unfamiliar with American TV shows (such as The Nancy Grace Show, Rhoda, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, etc.) when asked about them in interviews. So now we’re curious. What TV shows did you watch growing up in Ireland, and are there any you might be catching up on or looking forward to watching when you are in the UK? Yeah, there were loads but I think they are all off air now more than likely. Saturday nights used to be great for watching TV when I was younger - but for sure Match Of The Day is gonna be great to see again and Gordon Ramsey/Master Chef. I don't really plan on watching too much TV there though – ha! I used to love Fraggle Rock and Fun House and Michael Barrymore shows - he did like what Bill Cosby did with Kids Say The Darndest Things. We had a few [drama series/soaps] in Ireland as well like Glenroe and Fair City - haha! With both you and Tahyna being so active in the entertainment industry, we were wondering if you go to the theater a lot (or if you have gone to the theatre a lot in the past) – plays, musicals, Broadway, off-Broadway, regional theatre, etc.) Do you have a favorite? Yeah, we love going to see shows but we don't go as much as we would like to. Hopefully now being close to the West End and having a lot of friends in shows there we will get to see more. We love going to the theatre and cinema to see movies. I’ve never seen an opera which I’m sure is great but not really something I’d be dying to go to. Jersey Boys is my favorite so I’m excited for the movie to come out. I have a mate who plays Frankie in London. Tahyna has directed theatre and loves to see shows so we try to go when we get a chance. It can be very, very expensive though. What so you enjoy most about performing in shows and/or venues such as BWAT, the cruises, and the upcoming Dance Temptation where you have the opportunity to reach a live audience? Live shows are great craic so that's the fun part about it - anything can go wrong and everything can go right. You just don't know. You get to travel to places you wouldn't have got a chance to before. You get to see how much it inspires people and keeps it entertaining. I like meeting the people who essentially make it possible for me to do my job and to try to give something back, I guess. It’s nice to be able to answer people’s questions instead of just trying to tell people what to think if that makes sense. It’s just as much fun for me when people tell you what they don't like to your face then writing it online –haha! This last question comes from a supporter in the UK. You’ve worked in London before. What is it about London that you especially like and other than going to the SCD studios, what is something that you plan to do when you get back? London is a great place. This time will be a wee bit different to when I lived there last. I saw a lot of London last time if you know what I mean! I’m looking forward to catching up with friends there and introducing the wife around. All the coffee shops, the food, the street performers in Covent Garden, Notting Hill markets - I just like people’s attitudes there. Everyone just does their own thing and gets on with it - "Tristan, saw you on tele.....you were s#$%" – haha! People are interested in what they are doing and what their friends are doing and I miss that a bit so I’m looking forward to less Hollywood. Leeds play midweek as well in the championship so I may be able to catch a few games there which I’m almost more excited about that than anything - ssshhh! Thank you, Tristan. Hopefully we will catch you in between your cruise adventures this summer. Safe travels!  Screencap Credit: ABC When thinking about a topic for this week, nothing immediately came to mind but then I got to thinking about why the fans of DWTS love Tristan. I figured that this would be a good time to remember some of those things and maybe share a little of the wealth with our new friends – the fans of Strictly Come Dancing. Once I started writing, it became very easy. We have interviewed Tristan at least two dozen times in less than two years, and there are all kinds of great quotes to pull from those interviews. Throughout this little collection of memories, you will hear from Tristan, but there are a few words thrown in from others as well.
So here you have it – why the fans of SCD are going to love Tristan MacManus. There are many, many reasons. These are only a few. ***He has patience and lots of it. Just ask anybody who has taken a private or group lesson with him, or if that isn’t enough, talk to one of his DWTS partners. ***He is a great teacher. He was born to teach, and he takes that role very seriously. He defined his role as a DWTS pro in an early interview with us when he said, “I don’t have to be a star. I just have to be a teacher…I’m not here to show off…I’m here to dance with my partner and enjoy this as much as we can and I’m here to teach someone how to dance…” Well said, Tristan. ***He wants to make sure that each of his celebrity partners enjoys her experience every step of the way. This is how he described it: “Getting to know them is the only way. Production and competition cause things to wander in a certain way, and you potentially end up doing things to win or to get an upper hand. I like to know my partners and try to relate everything to them as opposed to relating it to dancing and techniques and what not. I want them to get better, but I want them to get better by understanding what they are doing – ‘why I like to dance' and not about 'what makes me a dancer'. I never concentrated on technique when I went back to dancing. I know it’s very important, but at the same time if I know what I am doing storywise is right or wrong, I will always lean that way before technical.” ***His celebrity partners adore him. For example: “…handsome, but when the music starts, it’s like someone sprinkled magic on him and he makes a complete transformation…” --Nancy Grace “I love Tristan very, very much. If I could hand pick a partner it would be Tristan. It would absolutely be Tristan – even having seen all the other pros – hands down.” --Nancy Grace “If I have this friend for the rest of my life, there could not be a more incredible trophy than that. He is a true, true, gentleman, just one of the finest human beings I’ve ever known. He’s the real deal. Not about the fame and fortune, he’s just a dear, kind young man.” --Dorothy Hamill “I’ve got the best partner in the world…the way he teaches, he’s very patient, but he’s direct. He paints pictures for me…” --Gladys Knight “Beauty is really something….and Tristan has it – inside and out.” –Valerie Harper ***He is fan friendly and he treats his fans right. (Thank you very much, Tristan). Let’s see….he has done interview after interview with this website and he has answered dozens of questions from the fans both here and in video clips. He is always appreciative of the support and says so. He once described his fans as follows: "Loyal, O-Mazing, Vocal, Epic, Devoted." We wanted to give