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Tristan MacManus Interview (20) - March 17, 2014

6/30/2015

In a recent interview with Nikki Lorenzo, we asked her this question: “If you could see Tristan as any particular character or type of character in a film or perhaps being involved in another aspect of the film (production, directing, choreographing, etc.) what would it be?”

Nikki said that from what she’s seen she is impressed with your acting, but based on your conversations, she could see you creating, choreographing, and hosting a dance related show. Which brings us to our question - If you had complete creative over a dance performance live show (in the style of BWAT, Burn the Floor, etc) and you had unlimited resources to create it, what type of show would you have and are there any particular dancers, choreographers, or other performers you would like to join you in this venture?

I have a lot of ideas for different shows that I would like to work on, yes, and I am currently working on a few where I have to be all of the above. I am taking this time to try out a few different things and see where I feel most comfortable. How big or small the projects I am not too sure, and I don’t have any deadlines or time frames to work under. I am just taking it all at my own pace and enjoying working with different writers and directors and producers - but not to the point where anything major is about to happen. I have kicked back a little for a few weeks to spend time with my wife which was long overdue and now teaching and travelling are back in the calendar for a few weeks. Acting is fun for me. I don’t mind doing little bits of this and that but I like doing things where I can just be myself.

Speaking of Nikki Lorenzo, tell us about the “Work That Charm” and “Be My Man” music video experiences?

Nikki is great craic and both videos have been fun to do. Marc Cleary who directs them always has great ideas, and he makes it super fun to do. I usually just rock up and hang out - throw my face on camera for a little and then go home - haha! It’s great to see the process of the 'making of'. For me, I enjoy seeing people at work and hearing the ideas and decisions being made and thrown around. I never do too much in the videos which suits me but if it helps at all I’m always happy to, and I learn more from watching them being put together so I have to thank Lorenzo for that one! The main difference though was the first video I had to pretend to drink and play cards and the second one I did drink but no cards!!

You once said that you love to dance but you love even more to entertain. What qualities do you think make someone a good entertainer?

I think the answer to that is quite broad because it’s all based on opinion and everyone gets entertained in different ways but I know for me as a viewer that I need to have an interest in what’s going on and then I like to feel comfortable and included maybe to a certain degree - so that’s what I try do when I’m hosting or dancing, I think. I try to relate to people and maybe talk to them and see what they are interested in and then give an opinion on that or an observation maybe more so than an opinion. I hate being told what to think or do so if someone is entertaining me then there has to be a degree of 'what do you like' or 'what do you think?' if that makes sense. I love when people are so dead set in their ways on something and then start a conversation where I can pretend I feel the complete opposite and see how that pans out – haha. I also enjoy mocking people and laughing at angry people.

Conversely, since everyone also has different ideas as to what makes someone a good dancer, what qualities do you think makes someone a good dancer?

What makes someone a good dancer to me is completely and only based on opinion. People say Gene Kelly or Fred Astaire or Michael Jackson or Usher or anyone is the greatest dancer ever but I just don’t understand how you can say that or even start that argument - it’s ridiculous!! 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.

You’ve hosted BWAT with several pros, and you do a great job. Our question is this: Does the dynamic ever change depending on which pro you are working with? Is there another pro that you are especially comfortable with as you interact with the audience in your Q and A segments?

I think the dynamic changes all the time, yes. even if it’s the same people. I find because certain people react differently when the crowd is different - sometimes they shout, sometimes they sit back, and sometimes they respond and sometimes they don’t. I guess there are a few 'points' or scripts you have to hit but I prefer to just see what comes out and react to that. I like when it’s just two hosting but sometimes there are more and then you end up talking over each other or what not but that’s just my opinion. When it’s quiet I just talk to whoever else is on stage or myself - whatever – haha! I like hosting with Annie. The first couple didn’t work as smoothly as it does now because we are quite different but the more we got used to each other the more it worked. Emma is funny to work with too but we are around each other every day so that’s fine for us. I need to do more with Farbs but then we would have to dance together and he isn’t a very attractive woman...

You have performed in BWAT in many different cities over the last year or so. Is there a particular place or venue that is especially memorable for you? (the building itself, the city, the audience’s reaction to the show, etc.)

I loved Cape Cod. Everything about the place was great. The cast of BWAT really makes the experience so enjoyable so we make it great craic wherever it is. I’d love to go to New Orleans with it. Unfortunately I’ve missed a few nice places but I remember things I loved seeing just not too much where they were - It’s weird!!

You’ll be teaching at Fred Astaire Willoughby, Ohio this week. Do you have any other studio teaching dates scheduled before you pick up with BWAT again in April or any other schedule additions you can share with us?

At the minute I will just be doing a few days in Ohio and then I go to Pensacola/Ft.Walton for a few days and then it's BWAT. At the minute that’s it but I’m still looking to find more studios to go to.

Your radio interview with Andy Steinhauser of LA Talk Radio was an excellent one, and the casual format suits you well. You’ve said you love to talk, and you seemingly can talk to anyone but has there ever been a radio or television interview in which you felt at a loss for words or uncomfortable with the structure?

Yeah, Andy is great and I like his format. He asks you questions and you answer as you please which becomes more of a conversation than an interview. I have had a few times, yeah, where it’s a bit awkward on tv and radio stations. TV can be a hassle sometimes because some people have things they want you to say and then a certain way they want you to say it which does my head in. Or when you get fed directions before an interview or whatever - that’s a fist clencher. I know it’s not a major issue – don’t get me wrong - but if you ask a question let me answer it otherwise just answer it for me. That happens, and I won’t name anything but sometimes people want you to read an answer instead of giving an answer. I’m never at a loss for words though – haha!

Now on to the fun stuff:

Your costumes for “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” Jive and “Disturbia” Team Tango Halloween night of Season 13 were pretty outrageous. What’s the wildest costume you’ve ever worn? (for Halloween, an event, costume party, etc)

I’m not really a dress up person. I don’t know why. I can never really get into that buzz but I dressed up as an ice cream for a costume party one time for no reason, and when I got there it turned out that it was a Disney themed party that people put a lot of time and effort into so that was awkward........for them not me. I had a great night – haha!

Let’s suppose the unthinkable happened and you had to teach a group lesson to a bunch of MacManiacs/MacLunatics. What would be the dance/song you would choose as you bravely took on this 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!!!

In the spirit of the MacManiac party we have going on for St. Patrick’s Day (yes, this is true), would you write us a short poem (rhyming or not) about Irish whiskey?

Whiskey Whiskey yum yum yum
Empty Empty done done done!
I miss you boo hoo hoo
Oh no wait bottle 2

Drink sensibly!

Now give us some of your favorites:

Favorite song by the Beatles - George Harrison- “Here Comes The Sun” is perfect in my eyes
Favorite song by U2- “Desire”
Favorite song by the Rolling Stones - “Wild Horses”/ “Angie”/” Ruby Tuesday”
Favorite Irish musician - Luke Kelly (Raglan Road)
Favorite Movie – ever The Field/ Willow/ Labyrinth
Favorite beverage that doesn’t have Jameson, Whiskey, or Water in the name - Rob Roy
Favorite sport other than football - Gaelic Football, Ireland Rugby team
Favorite sports memories - Italia '90 Wold Cup (Ireland penalty shoot out vs. Romania. Also, the year I moved to Boston the Celtics and Red Sox won championships - Boston went off that period - it was quality!!????

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If you've never seen it, here is the "Shout" scene from Wedding Crashers. LOL. Tristan has the right idea...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYIAu847HiE

Tristan MacManus Interview (19) - February 26, 2014

6/27/2015

This interview was posted just prior to the cast reveal for Season 18 of Dancing With the Stars.

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Ever since Season 17 ended, the Season 18 rumors have been all over the place. Do you ever pay attention to any of that or do you even hear them?

No, I don’t pay any attention to rumors - good or bad - to be honest. Whatever happens happens. One day you are up and the next you are down, sometimes by your own hand, but most of the time it’s out of your control so what’s the point? Rumors are a great way to build interest, but it’s tomorrow's fish and chip paper!

During the BWAT shows in Bismarck and Sioux Falls you danced with both Emma and Cheryl. For those of us not lucky enough to be there, would you tell us about those dances?

