IN STEP WITH | BRITT STEWART

There’s something about dancing that is so freeing whether you enjoy it personally, professionally or watching it on TV! Tomorrow is National Dance Day and we had the chance to catch up with Dancing With the Stars’ pro, Britt Stewart, who partnered with BAND-AID® Brand to celebrate this day (find out about their National Dance giveaway on their Instagram where you can find out about how you can win a special mailer that includes Britt’s favorite BAND-AID® Brand OURTONE® bandages, a gratitude journal, face masks, a gift card for dance gear and more as it’s live now! In partnership with her non-profit, Share The Movement, they’re honoring the uplifting power of dance in Black and Brown communities by sharing all of Britt’s dance “Must-Haves!” 

We took some time to talk about how Britt became a dancer and her passion for it! We also wanted to know how she came to DWTS and the latest season of this show which kicks off season 32 on Sep 26th! We also wanted to know more about her partnership with BAND-AID® Brand as well as how she uses her platform to promote diversity in dance!

ATHLEISURE MAG: What was the moment that you realized that you wanted to be a dancer?

BRITT STEWART: Oh, wow! I don't know if I realized it for myself because I was three years old when I started dancing, and my parents put me into it. But as soon as I started dancing, my parents knew that that was my passion. Then, I had an amazing opportunity professionally when I was 15 years old, when I was in the high school musical movies, and it was what really showed me what a career in dance would be like. After that, I just was stuck and that's what I ended up doing!

AM: Where did you train and what kind of dance do you do or lean towards?

BS: I trained in Denver, Colorado at Artistic Fusion Dance Academy. I also trained at my art school from sixth through 12th grade at Denver School of the Arts. Growing up I trained in everything. I was classically trained with ballet and modern and contemporary and jazz. I also did tap and hip hop and cultural dances. And now of course, I lean toward all styles of ballroom dance. I would have to say my favorite is jazz through and through, but I love Samba and Viennese Waltz.

AM: You have toured as a dancer for a number of artists including: Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building, Selena + Chef, Dear…), Rihanna (Ocean’s 8, Battleship, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets) Janet Jackson (Poetic Justice, Why Did I Get Married?, Why Did I Get Married Too?), Demi Lovato, and Florence and the Machine! You danced during Super Bowl XLIX and have also been in Grey's Anatomy, Bunheads, and the Gilmore Girls to name a few - how has it been to showcase your talents on so many stages and different ways?

BS: My career feels so expansive because I started so young, and I also feel very blessed that I got so many different experiences on so many different stages, from live stage to  TV and film. It has really been a blessing to be able to call my passion my career and my work. I know that that is something that doesn't always happen, so I don't take it for granted.

AM: You joined DWTS as a dancer in Season 23 - 27 and then became the first black female pro on the show in Season 29! What attracted you to being on this show and what is the difference between being a dancer versus a pro?

BS: The show actually started as just a regular commercial job. I got hired to do one little performance, and that is where the producers saw me and asked me to audition for the show. It really came out of the blue! I knew that I wanted something different and I wanted to be challenged. This was right after Katy Perry's tour. I had been with her for three years, and I really loved working with her, but I knew that I just wanted something different at that moment. And literally, Dancing with the Stars fell into my lap. It pushed me in so many ways. The biggest difference between being a dancer and a Dancing with the Stars pro is it really does hold so much responsibility. As a pro you not only get to dance, but to choreograph and to teach and really create a relationship with whoever your partner is.

AM: You've partnered with Johnny Weir (Zoolander 2, Happy!, Spinning Out), Martin Kove (The Karate Kid, Rambo First Blood II, Cobra Kai), and Daniel Durant (Switched at Birth, Chicago Med, CODA) - how do you prepare to work with partners who have varying levels of expertise and what's that process like?

BS: The process of working with all levels and expertise is very unique to each season. I stay true to myself as a choreographer and as a teacher, but I always enter the room with an open heart and open mind and choreograph and teach for that partner's needs.

AM: What has been your favorite memory of being on this show?

