Tristan Talks Dance Temptation, London, TV, & More

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!

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