Yeah, we danced in Dakota. I always love dancing with Ems, and we did a Cha-Cha and a Tango, and I danced a Viennese Waltz with Cheryl. At the end of the show, I danced Foxtrot to “Fever” with Ems, and Derek danced Swing with Cher, and then we all had a Jive with the full cast to finish up!

In your career as a dancer, is there any particular person that you have encountered that you would especially like to dance with? (pro, celebrity, fan, etc.)

No, I never really have anyone I’d like to dance with (bar the ones I do actually dance with - safety first!!). I think some of the greatest dancers there are people we never even heard of, but I enjoy watching great dancers as much as everyone else and I’m very lucky to know an awful lot of them. I much prefer watching them then actually doing them.

There is lots of talk on various sites about how people really hope you get a “contender” for Season 18, but from your perspective, what qualities would make the ideal partner?

I think the ideal partner is someone who wants to improve and wants to learn I guess. Everyone is a contender if they are involved but in terms of the show itself you just want to meet someone you can have a good time with and who will make the experience as enjoyable as possible - maybe someone who you can make it enjoyable enough for them to still feel involved or want to get involved after the show is finished. Not too many people keep dancing after the show finishes and it’s a shame. It’s always nice to hear that someone has stuck to it afterwards whether people think they were "good" or "bad" - just someone who enjoys it.

You have told us in previous interviews that you had asked to change the music for a dance or two because you felt it just wouldn’t work. In cases like that, do you pick the alternate music? Could you share which songs you have been given that you changed because you felt they would not work with the dance style you were given?

Yeah, music is always a funny one because the department will always try and accommodate you but at the same time the show as a whole has to run smoothly. I always wanted to dance to Bob Dylan – “The Times Are A-changin” but that particular week it didn’t fit in with Gaga and Britney or whoever. I also wanted to dance to Emeli Sandé – “River” but got something else –but again different reasons. It didn’t work out - what can you do?!!

If you had to choose between teaching a celebrity (on DWTS) with no dance experience or one with years of dance experience, which would you choose?

It’s irrelevant to me to be honest. The particular style doesn’t suit some people whether they danced or not and for some it does. I’ve always just wanted to teach someone something not so much win something. It’s different for everyone. Some people feel the same, and some people are generally just competitive people so there is no right or wrong. Personally I think no matter what it is you do you don’t have to be the best or worst at it. Just do your best and respect whatever it is that you are doing. I think the show is all about journey for viewers......but sure what do I know!!

When you do performances like Ballroom With A Twist, there is a segment where people from the audience get the opportunity to ask the pros questions. What's the wildest (or strangest) question you have been asked?

Haha! I don’t know - people ask me why I didn’t dance with a certain person or why I changed hair styles or random stuff…usually where is Maks!! It’s always funny that part of the show. I like it a lot. We used to just ask each other questions and tell the audience the usual generic bull about whatever and then we started letting the audience ask. Sometimes they ask us the things that we used to tell them anyway – haha! I think it’s great when you can ask a question you actually want to know the answer to!!

We have enormous respect for Tom Bergeron, so let’s suppose you were interviewing him. What would you ask?

Tom is amazing. I don’t think there is anything he can’t do. On a show, though, it would be fun for Tom to be almost like a fourth judge as well. After he asks the judges what they thought he could say something too from his point of view - a great mix of funny and 'non-dancer' opinion! Then I’d ask him how many swear words he knows!

You mentioned in a previous interview that you have a bit of a temper. What is something that might make you lose that temper?

Lack of respect and perspective and loss of common courtesy

You have become increasingly well known in the last few years. Do you get hounded by the paparazzi and if so, does it bother you?

No I don’t get hounded by paparazzi. I keep to myself. You can’t pick and choose when you want attention; the show obviously puts you in the public eye but for me that’s usually as far as it goes. If someone wants to ask me questions or say hello or whatever surely there is nothing wrong with that but when you do stuff to get attention, well, you deserve to get hounded and to be honest its generally what you wanted to happen in the first place!

Now for more of the silly questions:

If you were in the supermarket with three items and the guy in front of you in the only open Express Lane had a cart full of stuff, would you stand there patiently or ask him to move to a regular lane?

It all depends on what mood I was in. If I was in a foul mood I’d say it to him and if he didn’t move I’d move him and his cart but generally I’d let it go. We all shop and we would all do it if we could!!

Let's say you go to the movies and the people around you are talking or texting and you are getting annoyed. What would you do?

I would probably find the guy with the cart and I would take all the stuff from the cart and smash the guy with the phone with every item from the cart - unless the movie was *^&%$. Haha!

Have the folks at DWTS ever asked you to wear a costume that scared you? And have you ever refused to wear a costume?

No, I’ve been lucky enough to a degree with costumes. I’ve been asked a few times to get the top off but they know by now that it’s not happening and the sequins thing always gets snuck in but at the end of the day it’s their show and they call the shots so you do what you do or they find someone who will do it. It’s the same in all walks of life I suppose!

In the last week, we have picked up several hundred more “likes” on the Facebook Fan Page. What we want to know is what you did in North and South Dakota to generate such a buzz?

I have no idea - they probably like the fact that I left!

Which of your DWTS partners has made you laugh the most?

They are all funny! Nancy’s anger made me laugh, Gladys’s laugh made me laugh and Valerie’s stories made me laugh. Nobody was a joke teller though maybe that’s Tom. He is a funny guy - I like his jokes!

Tristan MacManus Interview (18) - February 7, 2014

6/23/2015

Enjoy this fun Q and A, and for those of you who remember our “Tristan Answers Almost Anything” interview from a few weeks ago , we also sent him a few bonus questions.

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What did you like most about Season 17? What did you like least about Season 17?

I loved meeting Valerie and I loved watching Emma and Sasha do so well on their first go round. I know how much they really wanted to get their chance and to see them both excel was a very proud moment for me so they were definitely a highlight. I don’t remember what I didn’t like about it to be honest - I know there were things but I can’t remember anymore!!

We’ve recently learned that Harold Wheeler and his orchestra as well as the singers will not return for Season 18. Do you have any special memories of working with them? What did you enjoy most? What will you miss the most?

Yeah, I just read that the other day, and I have reached out to a few of the singers who I really like. It’s such a shame and I’m disappointed but I don’t know the reasons behind it and won’t really have an opinion on the new structure until we see or hear how it’s gonna play out. I think the singers and band are as big a part of the show as the dancers and celebrities and I think it will be a huge loss but unfortunately, just like us, everyone and every idea is replaceable. I hope that everyone moves on to bigger and better things and maybe it’s a blessing in disguise for some. Time will tell, I guess.

Had you ever been to the Caribbean prior to the two January Holland America Dancing With the Stars: At Sea cruises, and did you get to see much of the area?

No, I had never been. It was always one of those places that people usually say they would love to go but I never knew half the names of the islands. I didn’t get to see too much to be honest. I had a lot to do on my off time but I for sure got a day or two off and saw some sights. The cruises are great and the cast on them make it so enjoyable.

Tell us about the DWTS: At Sea Champions Cruise. We have seen video of most of your performances, and we noticed a new Foxtrot with Sharna to “Fever.” How long did it take you and Sharna to put that together?

Myself and Shaz put that together in the early hours of the night before. It was a last minute inclusion to give us more to do and was great fun. I never saw the video - I hope it wasn’t the one where I fell on my arse. The boat decided to jump a bit and pulled a shifty on me!

What did you think of the competition on the Champions Cruise? How did you like being a judge?

I was surprised with the level of the dancers on the cruise - they were super good. There was a great Tango that I saw and a lot of other fun routines. The judging was great craic - the Cruise Director was funny also so I had a bit of banter with him.

Also, Holland America is now promoting six new DWTS cruises for later in 2014, and you, Kym, Carson, and Sabrina are listed as scheduled performers. Are you still planning to be on board these cruises?

Yeah, at the moment we are signed up for them so the plan is to do them for sure. Things change very quickly in this game so they may replace me by that time - who knows - but for sure I’d like to be involved.

In a recent Twitter Q and A, Val was asked which DWTS pro was the funniest off-camera. Guess who he said? (You!) So tell us. Who do you think is the funniest DWTS pro off-camera?