BS: Oh my goodness. Well, my favorite memory on Dancing With The Stars is hard to choose because my first season was so rewarding. I really earned a friend for life from Johnny Weir, and he was honestly the perfect first partner I could have asked for. But then, I don't know. I mean, being partnered with Daniel and then falling in love with him, I guess that's my favorite memory!

AM: What can you tell us about the upcoming season that we should keep an eye out for and what are you looking forward to?

BS: Unfortunately, I can’t share too much information about the upcoming season but stay tuned for more to come shortly!

PHOTO CREDIT | Angela Pham at Ballet Hispánico, New York City - Dance Pros Britt Stewart and Brandon Armstrong show off their moves at a recent event hosted by BAND-AID® Brand OURTONE® and nonprofit Share The Movement. 

PHOTO CREDIT | Angela Pham at Ballet Hispánico, New York City - Dance Pro Britt Stewart hosts a moving panel about barriers Black and Brown dancers face at a recent event hosted by BAND-AID® Brand OURTONE® and her nonprofit Share The Movement. 

AM: Tell me about Share The Movement, how you are partnering with BAND-AID® Brand OURTONE® with dance clinics here in NYC, LA, and Atlanta, and why this was synergistic for you.

BS: Share The Movement is a nonprofit organization and I’m lucky enough to serve as President. Share The Movement was created by an amazing group of dancers, choreographers and dance enthusiasts, and we launched in April of 2021. Our mission is to increase diversity in the professional dance industry. As an organization, we’ve really grown in the last several years through our mentorship and summer scholarship programs. We also help young BIPOC dancers continue with training and development opportunities.

Through our partnership with BAND-AID® Brand OURTONE®, we’re putting our mission into action—helping to develop young, diverse dancers. Together we are hosting a series of free dance clinics in Atlanta, New York and Los Angeles. I'm currently here at the New York City event, which just begun, and it's been amazing to create a space where everyone can feel seen and heard. It has been so special.

AM: I'm caramel complected and the fact that there is an option to have wound care options that match our skin is really exciting. Why is this important for dancers?

BS: Having a brand that embraces different skin tones is so important for everyone, especially dancers. We are always on stage or in class where we are prone to cuts, bruises, blisters— you name it. Having BAND-AID® Brand OURTONE® bandages at the ready and matching my skin tone just adds that extra layer of confidence to any rehearsal or performance, shifting the focus back to my performance rather than exposing a wound.

AM: How are you using your platform to amplify content from Black and Brown dancers for National Dance Day?

BS: BAND-AID® Brand OURTONE® and I are teaming up for a giveaway in celebration of National Dance Day on Sunday, September 16! People will have the chance to celebrate dancers and win some of my favorite dance essentials, including BAND-AID® Brand OURTONE® bandages. Be sure to stay tuned for additional details and how you can enter the giveaway on BAND-AID® Brand's Instagram page @bandaidbrand.

 Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

WHEN STARS ALIGN

The Spring issue is here, and with that comes the Spring Equinox, warmer temperatures and the next season of ABC's Dancing With the Stars! This star studded show includes our cover girl dancer/choreographer Lindsay Arnold who is paired with 2 time World Series winner, MLB Cubs' catcher - David Ross! Of course, we talked with her in the days leading up to season 24 to talk about what we can expect, her background as a dancer and how she keeps it all balanced!

ATHLEISURE MAG: We have seen you on  DWTS and are excited to see you on the upcoming season this month! Tell us about your journey in dance and how it led to being on DWTS?

LINDSAY ARNOLD: My mom put me in dance class when I was 5 years old and I immediately fell in love! I started competing when I was about 8 years old and that's when my parents and my coaches realized that this was something I should really pursue. 

Ever since I can remember, dance has been a part of my life and it has been such a family building activity! I am the oldest of 4 girls and we all dance. My parents who are not dancers opened a dance studio for us to train at, so that we could have a very family inclusive environment. Right after I graduated high school I auditioned for So You Think You Can Dance and made it to the top 20. Competing on that show and making it to the top 8 really boosted my confidence as a dancer and made me realize that I could truly do anything I set my mind to! Not long after I finished SYTYCD I got a call from DWTS asking to be a professional on their show which was an easy yes for me!! I had watched DWTS since season 1 and had always dreamed to be on the show so I was extremely grateful and felt so blessed to have been given the opportunity. 