him a group hug after that one. :) ***In return, his supporters are fiercely loyal and he has lots of fans all over the world. A fan flew from Finland for his 2013 Princeton, NJ fundraiser for Grassroot Soccer. Several drove hundreds of miles to see him in Ballroom With A Twist in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Driving four hours to Pensacola, FL for a private lesson? No problem. Flying from the Midwest to Long Island to see him in BWAT last year? Easy. Two trains, a cab, traffic jams, and plenty of headaches just to get to the venue to see him dance? It happens all the time. Our good friend, Kay, a loyal Tristan (and SCD) supporter from Ireland has been communicating with us over all of the DWTS seasons and gives us links and helpful info and we try to return the favor. We’ve spoken with fans from Germany, Brazil, Italy, France, Mexico, Canada, and the UK – and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. In addition, we love to talk about Tristan – just ask us. Nearly 500,000 forum views later, we are still talking and since his move to Strictly Come Dancing was announced, we are having some of our busiest days in website history. Change is good, and this change is delicious. ***He is wicked funny and tells a great story. For example when we asked him about his first dance competition this was his response: “…I was a kid who just liked to hang out with other kids and the 'competitions' were just really an excuse to go hang out for the day, so I don’t remember. They used to have the kids comp during the day and the adults at night on a Sunday, so I would stay and watch my grandparents dance and chuck a sicky on the way home in the car to try ditch school on the Monday morning – haha - just look directly into the street lights on the way home and with my motion sickness I was set.” And then there was the story he told us from his Burn the Floor days – “Farmer MacManus” – thanks to Sasha Farber and Damian Whitewood who tucked his trousers into his socks in the middle of a performance. This story was pretty good too. “I did a show before - Emma [Slater] was in it as well at the time, and all the lads had a dance with a bunch of half mannequins. The top half was a mannequin and bottom half was like a stand on wheels so we would dance around with these dolls all side by side, but we were all tossing around a bit before we had to go on, so the first lad missed the music cue so we all had to rush on and my mannequin popped off the stand just as I got on stage, so I had to do the whole dance carrying half a mannequin and instead of rolling it between partners, we had to throw the feckin’ thing from partner to partner. It was like a Monty Python sketch.” We could go on and on, but you get the picture. ***You have to like the fact that his hair has its own Twitter….and Tristan doesn’t mind. He’s a good sport as is evident in this comment about @TristansBedhead: “I think it’s very strange! Ha! More so considering how much I neglect it [the hair], it probably tweets just as much as I do!!!! I couldn’t imagine how that would work but if you have taken the time to set it up or participate in - whatever it does - thank you! It encourages me to continue to pay no attention to the hair - don’t get me wrong, it is very clean!!!" ***He loves his dog and shared pretty funny stories about the little guy. “Pike is a lunatic! He is scared of every other dog and he doesn’t know how to run and look behind at the same time so when dogs chase him he tumbles a lot. He is very brave if he is standing behind us or between our legs. I think he may have p"&#ed on Sasha’s face when he was playing with him but I told him to do that!” or “…He is getting at a nipping stage because his teeth came through so he is trying to eat everything. He loves laces and he likes sitting on clothes and nestling into them but he doesn’t behave – no. He is a little s*&# but what can you do? He is only a puppy and is supposed to be like that. That's why we like him!" We think Pike MacManus is a lucky little dude. ***His dancing is breathtaking, and you will always see magic. Don’t believe us? Just head right over to our links page and choose your pleasure. Most of Tristan’s performance videos are posted so you could watch for hours. Probably days. http://www.macmaniacs.org/links-performance-video.html ***He’s the real deal – he won’t change anything and he is his own man. Forget that he hates spray tans and doesn’t do them. With Tristan, “It is what it is.” Read what he said about his move to SCD in our June 3 interview. “No, I won't be changing. I still think no matter where you are the same is the same - people just want to dance and want to have fun which I’m looking forward to so in those terms nothing will change. My teaching and objectives will depend on who I get partnered with as always, but I’ll still be myself. Again, people always have their favorites so some might just not take to me and hopefully some will but I’m glad that my family and friends have an opportunity to swing across the pond for a few days now.” ***He loves to entertain, and he does it so well! He also doesn’t care what everyone else is doing because he is in it because he loves it. “I love to dance but I love even more to entertain and all the well wishes and notes of support are what inspire me to do it. The negativity doesn’t faze me so I suggest it doesn’t you either – Ha! I don’t need to be compared to anybody else because that’s not what I am in it for. I love what I do and if I entertain one or one million I’m happy because it only takes one person to make a difference, and if I can convince one person to follow what they love then they in turn can convince the next person and so on.” ***He is positive, ego isn’t an issue, and he’s grounded. How do we know? Because he said so. “It’s easy to stay positive about what I do because it’s what I love to do. I have been in so many positions before where I couldn’t rub two pennies together. I was lucky to have a family supportive enough to 'bail me out' and also give me the ear full I needed to get straight. I know that I can get by without being in the public eye because I have done it all along and it’s what the majority of people do every day so when you don’t crave that role, it’s easy. What’s the worst that could happen? If something is wrong you have to ask yourself if you can do anything about it - if you can’t there is no point stressing about it. If you can, well, then you change it. It’s all about priorities for me.” If that isn’t enough, read this: “I stay grounded because that’s who I am and that is who my family and friends like and love so to be anything else would be somebody else.” ***He finds most hashtags as ridiculous as we do. The topic came up in a conversation about Jimmy Fallon’s legendary hashtag skits with Justin Timberlake and Jonah Hill. “I love Jimmy Fallon! His show is great and I love his skits. His #hashtags skits with JT and Jonah Hill are funny because they are so ridiculous but it's how morons