Tristan MacManus Interview (11) - July 19, 2013

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!