Dancing with...Sabrina Bryan

Summary

Pod Meets World – “Dancing with...Sabrina Bryan”

Original Release: September 13, 2025 | Host: Danielle Fishel (iHeartPodcasts) | Guest: Sabrina Bryan

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Episode Overview

In this "Danielle with the Stars" special, Danielle Fishel (forever Topanga from Boy Meets World) embarks on her “Dancing with the Stars” Season 34 journey by seeking advice from Sabrina Bryan: Cheetah Girl, two-time DWTS contestant, and dance podcast host.
Together, they dive into the highs and lows of reality TV dance competition—discussing the pressures, expectations, behind-the-scenes moments, and emotional rollercoasters that come with ballroom dancing in the spotlight.
The goal: First-hand wisdom and support for Danielle as she prepares for her own debut on the ballroom floor.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Entering the Ballroom: Nerves, Experience, and Expectations

• Danielle opens feeling “slightly over my head” preparing for DWTS and seeks Sabrina’s mentorship (04:45).
• Sabrina reassures:

  “You just have to get ready that this is going to be one of the most exciting things you’ve ever done… You are going to be obsessed with spray tans. It is like everything. Like you just will get hooked in this entire world.” (05:05)

Sabrina’s Dance Background

• Started relatively late—for a competitive dancer—at age 7 (06:30), having trained in hip hop, tap, jazz, and ballet.
• Perception of advantage:

  “I got actually a lot of flack for the dance background… That was actually a little bit of a, a backlash … because it was like, well, this isn’t even fair. She—she can dance. But my habits…” (07:01)

• Challenge: Never had partner dancing experience—especially “being in the man’s frame”—which was her greatest hurdle (07:49).

The Learning Curve & Trust

• Building trust and chemistry with a pro partner is “everyone’s journey.”
• Emphasizes that success—and joy—on the show comes from listening to your professional partner (09:12).

2. Rehearsal Realities & Show Evolution

Early DWTS vs. Later Seasons

• Season 5 (2007): Rehearsals capped at 8 hours/day, studios scattered around LA, limited interactions with other contestants (17:40).
• All-Star Season (2012): Custom-built DWTS rehearsal complex fostered camaraderie and more frequent run-ins with other celebrities (18:29).

Out-of-Studio Work—Making it Count

• Sabrina and her partner would sneak extra practice time in their parking lot—proving their mutual commitment (19:08).

• “I knew I had to come full throttle to prove my, you know, legitimacy, because I wasn’t really like… I mean, I was going against, like, Wayne Newton. How do you—how do you—it’s Wayne Newton.” (19:34)

• Press commitments and outside work (like the Cheetah Girls) made time management essential (21:12).

3. The Competitor’s Mindset: Highs, Milestones, and Shocks

Sabrina’s Record-Setting Scores

• Week 1, Season 5: Scored 26/30 on her cha-cha—the highest ever week-one score at that time (21:34).
  • “When people ask, like, what was your favorite dance? I always say it was the cha cha. Because it just was a moment that just—it was just so epic for me…” (22:26)
• Reluctant to gauge her performance solely by scores; instead, she cherished the magic of each moment with her family and partner in the audience (23:33).

Advice for First-Week Jitters

• “Focus on your dancing, focus on your partner… don’t watch your package. You just never know when they’re gonna, again, remember, it’s a live—you know, it’s a reality show as well.” (24:51)
• Avoid letting the show’s emotional narrative packages distract you on show night—stay close to your pro and focused.

Partnership Dynamics

• Mark Ballas (her S5 pro): “He was so detailed… He even was teaching me where the cha cha comes from. Started in Cuba—I was learning everything. Like, I was learning all the stuff that I probably didn’t need, but it was great to know it.” (30:20)
• Their mutual drive and focus in rehearsal paid off in their routines and connection (33:00).

4. Behind the Scenes: Wardrobe, Malfunctions, and Dance Clothes

• Sabrina shares tales of wardrobe anxieties—in particular, issues with “pads in your top” and near-miss incidents during energetic routines (40:46).
• Offers Danielle a care package of dance clothes to boost rehearsal vibes:

  “It feels good. It feels sexy… I’ll get you some Sabri apparel. Absolutely.” (29:57)

5. Social Life on DWTS & The Myth of Showmances

• No major showmances during Sabrina’s seasons; instead, a “cast that was very young” simply hung out together, club-hopped, and enjoyed a heady, whirlwind experience off the clock (45:35).

