Interview with “Dancing with the Stars” Judge Bruno Tonioli

AE: So you were supposed to be a young Elton?
BT: Yeah, there was supposed to be a whole – you know this kind of story-based video like they did in the 80s, with a beginning, middle and end. But what happened when we got to the south of France, they were finishing another video, so we were waiting to start and everybody, the director, the camera – they all fell in the sea doing the tracking shot backwards. They were so out of their minds. They just fell in the water. The camera went down. Everything went down in the sea. They lost all the film.

So then the last two days, they just decided, okay – get the choreographer, get the dancers, find a location. It was made up as we went – it was one of those crazy things that happens. And the costumes – everybody was kind of painting bodies. Okay, wear this one ... it was just one of those crazy things that you think is going to be a disaster and it turned out to be one of the funniest, most memorable videos of the 80s.

AE: This is so funny because my partner and I were watching this the other day and it’s a fun video and it’s a great song, but my partner said, “This is making me a bit crazy because it has nothing to do with what the song is about.” And now we know why that happened.
BT: It doesn’t. They had to do something. It’s all images.

AE: You mentioned Jason Taylor and it’s funny because I was keeping track of who the contestants were going to be this year and I ended up on a Miami Dolphins fan site blog and read all these homophobic comments. What do you say to all those sorts of straight men who think that dancing is something gay? I mean dancing is so physical – it’s so much hard work.
BT: Yeah, just have a go. Just try. I mean, Jason said it himself, how hard – it is a very serious discipline. Dancing at that level is like any other sport. It really is incredibly hard work. It really requires strength, flexibility, stamina … you know, it’ll get you very, very fit. You just have a go – that’s all it is. You can’t say something unless you try it.

AE: I’m glad Jason decided to do the show.
BT: Oh, he’s great. He’s fantastic.

AE: What’s up for you next? Are you going to be choreographing any movies?
BT: Not at the moment. I’m just, we’re just kind of exploring how where we’re going to bring back Dance Wars. We’re working on that now for maybe next year. Seeing when we can do it.

Tonioli with Dance Wars co-host, Carrie Ann Inaba
Photo credit: Michael Buckner/Getty Images

And I’m working on another project with the BBC in London, which if it happens we could bring here as well. It’s another show I’m working on. You know when something comes your way – television has come my way, so I’m going to explore that. And I got another couple of concepts about a film and another in a comedy series as well that I’m working on. So I think in the summer, when I have a bit of time off, I’m going to tidy all these up, but I think try to get more things done, more shows done.

We of course look forward to seeing what he comes up with. Thanks to Bruno for his time, and be sure to tune in for the rest of this season's Dancing with the Stars on ABC.