are talking these days!” ***He can cook. At least he can make dessert and that’s the best part. He makes a mean Banoffee Pie and his good friend Emma Slater swears that it’s the best dessert around. Unfortunately, he’s not sharing his recipe. ***He thinks that the qualities that make a good dancer don’t necessarily have to focus exclusively on technique. “What makes someone a good dancer to you is if you enjoy them dancing but more importantly what makes you a good dancer is if you enjoy doing it - that’s all that matters in my book! Good and bad are irrelevant.” ***He understands the fans. He doesn’t care that we are MacManiacs, and he, all in good fun, sometimes calls us MacLunatics because, well, something the name fits. We even asked him what might happen if the unthinkable occurred and he had to teach us a group lesson. Always a good sport, he took on the challenge. “I would have to let you all decide what you wanted to do and what you wanted to dance to - probably have to be a faster one. I’d imagine it would be like that scene from Wedding Crashers - SHOUT!" Yes, we laughed because we like to laugh at ourselves, and his description about what would happen is probably spot on. ***He has some great ideas. A fan once asked him what five people in history he would most like to sit down to dinner with, and his answer told us a lot about him. “Richard Harris, Peter O’Toole, Oliver Reed, Richard Burton, James Dean. That would be a great night out.” ***He tells a story with every dance and weaves a carefully structured storyline into every dance. How does he do it? He tells us. “It can be difficult to tell your story all the time certainly to the degree that you want. You can’t throw somebody around, lift them up high, or do different things that go against the rules so you have to do some subtle things and hope that you can pull it off – ha! It's difficult to come up with a routine before you start with your partner because you don’t know what they are capable of. Whether they have been on the show or not you just have to take the time to get to know your partner, figure out what they want from this experience, what stories they want to tell. Either way I will dance whether it’s on TV or not. These people [celebrity partners] won’t so its fully their experience. I want to know what they want to tell and then I’ll try to make that happen. You are restricted in a way with how much you can do to portray certain things but you just gotta play the cards you are dealt.” ***Because he’s a huge James Dean fan. We asked him about that because the whole rebel artist concept is mysterious, yet appealing. “Yeah, I’m a big fan but I tend to be for a lot of people who are that bit different. I’m sure there were better actors at the time and I guess because I wasn't around I don't know how much of his ways were just to get attention or not but I like the way he took a different route to everything and he stuck to how he wanted to do things. He was obviously very talented and sometimes you get away with things when people are desperate for you, but to me it seemed as though he stuck to doing things the way he wanted but always got on with the job. He did what he wanted in his free time and never let it affect his work. It was such a revelation maybe because he didn't follow the 'path' that people do. There are so many people who are afraid to do things their own way. You hear it all the time - people walking on eggshells, complaining, and sly talking about people and then hide it all when certain people are around...it seems like everything he did was with his characters in mind and for the good of his work." ***Because he makes very inspirational and thought-provoking comments. For example: “I like when people do things their own way instead of the way other people want them to do it.” “Don’t be afraid to try something new because it’s the people who aren’t afraid to try that get the rewards.” “Live your life and make your own decisions. There are too many instances where people don’t take responsibility for their own actions and try to shift the blame to others. Make your own path and follow your own head and live and die by your own sword." “Don’t fit in, stand out, be different – there is a place for everyone in everything.” “I’m not really one for giving advice to people, but no matter what it is you do, love it and give it your all. Don’t be afraid to try something new because it’s the people who aren’t afraid to try that get the rewards or sometimes it just inspires others to. Your mind is your best weapon to use it.” ***Because he loves to laugh. “I love laughing! I love people falling over and I love people getting really confused and people getting scared but I love a drink and a story.” ***Because he’s a good old-fashioned dance purist whose favorite dances “are always the slow ones. I love the Waltz and Rumba…I’m pretty laid back and enjoy taking my time and moving around to the more emotional dances, more so than the action packed ones. Although I just love to perform whatever my partners get the most enjoyment out of…” ***Because he’s a really nice man. His fellow pro and good friend Sasha Farber said it best. “He’s just a nice guy. I don’t think there’s anyone out there in the world who doesn’t like Tristan.” Oh yes. The fans of Strictly Come Dancing are going to have great fun with Tristan, and we will be right here supporting him along the way. Just like always. Strictly Come Dancing, DWTS: At Sea & Dance TemptationAfter what promises to be a very busy summer performing on Holland America's Dancing With the Stars: At Sea followed by Dance Temptation, Tristan will move on to Strictly Come Dancing in London where he will be a pro for the 2014 season. We talked to Tristan about this move, what he's been up to, and how he is going to fit everything into his crazy schedule! Enjoy this lovely interview and the photographs that follow it, and please leave comments for Tristan below. First of all, congratulations on heading over to the UK for Strictly Come Dancing in the fall. We know that the show doesn’t start until September, but do you know yet when you will be going? Is this something that has been in the works for a while? How did it all come about? Thanks! I’m looking forward to it. Yeah, we have been looking for a solution for the last few months to see what we could do as I have wanted a fresh start for a while now. Luckily with Rob [Wade] coming in to replace Conrad [Green] he was gracious enough to sort out a move for me but it was only finalized a few days ago right before it was announced so it was touch and go whether it was going to happen or not for a bit. I managed to let my ma know before the papers came out in the mornin'. I got to the point where my head was already made up that I needed a change with regards to what I wanted to do, and I’m happy that Strictly and DWTS could come to an arrangement. You have some friends already who are pros on SCD, so you must be looking forward to seeing them again. You’ve worked with