  “For me to be able to say for however many weeks straight, I hung out at Mel B.—A Spice Girl’s house after we went to Hide and had fun… I mean, it was magical.” (46:03)

• Contrasts her single, 23-year-old experience with Danielle’s now—as a married mom—emphasizing how life stage colors one’s DWTS journey (47:10).

6. The “Elimination Heard Around the World” and Its Aftermath

• After a streak of high scores, Sabrina’s surprise week 6 elimination—having received her lowest score (25)—became a defining moment in DWTS history.
  • Danielle’s theory: viewers assumed Sabrina was “safe” because she was so good, so didn’t vote, leading to her exit (48:11).
• Sabrina’s advice:

  “That’s how the show works. You have to vote for who you want to see that next week. Not necessarily vote for who you’re trying to save.” (49:19)

• Recalls devastation for her partner Mark, but found solace knowing she’d continue performing on the DWTS tour and through overwhelming fan support (53:52):

  “Team Sabrina… petitioned a whole… getting signatures… They thought they could, like, convince ABC… what was great was we had already had talks about Mark and I joining the tour, so that was nice.” (54:48)

7. All-Star Redemption & New Perspectives

• The fan petition brought Sabrina back for Season 15 All-Stars, where she partnered with Louis Van Amstel (55:57).
  • “I was five years older. I just really took in everything so much more. Took—it was a mature way of looking at it.” (59:01)
• Unique honor: Reprising Louis’s own champion rumba choreography—“I wouldn’t trust this routine with anyone else besides you and my other partner”—leaving Sabrina moved to tears (60:30).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Respecting the Pro’s Process:

  “Now where we’re at with Dancing with the Stars, 45 years after I’ve done it, it is like—the pros have it locked in. So, yeah, all you gotta do is listen to your pro, and you are gonna be golden.” – Sabrina Bryan (09:12)

• Regarding The Emotional Toll and Staying Present:

  “There’s going to be emotional weeks, too… There’s a lot of things the contestants don’t necessarily think about… until it hits them.” (27:05)

• On the DWTS Audience:

  “The audience, you can’t really ask for a better Dancing of the Stars audience. They are invested, right?” (13:51)

• Why She Did the Show:

  “The reason why I did the show is for my mom… They each have their own little Tablets of paper and they’re writing down notes and giving their own scores to see how they match up to the judges.” (13:18)

• On Handling Disagreement and Show Drama:

  “You still have to advocate for, like, what feels good for you, of course. And that sort of in the magic of producing turned into a little bit more like, we had this all out… and that totally got in my head right before I was trying to do a routine...” (25:36)

• Perspective on Elimination:

  “What it felt like—what a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. And so, so it was sad… but I was getting to dance, and I really fell in love with ballroom and Latin dancing.” (52:18)

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Advice for Danielle (& All New DWTS Contestants)

Sabrina’s Top Takeaways

• Stay Present:

  “Soak it in… Take a minute to scan that vision, that full blown, just like, mental picture of what that’s like. Because it just—when it is done… it’s still just something you cannot recreate.” (61:37)

• Resilience is Key:

  “Don’t let yourself get comfortable every time you step out on that stage. Stay focused with your partner… bumps are gonna go… but take it in because it was really such an ex—incredible experience.” (61:54, 63:45)

• Listen to your pro, lean on your partner, and embrace the experience wholeheartedly.

• Get into the fun!

  “Do all of it, whatever. Do all of the fun stuff. Get into… the Tiktoks with the young kids… If I were to go on it now… okay, like, I’m in! Like, do it all because it’s just so fun.” (63:24)

• Self-care tip:
  “Take hot baths at night… with epsom salt… Those dancers know how to take care of their body. If your pro has, like, a tip, take it. That will give you the longevity you need. And I’ll see you at the finals.” (63:45, 64:00)

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Important Timestamps

• [04:45] Intro – Danielle sets the stage, welcomes Sabrina
• [05:05] Sabrina speaks about the “unknown” of the DWTS journey
• [09:12] Rehearsal process and Sabrina’s advice
• [21:34] Sabrina’s record-setting Week 1 score and emotional response
• [24:51] Handling first-week jitters and the importance of focusing
• [30:20] Detailed discussion of Mark Ballas’s mentoring and their rehearsal dynamic
• [40:46] Wardrobe and live mishaps—laughter and on-air recovery
• [45:35] No showmances—season 5 cast’s social life
• [48:11] Sabrina’s shock elimination and Danielle’s theory
• [55:57] Sabrina’s All-Star return—fan-vote redemption
• [61:37] The most important advice: “Soak it in.”