Sasha! I spend most of my time with him to be honest. Everyone has their funny moments though but consistently Sash is a funny fella and his sense of humour and personality keep me entertained mostly when I am just observing him! Hahaha!

You’ve seen lots of celebrities in your seasons on DWTS. Which one do you feel has been the most impressive – start to finish? (regardless if he or she won or not)

Not too sure - maybe Kellie Pickler. She was quality real sweet girl - funny and talented. I really liked Ricki Lake and Sherri Shepherd. Leah Remini is a great girl as well. Bar my own partners she was the most real and solid person I met. I’m sure I’ve missed a lot of people who I liked - I don’t remember the dancing.

If you could do any performance on DWTS that was choreographed by another pro, which pro's choreography would you choose, and why?

I don’t know to be honest. Choreographing for pros is a lot different than the show so with some I haven’t really seen much but they are all great so I’m sure none would let us down. A lot of people choreograph based on their own styles, I feel. Derek has such amazing ideas and they are always so diverse that you don’t usually look at it and say ‘that’s Derek’s’ if you know what I mean. He is someone I know could choreograph to anyone’s style and always pulls it out of the bag. Val is a great choreographer as well. Some people are great at doing competitive numbers, some are better at doing showcase numbers, and some are great at doing interpretive. It all depends on what you like to see.

Similarly, if you were choreographing a group dance on DWTS and could pick the pros for the performance who would you choose?

Ah, I don’t know it would all depend on the number but I’m sure Emma would be one of the first names on the list. I think she is unbelievable and so versatile.

Do you have a particular workout regimen during the DWTS off-season?

None. I usually take the break when I can and then cram at the last minute to get myself somewhat respectable. Everyone wants to be ripped and cut; I just want to do a bit of dancing.

You do a lot of traveling. Do you ever find it difficult adjusting to the schedules and the time changes?

No. Time schedules are grand but you get sick of moving sometimes. It’s like you can’t sit down for a second. Don’t get me wrong. It’s a great problem to have but sometimes you want your own bed and be able to make plans with your friends and actually be around to see what’s going on! I don’t like not having time to see where I am. You get to travel a lot but sometimes you are just in a building all day long and then do one show so you could really be anywhere - that’s why it’s frustrating sometimes. Everyone we meet is always so nice but you fly, you go indoors, then you fly again.

There have been reports of Len and possibly Bruno leaving DWTS at some point due to the difficult travel each week during the fall season. What would you think about an eliminated pro returning each week to take over one of the judging spots? Which pro or pros do you think would be the best judges? Do you think the pros can be objective when judging teams from a season in which he or she competed?

You would have to ask the pros that. I’m sure everyone would say yes but when it hits the fan you might see something different. I don’t mind the idea but I also like the idea of someone with no dance experience giving a different opinion on what they see. Sometimes people just want to talk about how knowledgeable they are and sometimes you just want a straight opinion – I liked it because of this or I didn’t like it as much as that because it didn’t make me smile not because your legs weren’t straight and your arms didn’t dislocate because you didn’t stretch enough! You can be objective if you don’t take it so serious or personal for sure.

You were Dance Captain for Dirty Dancing. That must have a been a lot of responsibility and likely gave you a broader perspective as to what overall production entails. Would you tell us what that job was like and what responsibilities you had?

Dirty Dancing was great craic. I was the Ballroom Dance Captain so I was supposed to be teaching the ensemble and actors how to do the ballroom. I got to help some but not as much as I would have liked and I wasn’t allowed to make any changes (which annoyed me) to choreography. Some of the actors had been in the show a few years so they did what they did and left it at that. I would have liked to re-choreograph it to suit everyone in it better. Dirty Dancing The Musical is the same as the movie; you don’t change lines and you don’t change anything....at all haha. The cast were the best people I ever met. We honestly all got on great with each other so I miss it a lot sometimes and I’m am still in touch with the majority of them. I was more responsible for the morale in the end – haha. Seriously though I had to clean numbers and if someone was sick I had to make sure the swings (covers) knew where to be and what to do.

In one of your venues for Ballroom With a Twist last summer you performed on a circular stage. How did you have to adapt the dancing for that?

Yeah. It was tough enough but great though. I like having everyone all around but you always have your back to somebody. It was tough because it was so dark and there was only one ramp exit off the stage so when you have been spinning and turning to keep everyone involved for the whole dance finding the way off in the dark was very amusing. We tried to catch each other out and send someone off to the far end until the lights came back on. Haha!

Speaking of Ballroom With A Twist, we understand you will be in Fort Collins, Colorado (February 6-8), Bismarck, North Dakota (February 17) and Sioux Falls, South Dakota (February 18). Are there any we are missing?

No, that’s it at the moment.

Finally, there have been many wonderful dance films made. Which, in your opinion, is particularly brilliant?

I don’t actually like dance films but Anchors Aweigh is probably my favourite. I’ve never seen Singing In The Rain - I never hear the end of that!! The dancing is always good in the movies but usually the story is always the same. Good luck to the people in them - I just don’t really watch them. I’m sure there are good ones out there but I just don’t have an interest in seeing them.

Now for the fun "bonus" questions...

If you could sit down to dinner with any 5 people throughout history, who would it be?

Richard Harris, Peter O'Toole, Oliver Reed, Richard Burton, James Dean. That would be a great night out.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what would be the five things (not including the bare essentials such as food, shelter, water, etc) that you would like to have with you?

The wife, the whiskey, music, hammock, sunscreen

In our last interview, you told us your favorite foods, but there has to be something you despise. What is it?

Tuna, Coriander, Oysters

If you could create a cocktail that featured Jameson whiskey, what would you put in it and what would you call it?

Just ice -if anything - and call it “The Good Stuff”

If you were offered a lead in a major film, but you would be required to cut off all your hair, would you do it?

Yes, but it depends on the purpose of cutting my hair off - not that I wouldn’t do it but I’d look weird I’d say with no hair, but sure I’d give it a bash. It would always grow back........I hope.

Finally, since it’s an Olympic year, if you could participate in any winter Olympic event, what would it be?

I’d be a great snowball thrower! Cool Runnings has won me over. I’d be on the Irish bobsled team and we would get everyone those t shirts and make them all kiss the egg.

Tristan MacManus Interview (17) - November 20, 2013

6/18/2015

Tristan Answers Our Strange Questions

Question 1
What is the biggest practical joke you ever played on someone? What is the biggest practical joke played on you? Was Sasha Farber involved in either of these?
Tristan: "To be honest I’m not much of a prankster - I like funny things happening and I make fun of people in a nice way but I don’t set up pranks. I like to scare people so I hide a lot. I know it's childish but it’s very, very funny to me - haha!! I don’t scare Sasha much but we try to make each other laugh or feel uncomfortable at inappropriate times. That’s always fun to do."

Question 2
Considering some of the interesting costumes you’ve worn on DWTS, if you were forced to wear the sailor suit or guyliner again, which would you choose as the lesser of two evils?
Tristan: "Tough one. I dislike both equally as much but it is what it is. Sometimes I actually don't mind wearing that gear (obviously not at the weekend - I mean at work!)) if it works for whatever I'm doing, but I don't go out of my way to ask for sailor suits and eye liner! I hate tight pants; it wrecks my head when it looks like I'm wearing children's clothes - Haha! Skinny jeans and all that garb suit some people, but I am not one of those people."

Question 3
How does it feel to have a Twitter account that honors your hair? (In case you haven’t seen it, it’s hilarious and it is called @TristansBedhead.)
Tristan: "I think its very strange! Ha! More so considering how much I neglect it, 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 it - don’t get me wrong, it is very clean!!!"

Question 4
On the off chance that we get to look inside your refrigerator, what fascinating things might we find?
Tristan: "Nothing strange - haha- but the house is always full of porridge and bread. I have this weird thing where I love making bread!! Haha! I also love emptying and finishing off packets of things so I generally try make a lot of things just to use up ingredients ."

Question 5
We all love the bright blue shirt you’ve worn a couple of times for the bumpers. Care to raffle it off to one lucky MacManiac? Or perhaps the suspenders from your Cha Cha with Nancy? Or a lock of your hair?
Tristan: "You can have whatever they will give you - the hair???!!! I always wondered what people do with locks of hair when they get them - Haha! I know people sometimes keep their child's first hair cut or something, but I don't know about adult hair collecting for pleasure...I hate getting haircuts, but I love getting it washed in the hairdressers (is that weird?)"

