For Hines Ward and partner, hours of rehearsing before the big dance
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Kym Johnson and Hines Ward
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LOS ANGELES -- On Saturday night, Hines Ward and Kym Johnson had the chance to attend the world premiere extravaganza of "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides."
They took a pass, instead going to a performance of "Burn The Floor," an intricate dance show Ms. Johnson had been part of on Broadway two years ago.
"I thought it would either freak him out, or inspire him," she said, laughing. "Besides, this was more beneficial than a movie about pirates."
Even Captain Jack Sparrow would have a hard time disputing such logic. With three weeks left in season 12 of ABC's "Dancing With The Stars," the lady and the wide receiver are in possibly the tightest race in the reality show's history.
PG VIDEO: HINES WARD TALKS ABOUT 'DWTS': PART 2'Five teams are left. Four include celebrities who have sung, or danced, or at least performed some sort of scripted talent on camera. Then there is Mr. Ward, the Steelers receiver.
"It's almost surreal," he said during a lunchtime break at CBS Television City, where "DWTS" -- and a slate of other shows ranging from "American Idol" to "The Price Is Right" and "The Bold and the Beautiful" -- is broadcast.
"I never danced a lick in my life, never slow- danced, never did any sort of routine where I had to remember a routine for a minute and 30 seconds. I'm still in awe, considering all the great celebrities."
The challenge is about to get greater. On tonight's program, he and Ms. Johnson will perform a foxtrot that she said includes some fun but "super-cheesy" elements.
"Hines is pretty much skipping around the floor, giddy."
Giddy might work for Mr. Ward, whose last two dances demanded keeping a straight face. "This week, Hines can go back to being himself; he has that great smile," his partner said.
Not so fun is the return of the "instant dance," where teams prepare a routine but are only told 20 minutes ahead of time what music -- which could vary in length -- they'll dance to. Theirs will be the jive.
"It's kind of adjusting on the run. ... But it's going to be hard on everybody," said Mr. Ward.
"I've been playing different music for Hines so he's not getting used to any one track," said Ms. Johnson, who carries around video of their performances and rehearsals on her iPad. "I think it'll be good because he won't have too much time to think -- he'll just have to feel it and dance it."
First Published May 9, 2011 12:00 am
