Cheryl Burke & Jeff Dye – I Can Do That

By starrymag | June 15, 2015

Q) Do you think you’ll be using skills that you’re learning with I Can Do That in future Dancing With The Stars?

Cheryl: Well as of now there’s no plan of me going back to Dancing with the Stars. After 18 seasons of doing something, I just felt the need to kind of move on and just feel challenged and inspired again. And for me the hardest decision of my life obviously leaving that family but it was exciting just to be able to kind of be in the celebrity’s shoes of Dancing with the Stars and learn something completely different that I’ve never done before. And so I’ve just been completely out of my comfort zone feeling vulnerable, nervous, excited and it’s just nice to have that in my life. It’s like Harlem Globetrotters, which I’ve never done before. Jabbawockeez was fun. It’s just nice to be like coached again instead of me, you know, barking at my dance partners.

Q) Jeff, are you going to try out for the new James Bond?

Jeff: I think it’s about time we have a James Bond who’s a little more clumsy and likeable.

Q) What can you tell us about what we’re going to see this coming week with you guys together?

Cheryl: Well we’re going to be doing Pilobolus.

Jeff: Which is a awesome dance company that I feel like people give a bad time to. Like all the reviews were pretty negative about when they came out last week. Everyone’s like, “oh, how are they going to do that” or “what is that?” But Pilobolus is like a really cool dance company that needs more credit.

Cheryl: Yes. And actually they’ve been around like for 70 years. Actually I’ve never heard of them but I’ve seen them like on America’s Got Talent when they did like all the shadow work. I YouTubed it when we first got it and I showed Jeff and I was like oh my God, this is something like we have to do. And it’s really hard. It’s completely – like for me I’m a dancer but I do a completely different type of dancing. Ballroom dancing is so different from like Jabbawockeez or Pilobolus. And it’s just expressing your body in a different way and especially for Jeff. I mean Jeff is probably not used to moving his body that way.

Jeff: Every week it’s something that I’m not used to doing. Everybody goes oh, how’s he going to do this. Everything’s out of my comfort zone but it’s probably one of my favorite weeks. One, because I got to work with Cheryl again and then also two, because I found out that I love something that I’d never thought I would like or even be doing for sure.

Cheryl: And I was a little intimidated by it like – I was like, “Do I have to wear the onesie” because I’m used to wearing dance costumes that, you know, have skirts on them and heels and have to dance barefoot and I was like oh my gosh. But you really start to appreciate the art when you’re – they take what – they really take it seriously. And it was very challenging for I think the both of us.

Jeff: I’ve never danced with my privates out before. So this was new for me.

Cheryl: Yes. I’m used to basically dry humping my dance partner. So for me this was fine. So I think body contact with Jeff was a little awkward for him.

Q) Can you guys tell me what have you learned about yourself in this process?

Jeff: I’ve said this in other ones so this isn’t like a new answer for me. But it kind of gave me like a little bit more confidence. Like if you just – if I work on something no matter how uncomfortable, I’m with it and just try really hard that I’ll be able to do it. Because I think – I don’t know. I think we always like romanticize about stuff. Like oh man, I wish I knew how to play piano or I wish I knew how to skateboard. We always say things like that but we don’t actually ever just try and do it. And on this show we have to – we’re forced to do it. We’re being paid to do it. We’re made to do it. We’re being filmed to do it. So it kind of gave me confidence. I’m like wow, after working really hard at this for so long, you can do stuff.

Cheryl: Yes, I think for me as well it’s – I’ve been dancing my whole life since I was 4-years-old. And it’s just something that I’ve just done forever and I never thought that I would even like be able to Harlem Globetrot or next week, the week after Pilobolus I’m doing Grounded Aerial and I’m scared of heights. And you just – like you really push your body to a whole other limit and you’re just going out there and you have no choice but to do it. And you’re doing it with the actual professionals. So you don’t want to like stick out like a sore thumb. Like you – even if there’s no elimination like I’m used to or no judges holding paddles up, you do want to do your best even if you only get a trophy at the end of the day. You don’t want to let your partner down. You don’t want to let the pros down.

Q) Cheryl, I was wondering if your experience on Dancing with the Stars has helped you in I Can Do That. Is there any skill in particular that has really helped you in the competition?

Cheryl: I think I’m just competitive. That’s just how I’ve always been. I mean I competed since I was 11-years-old. But I wouldn’t say like – I think for me the training because it was – Dancing with the Stars it was seven days a week. You perform in front of a live audience. So when it comes to that I’m used to training like eight hours a day. So that for me was like, okay, I knew what I was getting myself into. But it’s like karma because it’s like for 18 seasons I’ve been telling my partners oh they’re all nervous. I’m like, “I don’t know why you’re nervous. You’re just dancing in front of millions of people. Who care?” Now for me, I would lose sleep doing this show because I was so nervous, didn’t know if I could actually do it. And so kind of the roles were reversed a little bit. So it was – it’s so much fun because I’m feeling inspired again. I’m feeling challenged. And it’s nice to not be the coach. It’s nice to actually be coached again.