Robin Windsor in Burn the Floor but have you met and/or worked with the other pros previously? Yeah, I know the majority of the cast from different shows we have done together but there are a few that I haven't met before but I’m looking forward to it. There is a pretty big BTF contingent on the show just like DWTS, and I used to dance with Karen Hauer before and myself and Aljaz roomed together for a wee bit. Do you have a favorite Robin Windsor story? I’m a huge fan, by the way. I have known Bobby a fierce long time but I won't be going into stories before I even start the gig - haha! He is a great guy though, and I am looking forward to working with him again. We have been fortunate here in the U.S. to see video of almost all performances on SCD and, of course, we can’t wait to see you on the dance floor again. In what ways do you see SCD as being very different from (or similar to) DWTS? To be honest I’m not too sure of many differences at all, and I probably won't until I’m in the middle of it. People love making comparisons about the shows here and there but honestly I don't know anything about it yet – not enough to compare, I guess. Lenny and Bruno are there and Brucie is gone this season so I’m sure everyone is excited about the new start. Cast changes are always tough for people to take so some will be excited and unfortunately some will be disappointed but I’m looking forward to the new challenge. As far as I know or from what I have heard is that it’s a little more traditional Ballroom and not so much themes but sure ya never know what is gonna change. I’m just happy to be starting. You’re a pretty easy going guy, and your “it is what it is” approach seems to have served you well. Do you anticipate any big adjustments as you transition from DWTS to SCD? No, I won't be changing. I still think no matter where you are the same is the same - people just want to dance and want to have fun which I’m looking forward to so in those terms nothing will change. My teaching and objectives will depend on who I get partnered with as always, but I’ll still be myself. Again, people always have their favorites so some might just not take to me and hopefully some will but I’m glad that my family and friends have an opportunity to swing across the pond for a few days now. What are you most looking forward to on SCD? (This comes from a fan from the UK who watches SCD religiously) I’m looking forward to just enjoying the ride really. I know how much the audience love the show there and that’s something that excites me. I can tell already how excited family and friends are getting and that gives me a great buzz, and the support for the show is immense there. There are a lot of English dancers there who will get the home support going, and I'm looking forward to hopefully getting the Irish behind me – haha! I’m looking forward to the banter there more than anything else. Swell though London is a cool place, and I have a lot of friends there who I haven't seen in a fair while. You will be so much closer to your family and friends. Do you have any big plans in the works? No big plans, no. I have a job to focus on, and that will be my priority for the next few months. I’m sure I will have a few knocks on the door every weekend with different folks coming over to stay. Will your addition to the SCD cast have any effect on your scheduled appearances for the summer? (the cruises, Dance Temptation in August, etc.) No. I have a crazy busy couple of months to go now but literally everything runs into everything. I do the DWTS cruises and then go straight to Canada to do Dance Temptation and then fly straight in to rehearsals in London for Strictly until mid-December. I’m really excited so I won't be complaining. I’m lucky I get to work so much at the minute so I’ll keep going until the body gives up. If Dance Temptation is still on your schedule, could you tell us what you can about the show and what kind of rehearsal will be involved? What is the idea behind the show? Dance Temptation is Alec Mazo and Edyta Sliwinska’s show and it’s happening in Fallsview Casino in Toronto. I’m going to dance with Peta in the show which is always great craic. We do a few solos and a few group numbers with the rest of the cast. I’ve never done it before but it sounds like its gonna be good fun. It’s a usual theatre schedule so we will do an 8 show week. Myself and Peta are working together at the minute when we can because we are both flat out so it’s a case of getting in the studio when we can and get as much done as early as possible as we are both away more than we are here between now and the show. You’ve already done several of the Holland America DWTS: At Sea cruises. With the first coming up in a couple of weeks, will there be any changes to the actual production such as new numbers, performers, etc.? Will you be rehearsing in advance or will that all take place once you get on the ship? We are gonna be rehearsing on the cruise the few days before the actual show – yeah, that’s the usual gig in it. I think some of us are doing different numbers. I’m not sure the run of the show yet because I don't know who is doing it, but the cruises will be different. I just don't know how different and what if any changes there will be. We have a blast on the cruise so if it changes it changes, and if it doesn’t we will be having some great craic anyway!! Now on to different topics.... You’ve been doing lots of different things since you’ve been away from DWTS, but is there one particular memory or event (other than your wonderful wedding, of course!) that stands out for you? I have been working on a lot of different things the last few months but with stuff like this no matter how close you are nothing is set until you start which can be very frustrating! I have been following up my hosting doing courses and coatings which I love and working on the movie with the wife which we are very proud of. And as well we have had a lot of causes we have been helping out so busy busy, but hopefully everything comes together in its own time, and all the hard work will pay off for us. Let’s suppose we (the MacManiacs) asked you for a quick travel guide to Ireland. What five places are all “must-sees”? Don’t worry – we’re not going to show up. This is purely hypothetical. Glendalough is my favorite place in all Ireland so definitely there (in Co. Wicklow). Cliffs Of Moher in Co.Clare are unreal. Giants Causeway is up north in Antrim. Galway and Cork are great places to go. The Gaeltacht on the west coast is great in Connemara. On Andy Steinhauser’s radio show in March you renamed us “MacLunatics.” We like it, by the way. Was there any particular inspiration behind that name or did it just seem like a natural fit? No, there was nothing in it. It’s like everything else - I get great support from people which is great. Some people take it too far and become lunatics - haha - but it was just a joke. I think it’s funnier choosing whether you prefer being a maniac or a lunatic – haha! [Admin. Note: