Hey M Girls!
Are YOU excited for 'Dancing with the Stars' tonight? Here at the M office, we could not be more pumped, especially to see our girl Zendaya show off her killer dance moves!
Recently, we got to chat with Z and her DWTS partner Val Chmerkovskiy as they rehearsed for the show's premiere -- which airs in just a few hours! Check out what they had to say about the rehearsal process, posture police, and the Shake It Up cast showing their support.
How did you react when you first found out you got the gig?
Z: I freaked out. I think I'm still, like I've been saying, I really don't, it hasn't fully absorbed yet. I'm not really fully aware that I'm gonna be on the show and I don't think I have even gonna understand it fully for a while, so I'm kind of living in the moment, and taking every day one step at a time. Every rehearsal, when we rehearse a lotta time, and enjoying myself.
How do you feel when you're dancing. What goes through your head?
Z: Well I'm hip hop dancing, I'm very carefree and very open, I just feel very in the moment, and I feel like, it's a whole nother person takes on, but now, this is like I actually have to think about what I'm doing, which is a very different experience for me because usually in hip hop it's just all in my body, I'm good. This I'm actually thinking 'oh posture, five, six, seven, eight, and then turn on this.' So there's a lot more brain process going on.
V: I think the biggest different is that this is couple dancing. Everything she's done so far has been all individual work and if it has been a group setting then it's backup dancing to her solo work. The magic of ballroom dancing and at the same thing what's difficult about it that it's two people creating one image, one movement and that's the part that is the biggest challenge for her.
How has that adjustment been dancing with a partner?
Z: I'm it's tough, I mean I have a really great partner, but it's actually learning how to work with someone to create the movement, because usually I just got myself, and that's really easy. It's was easier to just do it on your own than have to work with someone and really be in sync with them, especially with all this posture stuff that's added on top of that, so it's tough, but it's going good.
What about the nails? Are you gonna keep those or get rid of them?
Z: Oh no, I'm keeping these. The nails stay.
V: The nails are great, the nails are an extension of her fingers, which is an extension of the arm.
Z: It's not against the rules. If we were playing like guitar or something, if this was like "Music Playing with the Stars" I might have to cut my nails.
Is there any message that you want to get out there to your Zswaggers about why they should vote for you?
Z: Because really not only am I working really hard, and doing something that I think is exciting and different, but I'm also doing it so that those young fans that are watching me can see that it doesn't necessarily have to have an age limit to go out there and do what you want to do and really go for you dreams and not be afraid to put yourself out there and kinda live a little out of the box sometimes. There's no reason anybody she just be contained because 'oh, you're too young, you cant do it.' So I feel like I want them to see that they can do it too.
V: For me, I think it's a great opportunity. Zendaya's such a trendsetter that I think it will be great for her to show that ballroom dancing is not for the 50 plus. I think it's something that kids of all ages can do. It's a world that I grew up in and it really helped me a lot in not only dance, but in life in general. So for me, it's a great opportunity, through Zendaya to promote something that I'm very passionate and love very, very much.
Bonus! Check out the vid of Zendaya and Val during their rehearsal!
Looks amazing guys! Be sure to tune in to Season 16 of 'Dancing with the Stars' tonight on ABC at 8 pm EST!
Photo courtesy of Zendaya's Instagram