AM: Last year, we interviewed fellow DWTS dancer, Kym Johnson, about how she stays in great shape. What are your workouts like outside of dancing and what dances do you do to stay in shape? How is this different when you're working on DWTS?

LA: My favorite workout to do outside of dance is pilates. I have been doing pilates since high school and have found that it helps so much with not just strengthening muscles, but lengthening them as well, which is important as a dancer! The best dances to stay in shape are the faster paced upbeat ones. Jive is always a dance that gets me sweating and my heart rate pumping! 
 

AM: Who have been some of your favorite partners that you have danced with on the show?

LA: I honestly do not have a favorite partner because each one of them has been a completely different and amazing experience. Alek Skarlatos had zero dance experience and also had zero experience in the celebrity world. He was someone who was basically thrown into the spotlight and had a lot of things happening around him that he was not used to! It was a great learning experience for me to not only teach him how to dance, but help him cope with and learn how to handle the different social and business situations that would come his way. Wanyá Morris was one of my faves because he was so much fun and was an extremely great dancer! When I danced with him there were times when I felt like I was dancing with another professional dancer, which is exciting as a pro because it means you have done a great job at teaching. Calvin Johnson was my favorite because it was so rewarding as a teacher to watch him progress every single time and see the hard work pay off. Not only did he improve and become a great dancer, but he truly is one of the nicest, most humble, and all around incredible people I have ever met. 
 
AM: What is currently on your playlist when you're hitting the studio to dance?

LA: I love country music and find myself rocking out to Maren Morris lately. She has such a sass to her and I love listening to her lyrics, they have such a good story to them. 

AM: What athleisure wear brands do you enjoy wearing?
 
LA: Lululemon, Body Love Athletica and Fabletics 

AM: What style of dance would you say is your favorite?

LA: This answer changes daily.. honestly depends on my mood! If I am feeling happy and energetic, then jive or cha cha. If I am feeling a little feisty or upset paso doble or tango. That's the best thing about dance, it is that you truly can express your feelings through movement and it's such a great release! 
 
AM: Tell us about this season's DWTS' partner - David Ross - what's he like to work with and how is he different from other partners that you had on the show?

LA: David and I have only been working together for a couple weeks now, but it's crazy how quickly we established such an amazing friendship. He is such a down to earth and genuine guy and we get along so well! He works so hard and truly wants to do well in this competition, which is all I could ask for as a teacher. It's funny and I tell him this all the time, but he reminds me of my dad in so many ways they have very similar personalities and I love that about him makes me feel like I'm with family.

AM: If you could choose your next DWTS partner, who would you like to be paired with?
 
LA: I have always wanted Channing Tatum to be on the show. Step Up was one of my favorite dance movies growing up and he has some serious moves in that movie! Not to mention that he is extremely attractive, that always helps ;) 

AM: What's an average week like when you're on DWTS as there is so much going on with choreography, dancing, planning costumes and more!

LA: The weeks can get pretty crazy as there is so much going on and so many things that need to get done! I'm gonna give you a little schedule of what a week looks like starting with Tuesday because that's the first day of rehearsal for the week. 

Tuesday: I will get my music and dance style for the week and start to choreograph the routine on my own. David and I will rehearse 4-6 hours and I will teach him most of the choreography (typically 75 percent of routine). 

Wednesday: I will continue to finish choreographing dance on my time and also talk to our wardrobe department and production designer to discuss costuming and also staging (props, lighting, stage orientation, etc). David and I will rehearse 4-6 hours and I will try to finish teaching him the rest of the choreography. 

Thursday, Friday, Saturday: David will do rehearsal 4-6 hours on each of these days working on finishing up any choreography, and then perfecting the dance and working on details. 