To clarify, our blog post “MacManiac or MacLunatic” pretty much sums it up and we make fun of ourselves in a big way.] We’ll be following you on this next career journey – like you could ever get rid of us. Anything you want to say to your supporters? I think you all know how grateful I am for all the support and I appreciate all the kind words and luck messages. I hope I can keep you entertained from across the sea but with or without me here once you all continue to do whatever it is you want to do is all that matters. I never came here to win anything but if anything just to show that you can enjoy yourself just as much coming last as you can first. The joy comes from taking part and trying something you want to just because YOU WANT TO!! Everyone is different so we have to stop trying to do everything the same. A very special thank you to Tristan for once again being so gracious and kind to his supporters. Ever since the day we decided to create this website in 2011, Tristan has been supportive and extremely generous with his time. We are very much looking forward to returning the favor! We will be keeping you updated on his his summer appearances (complete with lots of photos, we hope) as well as on his season on Strictly Come Dancing and whatever comes after that. For those of you who run across articles, interviews, or anything else related to Tristan's career, please send us links (macmaniacs.org@gmail.com) or message us on the Facebook Fan Page at the link provided below. A very special thank you to those of who you have already offered to be our eyes and ears and who have volunteered to help us keep the support pages moving along. Tristan's fans are indeed all over the globe and amazingly gracious and kind. Whether you are a MacManiac (or a MacLunatic) we are very excited for Tristan's new adventure, and we are behind him 100%. As we always say, "We've got this." Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/TristanMacManusFanPage
 Photo Credit: Ballroom With A Twist Official Facebook Page
It’s been quite a while since we’ve spoken with two of our favorite pros – Sasha Farber and Emma Slater. Both took time this week to answer our questions. For the most part, the questions to each are the same, but as you will see, their answers are vastly different! Sasha's questions and answers appear first and Emma's immediately follow. (Sasha and Emma's previous interviews with us are archived on our forum, MacManiaLand.)  Photo Credit: Emma Slater Twitter Interview with Sasha Sasha, What did you enjoy most about working with Nicole Polizzi in Season 17, and which of those Season 17 performances was your favorite? Nicole is such a sweet girl, and we really became friends right away! She never sugar coated anything and that’s what I loved about her. She is a down to earth, hard working woman, that’s for sure. During the season we had to fly back and forth to New Jersey, because she didn’t want to be away from her family. I really enjoyed goofing around with Nicole. We played around a lot, and had a lot of fun. We became really good friends after the first day. I always teach people to have fun in their dancing, and that’s exactly what we did. The thing that I enjoyed about working with Nicole is her work ethic. There was one week when our dance was the jive. I remember her being so sick that day, and she kept screaming “COME ON LET'S DO THIS!” I felt so bad for her. But she never gave up! My favorite would have to be the Jazz routine we did. It was such a good dance for her. She really enjoyed that dance and had a lot of fun learning and performing it on the night of the show. It’s hard to pick one favorite dance because with Snooki they were all my favorites. She made it so much fun coming into work and teaching. Wish I could do it all over again. What is the hardest part about being a dancer in the off seasons of DWTS? Do you have a specific workout regimen? When being on the show, I feel like you’re on such a high and a buzz, and it’s all GO,GO,GO, and everything is always scheduled for you on an email. You know where you have to be and what time you have to be there. So when the season is over it's really sad, and your body kind of shuts off, so it’s important to keep going with exercise and eating the right foods. I try to teach and dance as much as I can. Dance is always evolving and it’s good to stay on top of that. During the DWTS off-season, do you manage to have a lot of down time and how often do you dance? Yes and no. Down time is good but I get bored quickly. I always have to be doing something, otherwise it drives me crazy - lol. I love to research things around the world - for example different culture and topics that make a difference in the world. My down time has to be my up time. I love to get inspired by people challenging themselves and pushing themselves to the next level. I try to dance and learn something new about dance every day during the off season. It’s important to keep your body moving at all times. What has been your favorite recent teaching or performing experience away from DWTS? My favorite teaching experience was going over to Tucson in my last break and teaching for a great friend Stacey. I taught 13 lessons a day and did workshops for the teachers and students of the studio. I really enjoyed being a part of that dance tour because everyone had so much passion to dance and learn to dance. It was a great experience. And I will be going back there on July 18, so I am really looking forward to that. If you could change any one thing about the current DWTS format, what would it be? Well one thing I would change is, I would be pro again. :) The format of the show is pretty much spot on. DWTS here in America is such a benchmark to all the shows around the world. I must say I wasn’t a fan of the switch up. I would have liked it if the couples got eliminated in the switch up. That would have been interesting. I preferred the trio challenge more. That’s about it. It was such a great season and I thought that everything was done exactly how it was meant to be done. So much goes into putting a show on like this, that a lot of people don’t know about - the backstage guys and all the producers work so hard to make it what it is today. CONGRATULATIONS to you guys. During the break between Seasons 17 and 18, you and Emma went to Belize. What did you especially enjoy about that trip? Belize was so much fun. WE HAD THE BEST TIME. We tried to do all the activities that the resort offered, and I think we did all of them. We booked this cave swim, and on the booking paper, it said that there was another couple from the resort booked in to go with us. In the morning when we got downstairs the tour guide said that it was just Emma and myself which worried me a little. We drove for nearly 2 hours, and we stopped at a little family restaurant to have some lunch. I was very careful this time what and where I ate because the day before I had a piece of metal in my food that I pulled out of my mouth. When we got to this