Question 6
Let’s talk Karoake Bar. You’re there, you might have consumed a few beverages, you pick the song. What will it be?
Tristan: "Doesn't happen! I sing when nobody is listening, and then when people stop to listen I stop too! But I love "Walking in Memphis" and I love country music and "Piano Man" always gets lashed out of it in the house when the whiskey is flowing."

Question 7
What is the strangest thing that has ever happened to you on stage?
Tristan: "It depends on what you think strange is - haha! I’ve laughed on stage a lot instead of what I’m supposed to do. I guess that’s strange or I have talked for so long I forgot what I was there to do."

Question 8
What is the most trouble you got into when you were a kid, and if we asked your mother would she say the same thing?
Tristan: "I wouldn’t want to encourage anyone to do any of the things I did as a kid so I will keep them to myself - the people who know about it are the people who were there with me and the people who caught us. Ask me no questions and I’ll tell you no lies!! Let’s say my ma knows what she knows and I know what I know. Haha!"

Question 9
Tell the truth - have you ever danced the Macarena, the Funky Chicken, or anything Gangnam Style, and if so, is there a video and where can we get it?

Tristan: "I’m sure at some stage the Macarena was danced and the chicken thing as well. Certain things happen that sometimes require you to dance these things with the kids, but all that Gangnam is a horrible, horrible thing. I dislike it a lot - like the fox thing - it irritates me so I have never and will never do that, no."

Question 10
Some people have elevated you to superhero status, so the next logical question is – Of all the superheroes, which one are you most like? (or which one would you most like to be like?) If superheroes aren’t your thing, what about a Disney or cartoon character?
Tristan: "Haha - I dont know about that. Thor was always my favourite as a kid but I think maybe The Hulk because of my temper when it goes off, but that’s very rare these days. Haha! I wish I could be Cu Chulainn though - best hero of them all. I do like superheroes."

Question 11
What is your favorite “sing in the shower at the top of your lungs” song?
Tristan: "Faithfully by Journey - hahaha!"

Question 12
On a scale of 1 to 10, how are your bartending skills?
Tristan: "Working it - 1. Keeping it busy - 10."

Question 13
What is the strangest thing a fan has ever done? (other than ask you these questions, we mean)
Tristan: "Some have been very rude to my misses on occasion. To me that is very, very strange. I appreciate that people enjoy the work I do and think I am a nice person but I find it strange when with one look someone can praise me for being so nice to people and then in turn be so rude themselves to someone who makes my life so worthwhile. That’s a bit too serious as an answer maybe."

Question 14
What makes you squeal like a girl? (mice, spiders, stuff like that)
Tristan: "Football and people touching my arse. Hahahaha. I hate it!"

Question 15
If you were to create a twerking instructional video, which of your fellow pros would you ask to assist you in this creative endeavor?
Tristan: "This is something that will never ever ever happen."

Question 16
Which MacManiac do you fear the most?
Tristan: "It’s a toss up between the one who wanted the hair – hahaha - and the one in the tree outside."

Question 17
If you could describe the MacManiacs with any 5 words, which words would you use?
Tristan: "Loyal, O-Mazing, Vocal, Epic, Devoted"

Tristan MacManus Interview (16) - November 10, 2013

6/15/2015

Yes, you are reading correctly. It's our second interview with Tristan in four days, but he knew how many questions you guys had sent in and was happy to answer more. Enjoy this very candid Q and A.

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One of the things we talk about on the site is also something you have mentioned frequently in our interviews, and that is how you like stories and how you create a story and tell it through the performance. How does it work? Do you let the music guide you? Do you start with a basic concept and then let it take shape as you work with your partner or do you plan it through in advance?

Sometimes it changes. I never come up with a concept before I meet my partner. I always have ideas and songs that I want to use, but if they don’t suit our partnership then it’s hard to make them happen! I get to know my partner, and once I hear the song, I either relate it to them or I will come up with an idea that I think they can relate to or can imagine. I try to use word association at certain times to remind steps and feelings. I think when you know your story or know your character then if you forget stepwise what you are doing you won’t lose the character. Some find that comforting; some just forget that too. Haha!

Does your celebrity partner ever have input into the choreography or the story that you tell?

To a degree. In terms of coming up with it not so much, but they influence it in that if they can’t do certain things I’ll change it to suit and vice versa. If you have someone who no matter what you say and how many times you comfort them with words they just focus on whatever they want to, sometimes you just have to accept that. I don’t mean in a negative way but people react how they react, and no matter what people say we do things our way, so if they are confident enough to want to try something or suggest something, I will always consider it, of course. Some have in the past, and it has gone horribly wrong, but every person is different and it’s their experience, so you gotta do what you gotta do.

You mentioned that you like the slower dances such as Waltz and Rumba. Do you have a favorite Waltz or Rumba performance in your career?

Not really, no. I’ve enjoyed all the ones I have done before. I liked dancing to Jackie Evancho with Karina but it was so short and same with Peta and Kym. They were all pretty short. I just enjoy the tempos of these dances and the emotions behind them...... in my head.

You have told us in prior interviews that you want to make sure your partner’s experience is as enjoyable as possible because it is likely her only chance to do the show. How do you go about making that happen?

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.

While we see only a fraction of the whole process with what we see on Monday nights, we also realize there are days of preparation and rehearsal. Would you take us through what generally happens on a given week with your celebrity partner? (getting the dance style, the music, the costumes, rehearsals, etc.)

You usually get the music on a Saturday/Sunday before each following show. We get an early call Monday for the girls to start their makeup and hair so they are always called before us. Then we rock in and individually we camera block our number for the first time with the orchestra. Then we do a dress run of the show start to finish with stand-in actors for the judges and hosts. Then we run the show at 5 p.m west coast time.

The director likes to get 'wide' (this is a recorded version of our dances in the rehearsal hall where we first explain the floor plan so he can consider camera angles and lighting) on the Friday or at latest Saturday. Sunday is the first time we get to rehearse on stage for the live show, and following that we will have our wardrobe consult for the following week after this first block. You may or may not go back to the rehearsal hall for a final session before Monday; some do, some don’t! Tuesday morning we start at 9 a.m. with the group number for the following week, and then we rehearse with our partners.

Is there anything on DWTS that you have not yet done that you would really like to do?

Yes, yes there is, but I won’t say in case they finally cave in and let me do it. The show has to run I guess as a complete show if that makes sense and sometimes people’s ideas don’t fit in with what is going on so we don’t get to do them. I’m sure we are all in the same boat when it comes to that case and now with the show being cut to one day it may be a little harder.

Do you have any sort of pre-performance ritual?

No. I’m not superstitious at all. I usually like to just keep quiet on a show day and sit in the trailer and play my Irish music. There is a lot of sitting around show day as busy as it is.

You have been in all kinds of performances other than DWTS in the last couple of years – Life’s A Dance, Ballroom With A Twist, the New York Red Cross Ball, the DWTS: At Sea cruises, and many more. Is there one particular event or performance that is particularly memorable for you?

I did a USO tour with Chelsie and Peta a few years back that was amazing - not so much the show part but meeting everyone and their families and seeing what was going on. Actually being there and realizing that it’s not just all in the news and on TV was an eye opener. I get a lot of satisfaction from any event where we can help indirectly by doing what we have been doing for most of our lives. Dance shows, I think, bring people together whether it’s families or strangers, and that is special so any event I am a part of is pretty memorable for different reasons.

In previous interviews you mentioned that when you were younger you stopped dancing for a while and then picked it up again. What made you decide to get back to dancing?

I left dancing because I stopped enjoying, and I was happy with my decision until I went back. I didn’t understand a lot of it and it used to do my head in with all the clothes and make-up - all that garb. I always enjoyed theatre so I would go and watch plays, and that is how I got back on stage. That kind of rolled back into musicals and dance and then back to Latin/Ballroom shows and then Burn the Floor and then DWTS. I have a love-hate relationship with it all I think.

In one of our early interviews, you said you could sit back and watch the cooking channel and be thoroughly entertained. How are your skills as a chef and what are your culinary specialties? Any kitchen disasters that you can share?