Q) Did you get to coach Jeff a little bit during the upcoming competition?

Jeff: You could say that.

Cheryl: The Harlem Globetrotters I don’t know why Jeff picked me.

Jeff: I wanted to work with Cheryl Burke. Pretty easy.

Cheryl: Yes. But with Pilobolus, I mean it’s a whole other type of dancing I’ve never done before. I’ve only done ballroom dancing and a little bit of ballet when I was 4-years-old. But other than that like it’s – you really have to work as a team. It’s a big production and like we do lots of like shadow work in the beginning of Pilobolus and it’s actually quite hard to be able to create all of that. So I think Jeff and I work really well as a team. And I think that’s the reason why we just love working together, right Jeff

Jeff: That’s true. Absolutely. I will say that’s kind of the secret to everything. Like you do better at whatever you do in life if you like the people you’re working with. Or like all the best sports teams like when Shaq and Kobe were getting along, they were winning championships. And when they started being grumpy and getting in each other’s throats, then they started losing. And I think that’s just now me a Cheryl work good together because I enjoy being around her. I like having fun with her. She’s very funny. So it’s a lot more natural.

Cheryl: You definitely have to have chemistry just like on Dancing with the Stars. There’s a lot – I mean (each of) my partners there are some I didn’t like. And it’s really hard to fake chemistry for me at least. So I think with I Can Do That you switch partners and like some people you just click with right away. And that’s how it was for Jeff and I.

Q) Cheryl, I guess my first question is which of your competitors has surprised you the most?

Cheryl: Well see we’re all experts at like what we do and we’re all being thrown at different things and being vulnerable. I think like for me – I think Jeff honestly surprised me a lot especially this next week when we do Pilobolus. Like he was really into it. He has zero dance background. And he really just went out there and gave it his all.

Jeff: Like I’m kind of impressed with everyone. Like (Ellen) seems to do everything. I think I kind of like expected everyone to be as talented as they’ve proven to be talented. Like I didn’t really have a low expectation of any of them coming into it. Like everyone is just so — I don’t know — like that I wasn’t surprised by anyone. I’m just very – I feel like I’m kind of learning all the time. So I’m the one learning from everyone else. So I kind of just look at them all at the same talent level I guess.

Q) Jeff, do you already feel like a winner since NBC has cast you in the next thing Better Late Than Never?

Jeff: Yes. That’s one thing that’s strange too. I’m very happy that you just brought that up, yes. I’m excited for that show. But no, I don’t feel like this show has like winners and losers, which I really enjoy about it. Like we don’t – we’re trying really hard to like impress everyone and do a good show. But I don’t feel like it’s that competitive. Like I don’t really – like the people that I’m rooting against each episode are later my partner on the next episode. And so it’s kind of like we’re all just a bunch of friends trying to put on like a really fun show. And so I’m – I don’t have really a competitive bone in my body. I’m just kind of happy. And that’s why there’s not a lot of negative feedback from the couch either because we all like each other and just kind of happy that the other person’s doing good.

Cheryl: There’s no paddles being held up. There’s no elimination. So it’s just like a feel good comedy variety show.

Jeff: Yes. Makes fun just fun.

Q) Do you have any plans to incorporate any of your experiences and any of your standup routines or any specials coming up?

Jeff: I’m working on a one hour special right now that will be hopefully Netflix. I’m probably going to do it through Netflix instead of Comedy Central. I don’t know. We’ll figure that out. But I’m working on a one hour special. And then also I have a thing coming out Better Late Than Never where I backpack through Asia with William Shatner, Henry Winkler, George Foreman and Terry Bradshaw. And that’ll be on NBC as well.

Q) And do you plan on like using any of your experiences or stories and mixing that into you routines?

Jeff: Oh I see what you’re saying. Absolutely. Yes. Like (comedy) we just talk over whatever’s going on and this is all that’s been going on for me for a while. So yes, of course, I’ll be telling all sorts of stories. I like – I got a thousand jokes about Cheryl Burke already.

Q) You guys are the first celebs this season to take on two tasks together. So do you see how that being able to work with each other the first time around and the second time come to you maybe with learning the strengths and weaknesses of your partner better?