cave it was something you see in a movie. It was just beautiful, but the water was freezing. We put on our headlights so we could see in the dark. We had to swim alongside it and hold onto the rocks, because the current would send us of the cliff. Once we got past the current we could let go and just float and enjoy the experience. It truly was amazing and something I will remember for the rest of my life. At the resort the food was 10/10 - some of the best food I have ever had. The trip to Belize was so much fun. I love to travel and I’m so happy I got to see Belize - I would go back there in a second! Sasha, was it difficult transitioning back to the troupe after being a pro with a celebrity partner during Season 17? You seemed to enjoy every minute you were dancing in Season 18! Yes I love to dance no matter where I do it. This season in the troupe I had so much fun and I was so excited to be back on the show. I felt like for my first season as a pro, I did really well and got to week 7 in the competition. I was a little upset, but I’m just happy I am still part of this amazing show. Being in the Troupe is harder than being a pro I think sometimes because when you are a pro most of the time you know your music, and what dance you're dancing, and with who you are dancing it. Being in the troupe it can change on the spot. Having so much experience and my background with dance, this can become really exciting and keeps you on your toes every time. I love it! I love the troupe, we all have the same passion and drive, and we all strive to be better dancers - working as a team is what we do best! I really miss being pro but never say never. What do you like most about choreography and what kinds of obstacles do you face as a choreographer? The best thing about doing choreography is you can take people to a different place through movement and dance. You get to tell a story through your body with no words. That’s the best part. When coming up with steps for a dance, each step has to have meaning for me, otherwise it's pointless. My obstacle would be sometimes finding good music these days. As we look forward to Season 19 of DWTS, what is one thing you hope to see? One thing I hope to see, is me as a pro! Now for the fun questions: Favorite Food Chinese food Favorite thing to do when not dancing Play sports Favorite cartoon or animated character Bugs Bunny Favorite movie Iron Man Favorite dessert chocolate mousse Favorite comfort food chocolate Favorite book Goosebumps Favorite TV game show Price Is Right Favorite TV reality show DWTS Regular coffee or frou-frou drink? Don’t drink coffee Favorite Pike MacManus Story [for those of you who don't know, Pike is Tristan and Tahyna MacManus's dog. He's a bit of an imp] There is one story that I don’t like to say. Pike was resting on my chest on the floor and wanted to jump up on the couch behind me, as he jumped up, he weed on my face. It was horrible. Thank you. I hope you guys enjoyed my little interview. Remember to keep dancing! Sasha Farber **************** Interview with Emma What is your opinion of the one show a week format as opposed to having a separate results show on Tuesday nights? Having just the one show a week I feel is a good decision. Sometimes people would rather tune in just once a week and get to watch all the action in one go. It’s fast paced and fun! It also has the element of each of the couples dancing, some of whom know they are safe and some are in jeopardy. It’s more exciting and suspenseful! In terms of competing on the show, the couples also have one extra day to grasp the routine and rehearse for the next week ahead. So bonus! What has been the most rewarding part of your time as a pro with a celebrity partner so far? I think the rewarding part is the support, lovely comments and feedback you get from the people at home. It’s totally new to me and a hugely overwhelming feeling. It tends to shock the celebrities too when they read such supportive and encouraging feedback from their fans. That’s when they embrace it more! Watching the You Tube clips back is a wonderful thing for me, too, and, of course actually staying in touch with Billy Dee and Bill E and having them as close friends (American Dad even) has been the biggest reward ever. I’m going to visit Bill & Gail Engvall next week! Emma, What is your favorite of all of the performances with Bill Engvall? What did you enjoy the most about working with legendary actor Billy Dee Williams? He learned a lot from you but what did you learn from him? My all time favorite performance with Bill Engvall was our week 3 Paso Doble to "The Lone Ranger Theme" where Bill dressed as the Lone Ranger (which he loved!) and I was Tonto. It was his breakthrough dance in a way and he absolutely nailed it! I also adored our Disco routine in week 8, our Argentine Tango in week 10 and the dance Bill dedicated to his wife Gail in week 5 which was the Viennese Waltz. Oh, also the freestyle. I could name them all! Billy Dee was the strong silent type. To me, it was adorable how much he spoke about his family, his grandkids in particular. For this reason we decided to dedicate our week 3 dance to them (but unfortunately we never got to perform it due to his chronic health issues and withdrawal from the show). Luckily, he is doing much better now! Billy had many stories of his experiences in show business and over the dinner table on many occasions he would give me lots of advice. He was very encouraging about my ambition to pursue Hosting in my life, which I took as a huge compliment considering all the personalities he must have worked with! What is the hardest part about being a dancer in the off seasons of DWTS? Do you have a specific workout regimen? In terms of workout, I do like to go to the gym (or rather, I feel better afterwards!) and I often go to workout classes too. Xtend Barre, which is a cardio/pilates class has been my thing for a while. It’s great for your butt! But during the summer I have to say, I find it so hard because the heat just drains me. I have to drink a lot of water as I’ve found I become easily dehydrated. The down time is never an issue. I am always traveling a lot for shows or teaching or the cruises. In this off season, whatever down time I have I am focused towards my Hosting education. Dancing unfortunately doesn't last forever and for when that time comes, I hope to turn to Hosting. Since the beginning of this year I have worked every week with my Hosting Coach, taking privates and shooting footage in her amazing studio. I’ve truly fallen in love with it; it’s hard to imagine there would be another outlet for me that I could even entertain the idea of doing instead of dance, but this would be it certainly. I adore it, so this is what I’m actively striving towards a lot these days :) During the DWTS off-season, do you manage to have a lot of down time and how often do you dance? During the off seasons of DWTS my schedule has varied from season to season. One season I performed with the ‘Dancing with