Sunday: David and I will go to the set at CBS studios and have our camera blocking. This is the time where they will work out all of the camera angles that will be used to shoot our performance and also give David and I time on stage to practice. Each couple usually gets 25 minutes on stage for camera blocking and then we will have a wardrobe fitting. We will rehearse 3-4 hours after camera blocking then go to bed to get ready for show day! 

Monday: SHOW DAY. Call time is 7 am and i go straight to hair and makeup for about 3 hours then I have a short 15 minute practice on stage with David then we have a full dress rehearsal 1:30-3:30 and live show 5-7. 
 

AM: What are your power foods when you need a lot of energy?
 
LA: I try to always have healthy snacks with me during rehearsal because I definitely need to be eating throughout or else I lose energy. I love bananas, almonds, avocados, and if I have time to prepare before I leave for work, grilled chicken is always something that will give me some energy. 

AM: What's next for you or where should we keep our eyes out for you?

LA:  I am enjoying my time on DWTS right now but I am extremely excited to see what the future holds for me. I have danced my entire life and absolutely love it, but am definitely interested in venturing out to other areas of the entertainment industry. Modeling, acting, singing are all areas I am interested in and hopefully you will see me involved in those things very soon. 

AM: What are you excited about for this season of DWTS?

LA: I am so excited to see the improvement in my partner David. He definitely came in to this competition with no dance experience It's only been a couple of weeks and I have already seen him improve so much. My favorite part about this job is watching someone step out of their comfort zone and succeed in something they never thought they could do! I don't care if they are the best dancer in the world I just want to see them gaining confidence in themselves and trying something new. 

AM: When you're in the midst of the madness of DWTS, how do you take some downtime to check in with yourself and after the season has ended, what do you do for me time?

LA: The biggest support in my life that helps me stay grounded and stay true to who I am is my husband Sam. He is the best remedy for a stressful day and always knows how to help me relax. Family time is truly the best thing in my life and is something that I am so grateful for. After the season has ended I love to go back to my hometown, Provo Utah, and get up into the mountains somewhere where it's quiet and peaceful and spend time with my husband. We love camping, hiking, fishing, anything outdoors.

Read more from the March Issue and see When Stars Align in mag.

AND 5, 6, 7, 8 .... KYM JOHNSON

Australian beauty, Kym Johnson is a Three-Time Dancing with the Stars Mirror Ball winner (2 in the US and 1 in Australia) as well as a judge for DWTS in Australia currently. We sat down with this busy dancer to find out about her new fitness program, DWTS and of course her upcoming wedding to SHARK TANK's Robert Herjavec.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We loved seeing you on Dancing with the Stars, how is it being on DWTS Australia as a judge versus one of the dancers?

KYM JOHNSON: I have to work out a lot more when I am being a judge since I'm not dancing every single day I like I did when I was on the show. So you're not getting that workout. But I love being a judge as I find myself dancing along with them under my desk. I really like it as I judge for DWTS in Australia so I get to be at home and see my family. It's 3 months of every year which is not a long time. I enjoy it - occasionally, I am used to being on the dance floor but you can't dance forever, so it's nice to transition into other things.

AM: When you were a dancer on Dancing with the Stars, what was a typical day like from doing your own workouts, preparing dances for each episode and practicing the dances leading up to each night?

KJ: Oh my gosh it's nonstop! When you are a dancer on DWTS you can seriously kiss goodbye a life for those three months, and even more. We rehearse with our celebrities 6 - 7 hours a day and then when we're not with them, we rehearse for professional numbers on the show or we are choreographing numbers for the next week - we do all of the choreography and we plan all of the costumes to fit the music!

AM: Costumes too!?!

KJ: We have an incredible design team, but we have to come up with the concepts and talk to them about to make it come to life. But creatively, it's a lot to do which is great to have that creative freedom. But it is a lot of work so you never switch off really, although it is very rewarding. When you're done, you sort of want to hibernate after!

AM: What was one of your favorite dances that you did on DWTS, favorite outfit and partner?

KJ: Well I will have to say that Robert Herjavec is my favorite partner, especially with how it all ended up!