No, I can cook a wee bit alright - nothing too special, but I like it now and again. There is a much better chef in the house these days though. I’m more the one who likes to use things up so I can make all my Irish dishes - no probs - but anything else I’ll just throw together and see what happens. I haven’t had too many complaints though. can make hearty food and desserts, but I’d love to learn the rest.

Speaking of food, what is your favorite comfort food?

Porridge, vegetable soup, lamb stew, Shepherd’s Pie, Eggs Benedict, Carbonara!! Not in that order but....... actually not too far off!

What do you miss most about Ireland?

My mates and our sessions. Ireland is the best place in the world - I miss everything about it!

Tell us something we would be surprised to know about you.

I have a really bad temper!

A few months ago, we asked you to give us a couple of questions that you would like to ask the MacManiacs. We did so and the results were hilarious, so we thought we would see if you could come up with a couple more questions for us.

No questions just yet. You are doing a good job of them - see if you guys can up with funny ones!

Tristan MacManus Interview (15) - November 7, 2013

6/12/2015

First, we have a couple of questions about Season 17. In your opinion, what (or who) has been the biggest surprise so far? Could pick a favorite out of all of the performances?

I don’t really know to be honest who was the biggest surprise. I think many will say they are surprised with how far some have gone and how early some have left but for me it is Leah and Bill. I think they have been the spirit of the show. Bill is so endearing and he is great fun to be around and obviously Emma as well (I'm so happy herself and Farbs are doing so well). Leah is doing her best, never slacks off, enjoys herself but most of all I find her so great because she isn’t falling for all the other stuff that comes with the show. It does my head in when people talk about rainbows and fairy tales and act happy ALL the time – HaHa! There is no reality in that. She is being herself and wants to learn and get better for herself because she genuinely loves dancing and that's why I’m so happy every week when she gets through. I’m probably a little surprised by how committed Jack is, and I don’t know why!! (for no reason!) I didn’t know him beforehand so it’s a bit unfair to suggest he was never going to be anything but committed but he is doing everything he can to get the most out of the experience. You can see how happy he makes Cheryl, and again, like Leah there is no acting going on there - just hard work.

With two guest judges this season, have you seen any major change in the judging dynamic? Would you like to see regular guest judges or do you prefer the week-to-week "consistency" of having Bruno, Carrie Ann, and Len?

Consistency is a very funny word to use – haha! To be honest it doesn’t really bother me who is judging. I think it’s good to switch it up now and again just like we do with the pros and just like every season we do with the celebrities, but it is what it is. If having a new judge each week or every other week gives the show even more exposure than it couldn’t be a bad thing. I think the judges we have are grand, and I think they know what they want to see, and to a certain degree everyone has a good idea of what they want to see. Having a guest judge changes the dynamic and probably to a degree inspires the pros more than it does the celebrities but I think it gives us a broader opinion, which I like.

You have been involved in many numbers and commercial bumpers this season. Do you have any favorites? What about in your six seasons on DWTS? Any particular favorite performance that stands out?

Not really. I enjoyed all the dances with Valerie for all different reasons, and I enjoy dancing with different people every week. I really enjoyed Lacey and Benji's number, and I love working with Mandy Moore, and Kevin Wilson and Doriana Sanchez who did the Cher number are great. I enjoyed doing those numbers but again it stresses me out learning them because I don’t feel comfortable learning those styles and don’t have much of an interest in actually dancing those styles. I much prefer the show night to the prep time that goes into most numbers after the team I am on has been eliminated.

There have a been a lot of ups and downs and twists and turns this season. What one thing - (or things) have you found to be the most interesting (or perhaps, the most perplexing!) – the scoring, the eliminations, etc.

I’m never surprised by eliminations or scores. I think you can pluck a number out of the sky each week, and it more than likely won’t match up to the comments. I understand that it’s very hard to judge, don’t get me wrong, but I think you generally know what week the 9's and 10's come out and you can always tell when people are being judged on or voted for based on their likability and ratings, last week’s leaderboard, dance-offs whatever it may be. You just have to enjoy the dances and dancers when they are there, appreciate that everyone is doing their best and then just let it ride and see how the story pans out if you know what I mean. The hard work is being done by everyone on the show, and as long as people appreciate that whether you are on the top or on the bottom, everyone is working their socks off every day to the best of THEIR ability.

If you had to choose one of the following, which would you choose: 1) a celebrity partner who already has quite a bit of dance training and/or experience or 2) a celebrity partner who has little or no dance training and/or experience.

If I could choose a partner, anything dance would be the last thing that came into it. If they had a lifetime of ballroom dance experience, and I didn’t like them, I couldn’t think of anyone worse to spend all that time with. I would choose someone with little to none with a brain of their own and a personality of their own every day of the week – breakfast, lunch and dinner!!

You have said a few times that you prefer teaching to choreographing. What is it that you like so much about teaching? Along those same lines, do you have a favorite teaching experience (outside of DWTS)?

I enjoy teaching because I think when you teach someone to dance then they can continue to enjoy themselves after the show is over. The best dancing I have ever done in my life and the most satisfying has been at family and friends’ weddings. It’s the best craic I have ever had, and there is absolutely no choreography to that. Haha! I like to think that if I have taught you how to dance that you can go on and relay that in your own way to somebody else because you understand what you have learned. This is just my opinion. I’m sure there are many things to be said against it, but I don’t care. I think generally everything ends up looking the same anyway! It’s not that I don’t like choreographing; it’s just that I prefer to tell stories and sometimes it’s hard to tell a story I want through doing steps. That’s why I admire so much people who can.

In Season 13, you danced to “Moon River” to tie in with the theme of Nancy’s Most Memorable Year. If you could choose a Most Memorable Year (for yourself), which one would it be and what dance would you choreograph to which song?

I don’t really have a memorable year. I have memorable moments in my life that might have happened in a February and then the year turned on its arse in June so no memorable years for me - just a whole ton of great and horrible moments but I wouldn't change it for the world. There are too many songs for too many memories but I love nostalgic songs. I know songs always take you back but I mean songs about being nostalgic like the old Irish songs. I think it’s why music is so special. Sometimes I just love to hear the music and sit and enjoy it. If I had to dance to it I’d probably forget what I was doing. I’d be too distracted!

Do you like the addition of dances such as Jazz and Contemporary on DWTS or would you prefer that they stay with traditional ballroom and Latin styles?

I don’t like doing the styles, but I do enjoy watching them so from that point of view I’d prefer to keep it to what I know. But on the flip our dancers are so versatile that it’s great that they can showcase that and it opens up the show to other dancers and styles which entertain people just as much or in some cases more so than the traditional ones. I think you have to give the people what they want to see and that is the only important factor. I don’t think it makes much difference to the celebs who have no experience although it may make it easier for some of them to relate to something different or styles they have at least heard of.

Touching briefly on Theme Weeks such as Halloween Week, Rock Week, Movie Week, etc., if you had the choice of one of those to do on DWTS and had complete control over the music and dance style choices, what would you like to do?

I think the theme weeks are a nice novelty act now and again. It can be fun on Halloween when you can all have a dress up. Rock Week was grand; we got to see Kiss. Motown Week was super as well. Sometimes I think the concept is a bit too broad but again if it’s what people want to see then you gotta do it. Maybe we need an Irish themed week - it could go either way. Hahaha! It would be amazing or it would never end - excessive compulsive as Richard Harris put it. Haha!

One of my favourite songs is ”Wicked Game” and I’ve always wanted to dance to that so a Rumba but I couldn’t pick any one; they are all great. As much as I love Chris Isaak though I would still dance to James Vincent McMorrows version. Or an a capella version of Bob Seger’s “Hollywood Nights.” I get a bit over excited in the car when the song comes on.

Previously you have given us a little tutorial in the Cha Cha, Rumba, Samba, and Waltz, but what can you tell us about teaching dances like the Paso Doble or Argentine Tango? What does a student need to learn in order to perform those successfully?

Find the character for both dances. In my eyes, it’s the only important thing. If you know the character you don’t need to know the steps.

What is your favorite DWTS memory so far? (a performance, a team, a guest artist, anything at all)

I still remember my first dance in the troupe as being pretty special. Hearing the audience in the studio for the first time was great ,and then there is one point I guess of each season where you get the pride in your heart. It’s hard to explain sometime. It’s there at the most nothing of moments and the moments where people think 'you must have loved that!' It’s funny how sometimes those moments just pass you by. I enjoy a lot about the show and a great number of people who work behind the scenes. I’ll remember a lot of moments when I pack it in.

