I like dancing.
I go dancing all the time, swing dancing specifically.
When I lived in Seattle, I used to go Scandinavian
folk dancing.
I used to go ballroom dancing in Seattle.
So I’ve wanted to be on Dancing With The
Stars for a long time, but it is a whole nother,
completely nother, whole different thing.
First of all, in international ballroom dancing,
the gentleman, the leader, starts with his
right foot.
Everywhere else on earth, the leader starts
with his left foot, so you’re literally
on the wrong foot from the get-go.
I was very nervous when I was first on dancing
with the stars, I was not comfortable having
everybody look at me in this big ballroom.
And this thing of literally being on the wrong
foot all the time was quite troubling.
My opening numbah had over three million views,
more than any other number ever on that show,
by all accounts.
I think the producers were a little surprised,
I was very surprised.
I think its good for science, it’s good
for science education, and I think it’s
good for young people who get a chance to
see the value or the intrigue or the charm
of dancing with the partner that you’re
holding, which I can’t say enough good things
about.
When I got injured on Dancing With The Stars,
I was performing this dance called the Paso
Doble, Paso Doble.
Disappointment, that’s the key word.
Just fantastically disappointing, disappointing
that I’m hurtling toward death and my body
cannot do things that it used to be able to
do.
I’m disappointed for my partner, Tyne, who
is her first year as a pro.
I was disappointed for my fans, they were
so supportive and I felt in many ways like
I let them down.
And then I was disappointed cause I couldn’t
be on it anymore, I couldn’t be a part of
the show anymore.
It was disappointing on at least four levels.
I would go back on the show like that (snaps),
because it’s so, it’s immersive, this
is what you’re doing, you’re focused,
you’re learning new things, you’re showing
off, you’re wearing cool clothes, and you
get to dance with these extraordinary people.
The people you dance with are these world
class athletes, how these people move like
this is, is really something.
It was really a great experience.
If there is, if you ever get a chance, do
it.