Cheryl: Yes. I mean I think from the beginning like we started working together from week one. And we just clicked right away. We had great chemistry. So it does help obviously. We know how we work. We’re very lighthearted people. I mean I’m naturally competitive but not to the point where this is it. Like I like to have fun and I think Jeff brings out like the funny side of me. People are so used to me being this crazy strict dance teacher on Dancing with the Stars. And I think it’s so refreshing just to be able to be me and see a different side of – to who I am. I’m not just a crazy strict dance teacher. I actually have a personality

Jeff: Well one thing that’s too is like even like little things – like Cheryl’s willing to just stay there till we get it. Not saying like she’s a perfectionist but like she just really wants to do well. And so that’s one thing that’s like better to work with Cheryl. And like even small things like with Nicole Scherzinger every time I showed up she was late. But with Cheryl, every time I show up, she’s early. So like with – like with Nicole I know like oh, I’ve probably got time to get coffee. I probably have time to like take my time getting ready in my dressing room. But with Cheryl I know like oh, she’s waiting on me. I better get there.

Cheryl: If you’re on time, you’re late. You got to always be like 15 minutes early.

Jeff: So you learn each person’s like little thing. Like oh, I better be there right on time if I’m working with Cheryl or if it’s like you just learn little things that help for the week too.

Q) Cheryl, is that something you brought just from your years of working in ballroom that the work ethic?

Cheryl: Yes, 100%. I mean I – yes. I competed like around the world since I was 13. And it’s really strict coaches telling me like you cannot be late. So when it comes to stuff like that I think I learned discipline at such a young age and there’s just no excuses. No complaining, no excuses. You have to show up on time. You got to respect the people that’s there trying to help you, trying to make you look good. And so that’s just kind of – I grew up just having that discipline.

Jeff: And with my job they don’t care if you’re drunk. They don’t care what you wear. They don’t care what you do as long as you’re being funny. I was always trying to be funny. I don’t – like I don’t ever think about like hey is this a good idea or is this a bad idea. As long as I’m being funny, I’m doing my job. And so that’s kind – works against me and for me on this job.

Cheryl: It works for you. And it works for me too because you bring out my funny side.

Q) You guys have worked for so many talented acts this season. Do you have any memorable acts that stands out above the rest?

Cheryl: I would have to say this one coming up, Pilobolus, it was really cool because I didn’t understand the dynamic of it. I didn’t really know who they were. But just the way they work I was really able to relate to them. But it’s such a whole different way of moving your body. And it was pretty challenging for me. I’d say this one and the one after when I do Grounded Aerial just because I’m scared of heights. I hate being flipped backwards. I got pretty nauseous throughout the whole thing and we only have a few days to do it. And when you actually put your mind to something and you have no – you have no choice but to do it, you really can actually get through it and reach your goals.

Jeff: Yes. My favorite one was this week for sure because like when I saw the Harlem Globetrotters….

Cheryl: Because you’re with me obviously

Jeff: Well, again with you. When I saw the Harlem Globetrotters, I knew what they were and I knew what to expect for the week and all the different stuff. But with Pilobolus, I’d never heard of that dance company. I didn’t even know what I was really looking at. So it kind of surprised me when the week went on and I grew this like kind of respect for it and liked it a lot. So this week was definitely the one for me because in my brain it was kind of a sleeper.

Q) You guys this is such a physical show. What do you do in your spare time to stay in such amazing shape just to do a show like this?

Cheryl: Well I came straight from Dancing with the Stars. And that’s pretty physical as well. So I was used to the seven days a week for 3-1/2 months of training eight hours a day. And I live a pretty active lifestyle. And so I didn’t really like train for this. I really had no idea actually what I was getting myself into. I knew there were going to be challenges. But I actually didn’t know they were going to be as physical as they are. And every week you’re actually working out a different part of your body. So you can’t really prepare for it. You just kind of have to be like open to doing whatever they tell you to do.

Jeff: I enjoy hiking just because I like trees and birds.

Cheryl: I used to be a runner. But then dance for me is just the best workout because you’re working everything from head to toe and not just your body but your mind as well. And it just – I don’t know. I’m not really into like lifting weights so much. But I go through phases. I’ll have like a trainer or I’ll go hiking or whatever, Yoga once in a while.

Q) Cheryl, how do you psych yourself up if you hate heights and you hate to be flipped backwards? How do you even get to that day where you can do it?

Cheryl: You just have – seriously, you just have no choice because you don’t want to let your partner down and you don’t want to let, you know, the people teaching you. You just have to do it. Like I was constantly taking Dramamine and like sucking on these ginger candies because I was literally in tears because like all the blood was rushing to my head. And when you do stuff it’s all about repetition. So I was in the air, scared of heights. I felt like I was going to fall out of my harness a million times. And then I was just bruised all over my hips because they put it on too tight. But I was like listen, better tight than just me falling 100 feet down and killing myself. And it was just like we only had a few days that week. And it was so challenging but you just have to do it. I think when you really just push yourself to the next level and you realize you only have like a few days and you have a certain goal to reach, you just do it. You have no choice.

 

 

*CONFERENCE CALL*