Sasha Farber - Choreographing For Gladys Knight

Photo Credit: @StillMatik Instagram

On August 8-9, 2014, Gladys Knight performed at the Hollywood Bowl, and for us it was even more special because she danced not only with Tristan (her Season 14 partner on DWTS), but also with Tristan’s fellow pro dancers Sasha Farber, Artem Chigvintsev and Henry Byalikov. We wondered how it all came together, especially since Tristan was away on Holland America’s Dancing With the Stars: At Sea for most of the week!  We discovered that Sasha was the choreographer behind the performance, and he told us a little about it today.

Sasha:  "I had a meeting with Gladys Knight while I was on my own tour which worked out great because we were in the same city at the same time.  She told me exactly what she wanted and three days later I stared working with her and teaching her all that she needed to learn.  I would work with her for two hours before the rest of the boys [Artem and Henry] would come in, every day for five days.  Gladys is so much fun to work with and such an amazing woman - she never wants to stop and have breaks.  Tristan was on the cruise ship so I emailed him the video footage so he could learn it.  Tristan arrived the day before the show.

It was such an incredible moment being on stage with Gladys at the Hollywood Bowl with an audience of 17,400 people.  It’s one of those days I’ll never forget. And to get to choreograph it was just a dream come true!"

Video from the Hollywood Bowl: https://www.youtube.com/watchv=CkKRujItMc0&feature=youtu.be