TheCelebrityCafe.com: When you first signed on as a judge for DWTS did you ever think it would turn out to be such a huge success?
Carrie Ann Inaba:
What I’ve learned over the years of being on television is that you never know
what’s going to be successful. You can only hope for the best.
Prior to this show, I was a choreographer on American
Idol and then for So You Think You Can Dance. When I was given an
opportunity to either be a judge on DWTS or So You Think You Can
Dance it was a really tough decision for me. But there was something about DWTS
that was interesting to me. The world of ballroom dancing is so glamorous and
seeing celebrities get out there and do something different is inspiring and
intriguing.
So You Think You Can Dance
is a world of dance that I come from, which is commercial dance, Hip-Hop, Jazz,
Ballet, and all that stuff. So ballroom dance was a little scary and different
for me. But I trusted my instinct and went with DWTS. I’m very happy I
made that choice because it has turned out to be such amazing show.
TCC: Now Len Goodman, Bruno
Tonioli, and you have been judges on the show since it first aired in 2005. Do
you guys ever get on each other nerves? Or are you more like family?
Carrie Ann: We’re more like family. So
yes, we do get on each others nerves! (Laughs) Sometimes on the show we argue
with each other about our opinions, but that’s the point of being on a judging
panel. But it’s all in a place of love and respect. We never really fight. In
fact, before every show, Bruno, Len and I hold hands and give each other kisses
and say, ‘We love one another,’ so that during the show our dialogue is free
and open, knowing that it’s not personal.
TCC: Are there any contestants in
this season of DWTS that you feel are doing surprising well so far?
Carrie Ann: I would have to say I am very
surprised with Katherine Jenkins, William Levy, and Jaleel White. But the
overall quality of dancing from all the contestants has been really good.
Season 14 has been one of my personal favorites.
TCC: Do you believe the ‘DWTS
Injury Curse’ is real or just something over-hyped by the media?
Carrie
Ann:
It’s something over-hyped by the media. Injury is part of dancing. It’s not a
curse. It’s like with a football player. They always get injured - that doesn’t
mean that the football field is cursed. In the same case with DWTS, we
are all athletes. The dancers are athletes. The celebrity contestants become athletes when they join the show and undergo
intense training. And with that training there is a great risk of injury.
TCC: In your career you have done
both singing and dancing. Do you think professional dancing is a much tougher
business to get into than show business? Are they equally difficult?
Carrie Ann: I think they are equally
difficult. The physical intensity of dancing is incredible. But for singing,
that’s difficult too because you are the star of the show.
Speaking for myself, I had a hard time being the
star. I was 18 years old and just come from Hawaii and was pursing a singing
career in Japan. It was scary for me. I wasn’t used to the criticism. People
say things about your performance, the way you look, and the way you dress. I
didn’t care much for that. So I stuck with dancing. Although having a singing
career was tough for me I still love to sing.
TCC: It’s been reported that In
Living Color will returning to television this year. Would you ever make an
appearance on the show?
Carrie Ann: Of course. Any way I could be
a part of the In Living Color reunion would be fantastic. Just last
week, TV Land Awards honored the cast of In Living Color for being a
groundbreaking TV show. All the cast members were reunited. It was great seeing
the Wayans, Jim Carrey, Tommy Davidson, David Alan Grier, and some of the
former Fly Girls. It was really nice. I believe the award show will air this
Sunday (April 29) [on TV Land].
TCC: Recently music, fashion, and
dance moves from the 90s are becoming popular again. Is there a particular 90s
dance move that you would like to see make a comeback?
Carrie Ann: No! (Laughs) I know they
brought back the Running Man and turned into the Jerk, which is like a reverse
Running Man. But let’s just leave the 90s alone. Let’s not bring any of those
dance moves back. The only exception is at weddings.
TCC: What do you think is the best
and worst dance move ever created?
Carrie Ann: The best dance move is Break Dancing.
I find it so exciting because there is an element of danger to it. It looks so
natural yet takes incredible athleticism and grace to be able to pull off some
of those moves. I also love House Dancing. It incorporates a little bit of
B-boy moves as well as this free flowing kind of skip step.
Now the worst dance move is…I probably shouldn’t
say this because I made a living off of it when I was a Fly Girl. It would have
to be the Running Man. Though it is iconic it’s maybe the worst dance move.
TCC: Now this is something I’m
curious about so I have to ask. Who do you think is a better dancer, you or
former Fly Girl, Jennifer Lopez?
Carrie Ann: We both have different styles, that’s for sure. She came from a more street background and I came from a more trained background. She has continued to dance and I haven’t been able to because of my condition. I was diagnosed with spinal stenosis about two years ago. It comes from severe whiplash and that comes from dancing. It’s a dance injury that I wear with pride. So, due to the circumstances, I would say Jennifer Lopez is a better dancer than me right now.
TCC: Tell me about your animal
rescue show.
Carrie Ann: I started producing a show
called Crib Cat. It’s a web series that’s cute and entertaining. I do
the voice of Kit, a sassy cat that hosts the series and plays matchmaker for
the shelter cats that want to get adopted. Kit’s goal is to get cats across
America a permanent home, or crib as we call it. We are on our ninth
episode and we have twelve more episodes coming up. I’m trying to give these
animals exposure so people can find them and hopefully these cats will be
placed in a forever home. We’ve had success with one already.
I love all animals. But I have more of a
connection to cats. After the loss of my cat, Shadow, last October I really
felt the need to get involved and give back more. I work with a lot of rescues
in helping get animals out of kill shelters and raise money for them. It’s a
big calling and an exciting time in my life. It’s really important to get the
word out about these shelter animals that need to get adopted.
Check out the web episodes of Crib Cat at Petsami.com.
Also, watch the remaining contestants battle it
out on the dance floor to Classical Week on Dancing with the Stars which airs
Monday on ABC.
Photo Courtesy of Felix Mack
Written by: Bridget Campos
Link: http://thecelebritycafe.com/feature/2012/04/carrie-ann-inaba-interview-dancing-withthe-stars-judge
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