Tristan MacManus Interview (10) - June 26, 2013

Once again, Tristan was at his very best and showing us his great sense of humor with his answers to our endless supply of questions.   As always, it was a blast!  I love what he has to say about the special dance he had worked out for Dorothy - the dance that they never got to perform.  

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What was your very first performance as a professional dancer?  How were your nerves?
 
To be honest, I don’t really remember what my first performance was but I’m sure there were nerves.  I used to struggle a lot with nerves when I was younger with regards to performing in general - the more I tried, the more nervous I would feel. The more I concentrated, the more I could feel my stomach lift.  It was horrible, I needed to almost not try if that makes sense, not because it was natural but because it was the only way to not work myself up. I guess that comes with everyone when you aren’t sure of what you are doing but more so of why you are doing it. Now I perform to entertain and not to be good, so I have a purpose and so my nerves don’t get to me. What’s the worst that could happen? If people don’t like it,they are no worse off than before.  I danced, and if they do like it then it’s made some sort of difference to them.

Is there a song you’ve always wanted to choreograph a dance to on DWTS, but just never had the chance?  What type of dance do you perceive it to be?

A dance is a dance to me just as a story is a story, so it for sure would depend on which song was used.  I always wanted to use one of my friends’ songs from home just because it’s a great platform to be heard, and it would give me the satisfaction of working together with my mates and showcasing the talent in my town.  Songs from Empire Saints and Big September are crackers and many nights I’ve spent in my local listening to them write and sing songs about our childhoods and what we went through and go through.  I don’t know if that answers it how you wanted but that’s what came to mind.

What is one place in the world where you have never been and would love to go?

I’ve never really been to South America, and I would love the chance to go, or an African safari would be great craic. I’ve been lucky to travel a lot in my life, and I appreciate the fact that I have had an opportunity that a lot of people have not so I’m not complaining, but for sure I’d love to give those places a good night out! 

You have had four great, but very different, partners on Dancing With the Stars. We are curious about what you saw as the strengths of each one?

Yeah, great people I’ve had to partner. The mutual character that each person had was they wanted to improve. Nancy had great determination and put all the hours of the day in to get better and improve. Gladys had her natural ability to move but also the work ethic to work through her travel and signing commitment.  She could hear exactly what the music said to her.  Pamela had a great imagination and great imagery to relate to a certain character, really complete a scenario, and design an idea I think is the best way to explain it, and then Dorothy is just a battler. She has so much appreciation for the art and my time and our teamwork together.  I really enjoyed each person though for who they are be it in front or most often behind the camera. 

If you could have a guest starring role on any show on television, which show would you choose?

Game Of Thrones is my favourite but honestly I don’t watch too much television, I see adverts for a programme called Copper that looks pretty good.  I loved Gangs of New York so something like that would be amazing or Vikings on History Channel that’s filmed in Ireland! They are the type I love that I wouldn’t imagine would care too much for some salsa moves in the background! Haha! I like comedy though. Modern Family and Parks and Recreation - stuff like that - maybe a name drop in Family Guy. Then again you will get stitched asking for that.

What has been your most embarrassing moment as a professional dancer (if it’s not too embarrassing to tell!)?  We loved the ‘Farmer MacManus’ story involving Sasha and Damian in Burn the Floor, and we’re hoping for a sequel.

I did a show before -  Emma was in it as well at the time, and all the lads had a dance with a bunch of half mannequins. The top half was a mannequin and bottom half was like a stand on wheels so we would dance around with these dolls all side by side, but we were all dossing around a bit before we had to go on, so the first lad missed the music cue so we all had to rush on and my mannequin popped off the stand just as I got on stage, so I had to do the whole dance carrying half a mannequin and instead of rolling it between partners, we had to throw the feckin’ thing from partner to partner. It was like a Monty Python sketch.

If you could have had one more dance with Dorothy during Season 16, what dance (and music) would you have chosen?

We wanted to do a Foxtrot to “Me and My Shadow.” Dorothy used to do something similar in her ice show with Kurt Browning that I loved when I saw it, and I always loved that song. I had it all planned out but it didn’t work out so what can ya do?!!?

Is there one particular talent or skill that you don’t have, but wish you did?

I wish I had the ability to play musical instruments. I don’t have the patience for it but maybe one day I’ll wake up and be class at it and just be able to play them all!  I love listening to music so to be able to play along would be amazing. I know I just need to sit down and practice but I’d prefer to sit and listen to somebody else practice! Haha! Irish harp is my favourite instrument and I love Sinead O'Connor’s version of “Sacrifice” by Elton John and she now lives in Bray as well!!

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As always, thank you, Tristan!