Tristan MacManus Interview (40) - April 12, 2015

You and Chelsie Hightower are scheduled to perform together again in Ballroom With A Twist on May 7 in Ashland, Kentucky.  Is this the only scheduled BWAT date for you right now?

Yeah, I’ll be doing BWAT with Chelsie soon and trying to remember some routines from before.  It’s difficult when we all live in different places and are so busy finding time to put routines together but that’s the next BWAT, yeah, and then I have some coming up with Anna later in May.  I’m not too sure when the next ones are though. I’ve been speaking to Scott [Stander] and trying to find out what can work date wise so maybe more in June/July if we can make something work.

In late May, you and Iveta Lukosiute will be dancing on the P&O Mediterranean Cruise.  What types of performances will you be doing, or will you find out more about that at a later date?

I’m actually going to Oklahoma tomorrow to teach for a few days and then I’m meeting up with Iveta in New York, and we will put some things together then and figure out what we need.  I think we need 5 or 6 dances so we will get our head around it this week and see what we can do.  I’d imagine it’s a split between Ballroom and Latin but we need to get our songs together and put some routines in order.  We are gonna do a show together in June as well – Life’s A Dance in Fort Walton/Pensacola which is always great fun.  I haven't been able to do it the last few years but myself and Iveta are gonna do it this year. 

You’ve been away from London for a few weeks now.  What do you miss most?

I miss the football.  I’d be at most of the games right now if I was there and obviously friends and I miss being close to home but in fairness being back in LA for a little bit has been good for us.  I realized what it was that was standing in the way of me liking it.  I’ve really enjoyed my time here now and it’s great being back with friends here and working away.  The weather is great and I’m busy and just overall much happier.  Think the plan is to be back in Europe July/August time so hopefully back to London again - if not I’ll keep doing what I’m doing now - ha!

We saw that you and Anna Trebunskaya had been rehearsing something a couple of weeks ago at her studio. Can you tell us more about that?

Myself and Anna were doing a corporate event in Indian Wells but also practicing for the shows in June.  It’s really the only time we can make work rehearsal wise.

We just posted an interview with Jasmine Takacs, and she had some kind words about you.  She also talked about her work with the silks on the tour. Any chance you would like to try something like that?  What were your impressions of her from Strictly and the tour?

No, silks aren’t for me.  I’ve fallen through curtains like that before after a night out but I’ve no intention on being up there.  I think it looks better Jas doing it.  Jasmine is great, yeah - great dancer, works hard, and you can see why she is so successful at what she does.  Genuine girl as well which is the most important thing and works out pretty much every second of the day. Loves protein – haha!

Even though you have said that you were never really crazy about school when you were growing up, suppose you had decided to become a teacher. What subject would you have chosen to teach?

I love History and Geography but when it comes to teaching I find that 'FACTS' can be very misleading so I’d have to do something that would inspire thought more than remembering information if that makes sense. 'FACTS' cause too many problems in my eyes so you should bring up topics and inspire thought.  I love history for the stories I hear.  I’m not really interested in the date that it happened, just that it happened at all and why. A lot of people will disagree with me but that’s what I like.  It doesn’t matter what you know if you don’t do anything with it so to inspire people to use their voice and to understand both sides is so important.

Other than football, what is your favorite sport as a spectator?  What is your favorite as a participant?

I’m getting more and more into rugby to be honest and I generally like most sports.  Money has ruined a lot of sports for me though so I can watch a lot without getting too invested in it anymore.  I think rugby is much tougher than soccer and you don't see people roll around as much and it’s also not as egotistical as football – haha.  I follow UFC and endurance sports.  I swim a lot these days and I box when I can find time - always on the bike and running.

Who is your favorite professional athlete?

I have a lot of sportsmen I like to watch - Conor McGregor is one obviously but football one of my favourites in Zlatan Ibrahimovic.  People hate him but I love that guy.  I like lippy people that back it up – hahaha.   I’m more into team games though more than individuals.

Tell us about your favorite holidays.

I’m not a beach guy to be honest it bores me I just like hanging out, listening to music, having some drinks and a bit of craic.  I like to walk about places and just sightsee. That’s a holiday for me. I  like to sit around now and again but it’s not really a holiday to me.  Ireland or Australia I’m very happy with. Actual public holidays though I’m not pushed on.  Paddy’s Day can be cool but I prefer it at home with friends and Christmas at home, Easter at home with family.

In the past you have given us brief tutorials on different dances.  One of the members of our website was curious about the Foxtrot.  What are some things you point out when trying to teach it? What things are important in order to have a strong Foxtrot?

Foxtrot is one of my favourites but listening to the music is the main thing always and generally Foxtrot has some pretty cool music.  You travel a lot in Foxtrot - all this gliding and what not so trying to travel far while staying connected to the floor so stretching and staying cool! It’s a pretty laid back dance so you should treat it that way. You have to keep a strong standing leg and an eager travelling leg – ha!

While we understand that “good” is a relative term, from your perspective what qualities make a good dancer?

Someone who enjoys what they are doing and who doesn’t look like they are trying.  It’s easier said than done and probably said too much.  I guess someone who understands the music they are dancing to or who gets something from what they hear - simple as that, probably simpler than my answer! If you enjoy what you see without thinking about why then it’s good.

Clearly we like to have fun and you love to laugh and you once told us how funny you think Iveta is…what song do you think best describes her? Or, if you prefer, how about creating a 2-4 line poem instead?

Probably "Blurred Lines" - not for any other reason than that’s all I hear when she sings it!