We heard that you are scheduled to be in Hawaii on December 6 as a celebrity judge and guest performer for the Dancing With the Stars Hawaii Fundraiser for the Kapi’olaini Medical Center for Women and Children. Could you share a little bit about that with us?

Yeah, I’ll be heading to Honolulu to do a bit of teaching down there again before I head off for the year. There is a fundraiser I was asked to attend and judge a dance comp at for the hospital which I think is great. I’m trying to get Farbs and Emma to come along too so hopefully we get a bit of down time too but it’s a great cause for the women and children and I’m more than happy to help and feel grateful for the opportunity to come and try and help. I went there before for a few days but I literally went to the studio and then bed, studio, bed, and studio then back to LA. I don’t think this time will be much different but they are a great bunch who I work for down there so I’m more than happy. This pasty skin could do with a bit of sunshine!

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Tristan MacManus Interview (14) - October 10, 2013

6/10/2015

Enjoy this very special interview from October 10, 2013.

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First of all, Tristan, we have enjoyed this very special journey with Valerie, and it has been unique in so many ways. Thanks for taking our questions.

Since you had a few weeks to get used to the one night a week format, how do you feel about it? Did you like being down on the floor in the “glitter pit” with the other pros and celebrities during the performance and taking questions from Tom and Brooke during the show?

I like the new format to be honest. I’m not the biggest fan of the glitter pit, but I like the pace of the show better now. I don’t like that you are on camera all the time with the new pit, and you can’t go stretch the legs or anything or you will be in the way of the cameras. I don’t know - it’s not for me, but I think the viewers probably enjoy it more and the audience members I’m sure do as well. It’s easier to interact with Tom and Brooke there but harder to mess around because of the cameras you have to be more behaved.

We’re enjoying the opening dances with the cast each week. Would you share with us a little of how those come together since rehearsal times are so limited and the celebrities are involved in those dances as well?

The opening numbers begin on Tuesday morning. After the live show Monday night, we come in at 9 a.m. and learn the new dance from whoever it is that choreographs it. Then we rehearse again for it on Friday or Saturday and then add the celebrities on either the second rehearsal or give them their standing marks on a Sunday or Monday at camera blocking.

What do you miss (if anything) most about the results show?

I miss the crew from the results show. We almost halved our crew with the new format so that’s the main difference and also with the separate shows it meant we had essentially a day off (Tuesday). Granted we work less hours, but your body needs a break for a day, and your head needs a break at some stage during the week. I'm sure the musical acts and stuff will come back in later in the season when there is more time to fill as well as spotlight performances and maybe Macy’s.

This season you danced a Foxtrot, Paso Doble, Cha Cha and a Viennese Waltz with Valerie. In your opinion, which dance did she take to the best, and was there one in particular that she seemed to enjoy doing more than the others? What about you?

I’m not sure which dance Valerie liked the most, but I think the best was the first one - Foxtrot -for the obvious reason that we had more time to learn it with it being the first dance. People really enjoyed it. She done a great job and felt confident and comfortable. I think she done great in every dance, but unfortunately show night wasn’t the best day of the week, and maybe it’s done to not being able to get moving and run things before you perform with the new structure.

In some of the interviews, we’ve heard some couples hint that they might be rehearsing more than the allocated four hours a day. Do you think that the change to four hours was a positive move, and do you believe that that is sufficient time to teach your celebrity partner if that time constraint continues on to future seasons?

I think as the weeks go on and there are less couples, the time restraints will be lifted. It could be up to five or six hours now that people have left. It’s basically down to the amount of producers we have and studio space, so once more couples leave it frees up more crew to cover more hours with people. Four hours can be a lot of time when you are productive, and it really depends on the students whether it’s enough time or not. There is less time to sit and talk I guess, but it also cuts out media coming into rehearsals like they used to which I prefer to be honest. It breaks it up a bit.

There is a very interesting mix of celebrities this season. Have you had a chance to spend time with any of them (other than Valerie) and do you have any fun stories to share with us about the season so far?

I can’t share any stories, no – hahaha – sorry, but I talk a lot to Liz Berkley. I like her a lot. Also Leah Remini is a good one to have around, and obviously bar Valerie, Billy Engvall is my favourite. He is a good guy, and we joke around with each other a lot and talk Scotch. He is a great guy! But honestly everyone is pretty cool. I don’t spend a lot of time with many others, but I talk to them all in passing. Corbin is a genuine guy as well.

What has been your favorite moment of Season 17 up to this point?

Sasha and Emma being given partners!

How did you come up with the Grace Kelly/Freddie Mercury concept, and can we expect to see that mustache make a return anytime soon?

I just wanted to make the dance more about the humour. I didn’t want to dance to that song to be honest but I had changed the song from the week before as well so what can you do? The previous week we forgot a few steps, and I wanted to take the stress and worry out of the equation and thought that we needed to relax more and enjoy it. Obviously the song is called “Grace Kelly” and I knew Val would enjoy dolling up like her and then the reference to Freddie was there. I fought to keep the number the way I wanted, and eventually the producers agreed to let me do what I wanted after the compromise of the track, but it took a bit of back and forth.

You have had five very different partners on DWTS and each seems to have a unique sense of humor. What is the most fun you ever had in a DWTS rehearsal? (Is there a particular rehearsal that stands out from any season as just being plain fun?)

I can’t really remember too many, but one of my favourites was Motown week when I got to sing “My Girl” with Gladys, Bubba and the Temptations. That was great fun. We had great times with Gladys travelling and seeing her shows. I loved that so much, but I have had good times with all my partners so far.

If you could write an article about Valerie or ask her the questions in an interview, what would you make its focus? For example – her health, her family, her career, her experiences as a dancer, etc.

There is so much to Valerie that I think you would have to include everything. She is super cool. I used to just ask her random questions about nothing in particular, and that was always great fun. Her family are great, and her husband is great to talk to, but it is great fun listening to Valerie’s old stories about Hollywood.

We’ve asked you so many questions over the last year or so, and you have been very gracious (and funny) in answering them all. We’ve also seen that you have a gift for hosting and being a fun emcee. If you were to conduct an interview with any of this season’s pros or celebrities (other than Valerie), which one would it be and why? Any particular question you might ask?

I would love to sit down with Bill Engvall and have people throw us topics and see what jokes we can come up with on the spot - try and see what rubbish we come up with - or listen to Leah Remini rant about something. She is hilarious.

If you were a judge critiquing any of your performances with Valerie from Week 1, 2, 3, or 4 what things would you say were particularly strong? What would you say could have been improved?

Valerie used her arms very well and was good showing pictures, but we for sure needed to improve the transitions between those pictures. Letting yourself be right can be harder than it sounds; trying to find a balance between always improving but also being confident in what you have improved upon play a big part in performing a dance. Again though unfortunately we can only be judged on what we do on Monday, I was happy to know that although Monday didn’t go right, I have seen Valerie improve each week and perform better in rehearsals to justify all the hard work. Live shows are live shows. They don’t always go your way. The live show is sometimes the only time things go wrong!

We understand that you are assigned the dances to do with you celebrity partner, but even though you and Valerie are no longer competing, if you could pick one particular dance style that you think most suits her and then dance that dance on DWTS, which one would it be?

The first dance is always picked for you, and usually Week 2 as well. From then on you can sometimes get more influence depending on whether there is a theme week or what not. We had Foxtrot and Paso and then Cha Cha picked for us, and then I chose Viennese Waltz - first off because I wanted to do it. I knew the ballroom dances and the slower dances were the ones that suited Valerie better even more so when her knees became too painful. I tried to make something more about our dances and I put my own themes to the weeks and sold that to Valerie. I tried to make each dance a reaction to terrible news: Week 1 Foxtrot was accepting the news and appreciating what you have been through. Week 2 Paso was anger and frustration towards it which I think is a stage that a lot of people go through. Week 3 Cha Cha was more about people who use humour to face their problems not so much to say you should laugh about it, but I know family and friends who have reacted in this way. Then I guess Week 4 Viennese Waltz was for those who don’t give up and whether they accept it or not carry on. It was always my intention to use this song for Valerie, and I thought it was great to finish up with that one.