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AM: Watching the show, we felt there was a spark there and that the two of you should totally get together! Now your planning your wedding, it's such a Cinderella moment!

KJ: I know!! I still have to pinch myself and say - like what ... it's crazy! But that's amazing. Jerry Springer was my first dance partner on DWTS in America and I just adore him, he's the nicest guy and it was really a special season and of course I won the first Mirror Ball with Donny Osmond. My favorite dance would be the freestyle that I did with Hines Ford with the half time act during the football game. We had a marching band, we dressed up in the Steelers colors. I got to live this dream as an American cheerleader. 

AM: What is a typical day like for you in terms of your fitness routine?

KJ: I work out everyday even if it is a half and hour and I'm traveling. I always fit something in. I really like to do hot yoga barre class (barre in a heated room) which always makes me feel cleansed when I leave. I do this about 3 times a week. I do a fit mix class that is essentially interval running. You run for 30 mins and the other 30 mins is on the pilates reformer machine. You get a bit of the cardio with the strength training. So I mix that up and I still dance. I have my own workout 5678 Fitness - cardio dance routine. It's really fun and I have my own workout. I take the cardio which has a little jive, samba etc., and in between I do strength routines like a 5 mins ab workout and legs. I still workout everyday as I feel better and motivated. I travel a lot and sometimes when I get off a plane I may not feel like it but once I do, it just makes everything feel the way it should. Even if it's a jump rope with interval training - doing 1 min with a jump rope and then a plank for another minute and another 1 min with hip raises. It's important to get that cardio with the strength - it's a great combination.

AM: How did 5678 Fitness and Nutrition Program come about?

KJ: People who watched DWTS would come up to me and couldn't believe that celebrities really lost all that weight on the show. But it's because they are dancing every day and you can see the transformation they have when they are on the show. I came up with 5678 Fitness with the dances that you see from the show being placed in a cardio way. When we did it on cruises, passengers enjoyed doing the steps and I knew I was onto something the way they embraced it no matter the age. You don't realize you're working out because you are doing the steps and enjoying the music - you burn a lot of calories. That's why I wanted to come out with it.

In addition to the fitness component, I came out with 5678 Nutrition because I am not dancing every day and I have to watch what I eat so the diet is important. When I did DWTS, I could probably get away with some fries and hamburgers because I was always dancing 8 hours a day (no one can train 8 hours a day). I still indulge in a burger and fries, but I switch it up where maybe I have some sweet potato fries or a burger without the bun instead. It's about making choices. With the book, I had the opportunity to work with a nutritionist and we came up with a diet that really works well for me. It's not one that you would fall off from - it's more of one that allows you to have an easy lifestyle. It has great exercises and a 14 day diet plan that you can follow along with the exercises as well as the DVD which has the actual workouts. It's also on my website and you can download it from there as well.

AM: How do you balance your busy schedule, staying fit and your upcoming nuptials with Robert (PS we're Shark Tank fans and think you guys are adorable)?

KJ: I love being busy! I would do DWTS for 3 months and then I would take a week off and be totally bored and ready for the next thing. It's essential for me to take time for myself each day whether it's a fitness class, doing a walk or just something where there is time for you. I do it every day.

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AM: When you're not busy, what's your go to look that we'd see you rocking to run errands, go to brunch etc.?

KJ: At the moment I am sitting here with white jeans and a white top with my runners. It's a nice hot day here in LA and I thought I would be springy wearing white. I love some jeans or cut offs with a T-shirt. It's all about relaxed and easy.

AM: To get fabulous summer legs like yours, what are 3 workouts we should include? 

KJ: Dancer legs are from pulling up all the time. Pilates is great for legs. The ballet barre is amazing as you want to tone your hips and your butt. Hip raises are really good as they work the back of your legs and give you nice definition to keep you long and lean. Any kind of ballet barre where you are pulsing your leg and you are getting the crease behind your butt - in dancing you're constantly engaging your legs and pulling up (all about your thighs and legs being pulled up). That's how you get dancer legs pack your butt under and pulls legs up even do leg lifts.

Read more from May Issue