the Stars Live in Las Vegas’ along with Tristan, which took up the entire break. Every break for me since then I have been lucky enough to be part of the ‘DWTS at Sea’ cruises. All these people are my dear friends and we’ve gone to some incredible places together. A show called ‘Ballroom with a Twist’ is another muse of most of the professional dancers on DWTS. I usually do a lot of shows with them as they are a smashing company. I usually get the pleasure of dancing a lot with either Derek, Tristan or Sasha on shows around the US which pop up quite frequently. I also have two additional shows coming up actually - June 19th/20th with Tony Dovolani, Maks and Val in FL! I also of course get the luxury of recharging my batteries which is important during this time. It’s a period where we can adjust to normal sleeping patterns at last (I find it so hard to sleep well while on the show!) The down time of the off season is absolutely welcomed!! Towards the end though, I get itchy feet and want to start again! You’ll return to the HAL Cruises: DWTS At Sea in July. What has been your favorite performance from the cruises so far? I’ve been so lucky, I’ve had my ‘sea legs’ more than any other Pro by doing all the DWTS cruises to date. It’s a fabulous opportunity. In terms of actual performance, we perform two shows, one day a week and the other days we have schedules of judging competitions, Q&A, photograph opportunities, autographing and dropping by the daily classes. It’s a wonderful opportunity to just spend a week of dancing and having a holiday around stunning places at the same time. I adore both the Caribbean and the Alaska cruises. There is a small (tiny) island called Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas though, which has to be the highlight of any Holland America Caribbean cruise, wow this place is paradise!!!!!! If you could change any one thing about the current DWTS format, what would it be? I actually really enjoyed the format of the show this season. I’m a fan of the one show a week layout. It’s interesting for each couple to be revealed either safe or in jeopardy before they dance. I think I would keep the guest judging too, as long as each judge is relevant to each week on the show. I think (If my budget was limitless!) maybe one week I would take the show outside into an outdoor arena (maybe the close by Stub Hub Center??) and have a specialized magical outdoors themed week with thousands and thousands of people in the audience and big live screens of the action for that raw, live feeling. The dancers would be totally surrounded by a vast audience and would perform their dance underneath the stars. It could be called ‘Dancing Under the Stars’. The footage would be awesome, and as a performer, there’s NO other feeling like it. I really enjoy the snippets of footage on the show (the packages) which display the fun and/or drama side of each journey. Last season DWTS captured some brilliant packages in my opinion. I adored the ‘Dress Rehearsal Package’ that was put together for the finale, displaying the quick wit and wickedly fantastic humor of our hosts Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews. It’s interesting to see that side of the cast and our ballroom. Every now and then, DWTS will film a general master interview with each member of the cast and I think it would be interesting to base one on a list of short but specific questions fed to each person about the current cast. I love it when the audience gets to see the real relationships behind the scenes between couples and all the cast members. During the break between Seasons 17 and 18, you and Sasha went to Belize. What did you especially enjoy about that trip? We had both never been to Central America before, and we love to travel. The country is gorgeous, everyone was lovely to us too. We did an excursion one day, where it was just us two and our tour guide who was super sweet. The excursion was through the jungle, following a stunning flowing river and then swimming into a cave behind a waterfall which was pitch black and completely empty. It’s something I’ve never done before and one of the best things I’ve done. What do you like most about choreography and what kinds of obstacles do you face as a choreographer? Choreographing for a celebrity gives me the chance to highlight that particular celebrity’s strengths. To me, that doesn’t just mean dancing, it means that person’s personality. They have to be able to really feel excited about performing therefore they have to love the dance and feel like themselves doing it, not somebody else. It’s a chance for the US to see our partnership in a short 1 minute showcase and not hold anything back. So often the ‘out there’ choices I’ve made with choreography and performance concepts are the ones that have paid off the most. All the celebrities and pros will get the opportunity to dance a Cha Cha, but it’s the Cha Cha that gets remembered that’s the one that’s more successful. As a pro it’s your job to make sure that you and your celeb’s dance stands out. As we look forward to Season 19 of DWTS, what is one thing you hope to see? Each season the show gets bigger and better with the limits of what we can do. I think season 19 will be no exception. I love the new set changes introduced in season 18 (The band layout and the huge LED screen covering the entire back wall). I still hope however that we see some simplistic performances from the couples, especially if the occasion lends it. If my partner was right for this concept, I would love to do an International Tango routine for instance to an actual piece of intense competition Tango music from the ballroom world, and dance a no fills extremely sharp routine that we worked super hard on from top to finish. It’s nice to see performances like this, just raw dance. It’s a salute to where the show derives from. Maks and Meryl did a good job of these types of performances last season - here the intensity between the couple is the main factor in the excitement. What appearances and travels do you have planned for the current off-season? On June 19th & 20th I will be performing in Florida with Tony Dovolani, along with Maks & Val & Jenna Johnson from the troupe. The show on the 19th is in Fort Walton & the show on 20th is in Pensacola. I will tweet details for tickets when I get that info! I will also be on the HAL ‘DWTS At Sea’ cruises in Alaska this summer - the two cruises in a row beginning 26th July. Directly after that I'll be traveling home to England to be a bridesmaid to my best friend also called Emma! This month I’ll also be completing final footage on my Hosting Reel with my magical Hosting Coach Suzanne Sena. I also recently did a photo shoot with photographer Jonathan Ressler for his new exhibition 'Raw'. That should be released within the next week so look out for that. I’ll be posting :) Now for the fun questions: Favorite Food British Sunday Roast: turkey or chicken, Yorkshire pudding, gravy, roast potatoes, stuffing, gravy, carrots, broccoli, cabbage, gravy, pigs