This has been a very emotional but very inspiring season on DWTS. As a teacher, artist, choreographer, and performer, do you have any words of wisdom for us?

No words of wisdom from me, no. Just 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.

Finally, if you have any message for your supporters, I would be happy to pass it along.

Thank you all for the unbelievable support you keep showing me. I had a blast being on the show and this experience has been amazing.

Tristan MacManus Interview (13) - September 4, 2013

6/6/2015

Tristan prefaced this brief interview with some lovely words about his Season 17 partner on Dancing With the Stars, the incredible Valerie Harper.

I’m delighted to be dancing with Valerie. I think everyone needs an inspiration from someone or something, and that’s the main thing for me. The message is much more important than the competition. People can look at it negatively or they can see the reality of the situation. I get an opportunity to help somebody live out one of their dreams and at the same time offer help in promoting an important message. The show needs a relevance for people to relate to, and I think Valerie is for sure an unbelievable and inspiring relevance. We all can feel unfortunate to have a person in our lives that is suffering from some sort of illness, and in a lot of cases it is cancer. It’s very easy to give up, but we also need to know that there are some people who refuse to, and we can get from them that nudge that we need to enjoy and live our lives as long as we can - whether we are sick or not!

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Many of your supporters were fortunate enough to see you in Ballroom With A Twist this summer. What did you enjoy most about that experience? What do you miss most about it?

I really enjoyed Ballroom With A Twist and travelling around in a stage show is something I really miss doing. The whole experience was fun - hanging out with the other dancers and getting to know some people a little better. Then obviously the hosting side of the show is something I want to do more of. I miss the show but I am also lucky to have the opportunity to work on Season 17 which is gonna be good times!

Of all of the dances from Ballroom With A Twist, which was your favorite as a performer and which was your favorite performance by the rest of the cast?

I have a few. “Walking in Memphis” is one of my favourite songs so I loved listening to Gina sing that each night. I loved the “Gravity” number with Jonathon, Legacy and Randi Lynn. Randi is a great, great dancer; I could watch her all day. Then the final number - even as short as it is - is really the only time we are all onstage together and that is great craic. I usually end up just screaming and shouting at everyone to get the last bit of energy out. It’s great craic.

We’ve heard many of the DWTS pros say that when first teaching a dance to a celebrity partner, you often do it without music. Would you explain this process? How do you teach the steps, choreograph the routine, and then bring in the music and make it work?

With the show you usually get a week or so with your partner before you get Week 1 music so initially you start with no music or a CD of standard Ballroom and Latin music - no lyrics - so some choose to dance with no music. I usually take the first few days just to talk and get to know my partner while trying out small little combinations to gauge what we are working with. I think the main thing is to know your team so that’s my approach. I need to choreograph to music so I don’t start putting our actual dance together until I know what we are dancing to. In the meantime, it’s just trying out different things and seeing who my partner is.

Whether on DWTS or elsewhere, what is the most difficult or challenging part of teaching?

The only thing difficult or difference about DWTS and teaching outside of the show is the response - sometimes people just take what they see and make their assumptions on that! Bad teacher- bad choreographer- bad attitude whatever it might be - you only ever see one side so the hardest thing about teaching on DWTS is accepting that people are gonna have strong opinions about things they don’t know about! Haha! If that is important to you then you are lost. If you are happy knowing what you can do, and your partner is happy knowing you are doing best for them, then there are no difficulties, only opinions.

What is it like for the pros from the time the cast is announced until the show premieres? Is it ever difficult to balance rehearsals with your celebrity along with the other demands on your time by the press, pro rehearsals, etc.?

You will always come into difficulties with schedules as some celebs are working and some aren’t; some live in town, some live out so not everybody can be in the same place at the same time. This season is different because we all have a set amount of hours whereas before you could dance until you drop. It will help some people, and it will hinder others but that’s the way it is. We will work a new schedule this season set by the show so we are really waiting to see how it goes. Every day as a pro you should be thinking of ways to make something better. You could have the best routine ever and the best track record ever but if it doesn’t suit the person you dance with, what can you do?! I prefer to work than talk and do publicity, but I get it that it’s a big part of what we do so you have to make time for that. But also we are here to dance so the majority of the time you just have to prioritize!

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Another great interview. Thank you, Tristan.

Tristan MacManus Interview (12) - August 13, 2013

6/4/2015

And here we go again!

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You’ve been doing the Ballroom With A Twist tour with Anna for several weeks , and we have been hearing great things about your comedy skills and your hosting skills. Do you enjoy that part of the show as much as it seems?

Yeah, I do. To be honest, I’m really liking the idea of hosting a lot more every time I do it, so I’m looking into doing some more research and maybe a course or something and try to follow up that way. I’ve asked Tom for some help, so he is going to point me in the right direction. Whose brain could be better to pick and learn from?

What do you like most about doing BWAT? Is there anything that is particularly challenging about doing a show like this?

The most difficult part to a degree I guess is like the dancing in a way and not just saying words for the sake of saying words. I don’t like scripts; I like to know what point I need to get across and then be left to do that however I want. Having a daily show that doesn’t change is a great platform for me because I feel like I have the responsibility to keep people motivated when they are tired of motivating themselves, and I look around and comment on what I see and feed off the audience – it’s fun - some get your humour, some don’t! Just like dancing.

Thinking ahead to the future, if you and your celebrity partner on DWTS ended up in the finals, what type of Freestyle do you think would be fun to choreograph and perform? Obviously a lot would depend on your partner, but is there a particular type of performance you’ve always wanted to create?

It’s hard to say. I really don’t know. I’d like to do something different of course to what has been done. Unfortunately, in our industry a great idea over the break from the season is the worst thing because a day or an hour where someone else is dancing can be the difference to it being new and being 'already done'. I have had ideas I have wanted to do one week but then you don’t get that dance or someone’s used the music you wanted or the costume idea you had! I will know the freestyle when I have to do the freestyle, but I’ll take suggestions, ha!

Several people have asked about the costumes you wear when performing. What is the most outrageous costume you’ve ever had to wear in a professional performance? Have you ever had a costume on DWTS (or anywhere else) that you just weren’t comfortable wearing?

To be honest, as well as the costumes are made, I don’t like the flamboyance of a lot of it, and that’s the only thing I don’t like. Every season I ask if I can wear jeans, 'normal clothes' that people wear when they dance – haha! I understand that it’s a package but I only worry about what my partner wants to wear and the dance we have. We have a costume department that knows what they are doing and should be allowed to showcase what they do, so I’m happy to let them work. They know that I don’t want sparkles and tassels or see-through silk and chaps but at the end of the day the producers have their jobs too, and they make final call on everything. I worry about dancing, but I will always make sure I’m comfortable and my partner is comfortable. My favourite costume was the Halloween costume with Nancy, and my least favourite was a performance where I had to wear somebody else’s waistcoast and shirt because mine ripped last minute or stained or something. It ended up being too small. I hated that.

What is the most unusual performance of your career? (unusual in the sense of staging, choreography, music, etc.)

I have done a few event-type of shows, and the stage has literally been the size of a kitchen table, and they wanted us to do some waltz on it. It was very random and weird. To be honest, there was nowhere to go and barely room to turn around. I don’t know how that worked!! I have had to dance in the street before and in supermarkets. It’s horrible. One time we danced to promote a show at a halftime of an American football game, but I can’t remember where that was. We were dancing in front of all these blokes with their faces painted and no tops on - all tanked up - there was something very ballroom competition about that moment. Hahaha!

You competed as a dancer when you were younger. Do you recall your first competition?

I have no idea - it was that long ago! It sounds weird, but I don’t remember many comps. 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.

You were at Dance With Me Studios earlier this week. Would you tell us about that?

Yeah, I went to Dance With Me Studios in Long Island. We are here doing BWAT for the week, and Val asked me if I would like to teach for the day we had off. I had only seen their Soho studio in NY, so I said yes and went down. It’s beautiful; the staff are really cool. A lot of them I hadn’t met before and there is just a nice atmosphere in that place. Hopefully I can go back again. I have already told Maks and Val that I’ll need a job if this season doesn’t work out so they are making me send in a resume and we will see what happens. Haha!

