For the first time ever, two celebrity finalists will be joining the “Dancing with the Stars’” winter tour, “Dancing with the Stars: Live! – Light Up The Night.” Season 25 Mirrorball Champion Jordan Fisher (“Hamilton,” “Grease: Live!”) and actor/race car driver Frankie Muniz (“Agent Cody Banks,” “Malcolm in the Middle”) will reprise their incredible season performances alongside their professional partners Lindsay Arnold and Witney Carson at Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. on Thursday, Feb. 15, at 8 p.m.
This all-new production showcases every style of dance seen on ABC’s hit show, produced by BBC Worldwide Productions, from sizzling salsas to elegant waltzes and high-energy group numbers, plus original pieces choreographed by Emmy-winning choreographer Mandy Moore.
“I’m super excited to extend my experience with my ‘Dancing with the Stars’ family!” said Fisher. “The tour is going to be a blast. I’m looking forward to seeing all of America!”
“I have loved being a part of this season and I wasn’t ready for this experience to end, so I am beyond thrilled to be going on the ‘Dancing with the Stars’ tour!” said Muniz.
“Dancing with the Stars: Live! – Light Up The Night” will feature more of your favorite dancers than ever before, including Lindsay Arnold, Alan Bersten, Sharna Burgess, Witney Carson, Artem Chigvintsev, Keo Motsepe, Gleb Savchenko, Emma Slater, Sasha Farber, Jenna Johnson, Hayley Erbert and Brandon Armstrong. Captivating audiences across the country, “Dancing with the Stars: Live! – Light Up The Night” gives fans the opportunity to experience the excitement, glamour and fun they see in the “Dancing with the Stars” ballroom live across the country.
It was a pleasure to sit down with professional dancer Gleb Savchenko (this week’s cover model) for this exclusive Hotspots interview!
At what age did you start dancing?
At 7 years old. I forced my grandma to take me to dance lessons, because I liked a girl in the class and I thought this would be a good way to get to know her.
When did you win your first competition?
I was not successful at my first competition and my mum was really upset with me. My mum had this whole conversation with me telling me that I needed to be more focused, more competitive and needed to show my talent on the dance floor. I wanted to make my parents proud and at the age of 9 I started winning competitions.
When did you realize dance would be your career (or one of them)?
At 9 years old when I started winning all the competitions I was competing in, that’s when I knew it would be my career, I was so into it.
Do you have a favorite style of dance and why?
Obviously Latin American style is what I grew up doing, but later on I was introduced to different styles like contemporary, hip hop, jazz and I fell in love with these foreign dance styles. I wanted to learn them well so I could perfect them. I really started liking contemporary and wanted to become better, because I feel like you can tell the story more in a contemporary dance and throughout the dance you can really show the connection between the dancers.
What do you like better, dancing or choreographing?
I like to perform more than to choreograph. With time I have realized that being a choreographer you can translate a story through the movement. Through dance you can convey feelings and through choreographing I can enable others dancers to tell the story I want to tell, through their body language.
You have been on many country’s versions of Dancing with the Stars, what’s the difference between them?
DWTS is the same concept in all the countries but the mentality and the people involved make it very different in each place. I really enjoy the US version because we have no limits. We can come up with a crazy idea like having a shower in the middle of the stage during a tango and we can make it happen! The producers are really supportive of us and try to make it the best it can be.
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You are also a very successful male model, how long have you been modeling and do you plan to continue to model?
I don’t consider myself a model, but I do enjoy taking pictures, it also motivates me to stay in shape. My first photo shoot was when I was 18 and I guess I’ll happily always model if people want me to as it complements the dancing life.
You also have your own underwear collection (Gleb Collection), how did this come about?
People kept asking me for my underwear, so I thought why don’t I create my own line with the names of different dances shown on them? Now instead of people asking to see me in my underwear, they send me pictures of them wearing mine!
What should the South Florida audiences expect from Dancing With the Stars: Live! – Light Up The Night Tour?
Lots of skin, super high energy, fun numbers. There’s a storyline throughout the whole show, it’s really an amazing show, the audience will be mesmerized for 90 mins and will definitely leave satisfied.
What does the future hold for you?
Well I’d love to be a judge on a TV show in the future and hope to take the Pro dance camp, which I’m doing with two other pro’s Artem and Alan, to more places in the US and maybe even to other countries. It’s not been done before and is the perfect opportunity for people who love dancing to learn from and dance with DWTS pro’s. Finally if you guys want a 2019 calendar I might just oblige!
Gleb’s 2018 calendar is available now from amazon.com and tickets for his training camp are available now from prodancecamp.com.
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Tickets Dancing with the Stars: Live! – Light Up The Night. At the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. on Thursday, Feb. 15, at 8 p.m. cost $95, $70, $50, $40. All seats are reserved and available at all Ticketmaster outlets online at myhrl.com, ticketmaster.com or charge by phone: 1-800-745-3000. Doors open one hour prior to show start time.
