Tristan MacManus Interview (70)—January 25, 2019

Lots of people still ask us about your time on Dancing with the Stars and Strictly Come Dancing.  What would you say was the most rewarding part of being on those shows?
 
On reflection, it was a wild ride being on the shows and overall, I had a good time.  Obviously, there were many ups and downs along the way but I met some great people, made some good friends, learned a lot about myself and ultimately it put me in the place I needed to be to meet my wife and make my family. I came across some old emails the other day of before it started and how excited I was to come to America and then each time I learned of my new partners.  I forgot how lucky I was to be able to go on a USO tour and what an amazing experience it was.
 
There was the time I wanted to try going to Strictly and see if I could enjoy myself again. I remember the times I nearly came back but I think overall my decisions were the right ones for me in the end. I look at the people I started out with and they are still smashing it and loving in but for me it just wasn’t me at the time or me now but I wouldn’t have changed it for the world. You could be doing the best job in the world but if you aren’t happy in yourself or your surroundings you have to be brave enough to move on and then live with the decisions you made. I look back now and am genuinely happy with the good parts and made my peace with the bad.
 
Speaking of Strictly, what are some of the special moments on the show (including the Christmas special, Children in Need, the tour, etc.)?
 
Yeah, Strictly was fun too. I loved It Takes Two that was always fun to do.  We enjoyed living in London even though both my partners lived outside London so we traveled for rehearsals but we lived out Notting Hill way so we enjoyed the markets and the parks there. I enjoyed touring around and enjoyed seeing the country. Just again at the time it sometimes wasn’t enough to just like it.  You had to love it and that was something I just couldn’t deal with. The show is very demanding physically for sure but time consuming too and for me I like spending the majority of my time with my family. That being said I loved spending time with Jenny and her family and the most important thing about that was that they, more than anyone, included my family in the whole experience so it was enjoyable for everyone similar to the way Nancy and Gladys would have. Strictly, I think, is better than ever now and they have cast well and the environment is probably a lot better for everyone so I have nothing but good wishes for them.
 
You had a lot of interesting times during your six seasons on DWTS, but is there one performance, moment, or anything else that stands out as a favorite?
 
I got to sing with Gladys and The Temptations in rehearsals on Motown week and go on tour with Gladys. That was amazing.  I absolutely loved it. That season I got to meet Huey Lewis and Kiss as well so it was pretty cool. I loved the trio dances I got to be involved in with Mark, Derek and Maks. All  are really good guys.
 
You did quite a bit of teaching when you were in the states and elsewhere.  What did you enjoy most about that experience?
 
Teaching was always fun. I taught in a great studio in Boston for the guts of a year before I came to DWTS.  It was called SuperShag and I had a blast.  Granted I had a wild time there too but I just loved being in the studios and meeting everyone.  Positivity is great to be around and I find that is the environment on most dance studios.  People are there because they want to be not because they have to be. I had a blast in Akron too and got to throw the first pitch at a baseball game.  That was pretty fun.
 
We have been hearing about the new production Motown With A Twist from Scott Stander and his team.  Who are some of your favorite Motown artists and what are some of your favorite Motown songs?  (Is there any chance you will be involved with this new show?)

I love Motown and I would love to do some of the shows with Scott. You know I love that company but at the moment there just isn’t anything on the calendar that I can make work as much as I’d love too. I love all the Motown groups.  It was so cool and unreal voices and talent.  At the time, I must have asked Gladys a million questions a day about it all.  I think that’s why she got us thrown off the show - just to have a break from me and my questions. I loved the Chi-Lites, the Four Tops, the Temptations, Marvin Gaye and,Tammi Terrell I loved it all and obviously the Jacksons much later—such good music—The Supremes, Martha and the Vandellas, Gladys Knight and the Pips, The Commodores…
 
And now for a few random topics…
 
Your current favorite athlete
 Katie Taylor is the best athlete I know of at this time and I have been reading a lot on Tyson Fury and Eamonn Coghlan.
 
Your all-time favorite athlete
All time, I don’t know. I’m getting into so many more sports these days.
 
Favorite sports memory
Ireland beating Romania in penalty shootout at Italia'90, Packie Bonner save, and Dave O'Leary scored the winner.  This was one of my first and best memories.
 
Latest Echo milestone
Echo in full voice at the Women’s march in Sydney screaming for equality and an end to domestic abuse.
 
Based on Echo’s current personality, what do you think she will be when she grows up? 
 She will be whatever she wants to be and she will be the best at it based on her attitude!!! She listens to Nas' song :”I can” and smashes the chorus.
 
How are Echo’s dance skills?  What about directing and producing? Bossing you and her mother around don’t count!
She loves dancing and singing.  Yeah, good is a stretch at the minute but she loves it an she acts out all the Disney songs.  She’s the best.  We love watching her.
 
You’ve mentioned how much you enjoy hiking and spending time outdoors.  Are you still enjoying the great outdoors?
 
Yeah, I love it. I run a lot these days so I’m outdoors a lot and it’s the middle of summer so we are swimming every day.  I still can’t convince Tahyna to come camping although she is a lot more open to the idea last few times it’s been brought up. I did a marathon a few months back through the forest in The Shire where we live and it was unreal along the lakes and the barbecue and swim after were perfect.
 
And finally.  Have you been back to Ireland lately?  What do you miss most about living there?
We haven’t been back in a while, no, just close by when filming in Glasgow but we will for sure go back at some stage thus year with the family. My folks have been over for Christmas so I’ve seen my family.  I just miss the friends and the proper Guinness.  It’s not the same here!!