You’ve told us previously how you go about teaching various dances. Now we’re curious about Samba. What challenges are there in teaching this dance?

The main characteristic is the bounce, and that has to be there, so I guess trying to have strength and control with speed. Strength is always confused with physicality so people begin to tighten up and push and get rough, but it should be strength through the ground and the power you release through momentum. Like an elastic band - pull it back and let it go - if it needs to go further and faster, pull it back further. So you have to control that momentum whilst incorporating the only important element of a samba - the bounce. It sounds complicated but it really isn’t. You explain everything through analogies that people understand individually.

The members of our website have great respect for all of the pros and troupe members, but we were wondering how you see the other pros in terms of their particular strengths or in terms of what makes them so good at what they do.

I haven’t seen too many of them teach to be honest, but I know their work ethics. You would have to ask their celebrities what they are like. I know they all have their own goals and ideals. A lot do things differently to me and to each other, but whatever their way is seems to work. Everyone has a different priority, I think, and everyone to a degree ‘plays the game’ so it’s best that you just enjoy what it is you enjoy about people. People who have been on the show a little longer know how it works and know what people like about them and know what they need to do to do their best. The best example was all star season and the celebrities - think of about how many of them changed your mind about how you felt about them. Some were themselves like always, and some forgot who they were first time round hahaha. Our cast is very, very talented and I love different things about each of them. I just wish there was a way to see everyone when it wasn’t 'showtime'. Some people’s main strengths are the personal traits; some are their professional traits.

Hope all is well, and thanks for the questions!

Tristan MacManus Interview (11) - July 19, 2013

6/1/2015

DWTS At Sea, Alaska, Baseball, Criteria for Scoring a Perfect 10, and Questions For the Fans

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Many of your supporters have enjoyed getting the opportunity to get to meet you this summer. We know you have Ballroom With A Twist coming up in Cape Cod, then Virginia, back in Massachusetts and finally in Patchogue, NY. Are there any other upcoming appearances you could share with us?

At the moment that’s really all I have time for. I was in Connecticut yesterday [Thursday], Chicago today [Friday] and then between Cape Cod and the shows in Virginia, Massachusetts and New York, I may get a few days off and then hopefully find out about next season. I’ve had a very busy off season this time around which I’m really happy about although I’m travelling a lot. It’s a big year for me coming up so I’m trying to take on as much as I possibly can. I’ve got a few days maybe where I could potentially fill........

You threw out the first pitch both at the Akron Aeros and New Britain Rock Cats. How was your baseball experience? (and yes, we have the first pitch from Akron Aeros on video, and it was actually pretty good!)

The baseball games have been fun. My friends have a great way of wishing me luck - sending all the first pitch fail videos to me before I set off, but the days and events themselves have been great. I find the game itself a bit slow, but I love the atmosphere at the games, and I’ve enjoyed watching the teams play and meeting the staff and mascots. Obviously the meet and greets are great as well, and I get to talk to fans of the show and apologize for not being their favourite - haha! I used to go to Fenway in Boston when I lived near Fenway, and I saw the Braves play when I spent time in Atlanta. I love the atmosphere so hopefully it’s something I can do a lot more of in the future. I haven’t bounced it or rolled it yet. I think my pitching is getting better. Ha!

You just returned from Dancing With the Stars: At Sea on Holland America. Shawn Johnson mentioned something in a video clip about being surprised at the rocking motion of the ship and how you were all literally running into each other at one point. Did you have to make any adjustments when dancing to allow for the constant ship movement?

Yeah, actually I think it was probably more on the original cruise they all did in January that was most rocky. The seas in Alaska are quite calm so bar the odd day in the same city of each week (just happened to be show day) it was fine. I was worried with sea sickness so I was a bit ropey the first show and we had to adjust mid-air a few lifts but all in all it was fine - a few side sways is nothing new when you have balance like mine - ha! By the time the second show comes round the stabilizers on the ship kick in so it’s all smooth ride again.

Also, since most of us didn’t get to go on the cruises, would you tell us about that show and what dances you performed? We have seen clips, thanks to Jason Leppert of @PopularCruising, but we would love to hear more about it from you. What did you enjoy most about the cruise?

It was great fun on the cruise. We all had a couple of group numbers and then I danced a Cha Cha with Sabrina to “You Should Be Dancing." It was a song Joey Fatone used with Kym so we changed it a wee bit to suit us more, and then I did a jive to “Good Golly Miss Molly” with Sabrina and Shawn, “Sing Sing Sing” with Shawn which is more Lindy and then - wait for it.....”Vogue” with Carson and the rest of the boys – ha! We talked to the audience during the show. Myself and Kym judged a few dance competitions, and the the pros and celebrities did an open Q&A with guests which felt a bit like Inside The Actors Studio. I enjoyed the judging, I guess, and the hosting. I enjoy talking, so that was fun but aside from the show, Alaska is unbelievable. It’s hard to justify it with pictures even.

Based on photos tweeted by Emma and others, Alaska has some gorgeous scenery. Do you have a favorite place you visited?

We went to a few different stops which I enjoyed, ate some food I wouldn’t usually, went whale-watching, saw a lumberjack show learned about the Tlingit culture and the Russian-American agreements. It was all pretty cool and the company was great as well, and they had a decent Irish bar in Victoria!!

Season 17 is coming up soon and while nothing is finalized yet, one of our site members was curious about your thoughts on the various theme weeks. If you could choose one Theme Week for Season 17 (one already used in a previous season or a different one), which would you choose?

I’m not really a fan of the themed weeks too much to be honest, but they seem to work so I guess we will just wait and see. I don’t mind them in moderation, I think, but not every week. I did enjoy the Halloween Week and Rock Week though. I like to theme each dance, and I prefer to see everything different than all the same because it’s too hard to compare anyway as it is, so it may as well be individual styles and just judge it on individual performances if that makes sense.

If you were a judge on Dancing With the Stars, what things would you look for in order to award a perfect 10?

For me, it’s just pure entertainment - I for sure want to see people try hard, but I would prefer to see them being able to enjoy it. In my opinion, you can only take the memories away from it so they may as well be good ones and not stressing over getting your feet tangled up. That’s really what people want to see - improvement each week and the realization and enjoyment out of improving every week. No matter what people say, their personal opinions of certain people will always cloud their judgment so when I’m watching, I take that out of it and 'judge' whether I enjoyed it or not. I always know when people smile because they are supposed to and do certain things and say certain things because they have to, but all I want to see is individuality and be entertained.

In a recent interview with us, you told us what types of tv shows you might find fun for an appearance. What about movies? If you were to be featured in a major film role, what type (or types) of movie would most interest you? (comedy, drama, action, musical, etc.)

Comedy always for me and after that maybe Indie films. They are always pretty cool and meaningful.

You’ve told us about the challenges of teaching Cha Cha and Waltz in previous interviews. What are the challenges of teaching a dance like Rumba? What does a student need to know in order to learn it properly?

In my opinion, in all dances it’s buying into what you are doing and by doing that you will accomplish most of what you want to do. Timing is a big thing for Rumba because it can be quite slow, so musicality is important. The relationship between partners for me is key. I remember someone said before that we didn’t include the crowd and audience, and I remember disagreeing and I still do. There are moments like any interaction where you include people and moments when you don’t. It’s intensity between two people, not a room of people, so I’m conscious of that and to be able to do that (which can be quite awkward sometimes) you need to commit fully to what your role is. Legs, lines blah blah all that garb as well I suppose! Ha!

Finally, here is a fun question sent in by one of your biggest supporters. We’re making you the interviewer this time. If you could ask your fans the questions, what would you like to ask? (We can even collect and post the responses to your question or questions and make it a “Tristan turns the tables on the fans” piece or something. That should generate a few laughs for sure!)

I guess knowing what people think my objective is? Is there an underlying message in what I do or why don’t I shave – haha. I don’t know… stuff like: What would you imagine is my least favourite thing about the show? What has changed with me since I started the show? Why don’t I do the things that the rest have no problem doing?

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For those of you who missed it, many of Tristan's supporters sent in responses to his questions, and the results were hilarious!

Tristan's Interviews

Since July, 2012, we have interviewed Tristan 71 times and each is posted here with the most recent first. All interviews are posted elsewhere on this website, including our forum.

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