in blankets, gravy and burnt parsnip. And your choice of side sauce: cranberry sauce (with turkey), bread sauce (for chicken), apple sauce (with pork), horseradish sauce (with beef), mint sauce (with lamb), plum sauce (with duck) and I always put mustard on me carrots. And gravy. Favorite thing to do when not dancing Hosting and socializing with friends and family Favorite cartoon or animated character Hmmm I don’t think I have one. If I had to pick, Betty Boop because she reminds me of my Mum. My Mum is the best in the world and she bought me & my sister a few Betty Boop things when we were younger. Favorite movie I have a few. Primal Fear, Shutter Island and The Usual Suspects to name a few. Anything psychological, crime, legal courtroom or suspense mystery based I love. Favorite dessert Tristan’s homemade Banoffee Pie, hands down! Favorite comfort food Caramel popcorn & Indian food. Not together. Favorite book Anything by John Grisham, I’ve read most of them. He’s an outstanding courtroom/crime writer. I love neuroscience books too these days, if they boarder the subject of cognitive science. Sounds like I’m really intellectual but I’m not really! I’m fascinated with psychology and the power of positive thinking, trusting your intuition (that’s your subconscious telling you something!) and understanding fear and confidence. I love all Malcolm Gladwell’s books like Blink but if you want an easier read with a mild storyline, Jon Ronson has a book called The Psychopath Test in which he embarks on a journey to distinguish what it physically means to be a clinical “psychopath.” I actually would have studied to be a psychologist if I hadn’t become a dancer! Favorite TV game show Shark Tank isn’t a game show, but I love watching that! We have a British version called Dragons Den. I used to watch Who Wants To Be A Millionaire at home in England - it was huge when it first came out. Favorite TV reality show Dancing with the Stars!!!!!! of course :) Regular coffee or frou-frou drink? Tea! I do drink coffee, but I’m a huge Chai Tea latte and English Breakfast Tea connoisseur. Favorite Pike MacManus Story (Tristan has told a few!) I don’t know if Tristan has told you, but little Pikey seems to be fascinated with clothes if you leave them on the bed or where he can get to them. Socks, jeans, underwear. One day I chased him around the lounge cause he had got into my undies draw and ran out with a pair of my knickers! Thanks to Sasha and Emma for another great interview! They are two of the nicest people around! Season 18 of Dancing With the Stars had lots of predictable things going on but it was a touch of the unpredictable since the season ended that has us all fired up. Here are just a few little things that caught our attention.
Predictable There were plenty of ringers passed around during Season 18 with Maks ending up with one of the biggest ringers ever. It was a very predictable ending to a very predictable season. I’m going out on a limb here and saying Meryl would have won regardless of the name of her pro partner. So yeah it was a predictable season from the day the cast was announced. Unpredictable We had no idea as to the extent of the “Tristan Effect.” We were very surprised by how much we missed Tristan during Season 18, how much DWTS fans in general missed Tristan, and how much we didn’t like DWTS without Tristan. Unpredictable We never expected to love the name "MacLunatics", which wasgiven to us by the one and only Tristan MacManus. Gotta love his sense of humor. Predictable We already knew how much we vehemently disliked gimmicks, theme weeks, and taking so many artistic liberties with dance that the dance looks more like wasting time (as in what I do when I sit on the sofa, eating ice cream instead of getting off my butt and moving). My sitting around hasn't changed much, but the craziness on DWTS has gotten worse. Unpredictable Henry’s pro debut was kind of a non-event – but we loved Diana, and we loved Henry’s interaction with her. Still we had hoped to see more. Predictable How the troupe just kind of faded away. We talked about it last season, and it was particularly evident this season. Unpredictable We could not have predicted how much we liked Charlie White. We always liked the guy as an ice dancer and Olympian but we saw a side of him that was just adorable. We vote for Charlie to return as a personality coach for some of the pros. Just sayin'…. We also would love to see him dance every week, taking each female pro for a turn around the dance floor,and then starting all over again. Predictable It was no surprise how fast we assembled our respective pro wish lists for Season 19 of DWTS, and number one on that list was Tristan MacManus. A season without Tristan is like an ice cream sundae without the hot fudge, a hamburger without the trimmings, or a Samba without some serious hip action. We started planning Season 19 the day the Season 18 cast was confirmed. [more on that later, since Season 19 is now a non-issue] Unpredictable Nobody could have predicted how much the MacManiac/MacLunatic fan base would increase during Season 18 because Tristan was not seen once on DWTS. It didn’t matter because the fans came out in huge numbers, and fans of other pros showed support by jumping on the Tristan Train. Every photograph from outside events or performances, every performance in BWAT or elsewhere, and every interview generated tremendous interest and support – more than ever before. One thing became clear; the fans were starving for a glimpse of Tristan MacManus. We still are. This website has increased members in record numbers and the views of each page are off the charts. The number of Facebook Fan Page “likes” has increased by more than 500 in the last few days alone. Considering the page has been around since 2011, that is an impressive feat. Unpredictable How ardent Tristan’s supporters really are. We’re not talking about being pissed off that Tristan wasn’t a Season 18 pro; we’re talking about non-stop conversation, planning, thinking, and making every possible effort to see Tristan at every possible venue, regardless of expense. We knew Tristan’s fans are serious, but this response was as unpredictable as making your margarita with Jameson instead of Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia. Nobody does that. Predictable with an unpredictable twist We had all hoped to see Tristan back on DWTS as pro in Season 19 but for whatever skewered reasons ABC & DWTS had for keeping him of of Season 18, things weren't going to change. We wanted him back, yes, but did we expect it? No, however, it’s all good, because SCD is a great fit for Tristan and we’re behind him 100%. Whether Tristan dances on SCD or anywhere else, we can’t wait to see it. We watched DWTS because of Tristan. He was the big draw. We are kind of over DWTS until Tristan makes a return. SCD is our new favorite show, and you can bet that we'll find a way to watch it. |
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