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Where to Find Sabrina & Her Dancewear

• Sabri Dance Official
• Instagram: @sabri_dance_official

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Episode Summary

This episode offers a warm, candid, and practical look into what it really means to step into the world of “Dancing with the Stars”—as a celebrity rookie, an audience favorite, and a contestant who has known both the glory of high scores and the sting of surprise elimination.

Sabrina Bryan provides Danielle Fishel—and listeners—with not just survival tips, but a call to be truly present, cherish the journey, and embrace every moment both on and off the dance floor.

If you want to understand the heart, sweat, and magic behind a DWTS journey—this episode is your backstage pass.

Transcript

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[Sabrina Bryan]

Isn't he terrific?

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[Sabrina Bryan]

Hello.

[Danielle Fishel]

Welcome to Danielle with the Stars. I am Danielle Fishel, a TV director, a podcaster forever Topanga and a mom of two. Currently though, I am learning how to ballroom dance one step at a time. I'm training for season 34 of Dancing with the Stars, premiering September 16th on ABC and Disney, and I'm going to be recording this podcast chronicling my journey, giving you the inside story of one celebrity's quest for a mirrorball trophy. And right now I am engulfed in rehearsals. I'm practicing every single day. And I figured the best way for me to prep for a victory, because my goal is victory, is to talk to those who have competed before me. And today I am chatting to someone from within the pod meets world extended universe. A celebrity dancer who participated in not just one season of Dancing with the Stars, but two. She first competed in season five back in 2006 seven with partner Mark Ballas and finished seventh place, a result often considered the most shocking and unfair in the show's history. AOL users, settle down, everyone. Remember, it's the year 2007. Even voted it as the most shocking TV moment of the year. And to right the wrong, she would return for season 15 in 2012, the only all Star incarnation to date. Now paired with Louis Van Amstel. And she placed in eighth, eliminated exactly five years to the date. She controversially exited back in 2007. And in between the two appearances, she even went on the road for Dancing with the Stars Live. So if I am going to get advice from anyone, I think I'm starting in the right place. Today on Danielle with the Stars, I am paired with the iconic Cheetah girl and the co host of the Magical Rewind podcast, it's Sabrina Bryan. Sabrina, I am so happy that you are here to talk with me and help me through this process. I am going to be honest, I feel in slightly over my head. So your expert advice is greatly appreciated.

[Sabrina Bryan]

I know the feeling. It's, it's a bit of an unknown, right? Like, I mean you've done live tv so that's not a thing. But it, it's, you're learning something new, right? It's like, it's really nerve wracking. But I will tell you that the pros on this show, they are, they're just, they're exactly that, they're pros and they will hold your hand and take you through this journey and it's just, you just have to get ready that this is going to be one of the most exciting things you've ever done. It's different. And you're going to be hooked. Like you're, you're going to always want to be in the audience. You are going to be obsessed with spray tans. It is like everything. Like you just will get hooked in this entire world. Believe me, I swear you will.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh my gosh. I mean, you were very kind to give me credit that I have done live tv, which Means I have held a microphone and spoken during live tv. I have never really had to perform on live tv. So that kind of brings me to my next question for you. And I, I, I might have a feeling I regret this, but what was your background in dance before you agreed the show?

[Sabrina Bryan]

Okay, so I grew up dancing hip hop, tap.

[Danielle Fishel]

Okay.

[Sabrina Bryan]

Ballet, jazz.

[Danielle Fishel]

From the time you were a little girl.

[Sabrina Bryan]

I started what's actually considered pretty late. I started at seven. Oh, that wasn't too late. But it's, it actually, now that my daughter is in the world, it's like, if you don't have classes starting at two with, like, those Mommy and me classes, you're kind of like tested it out. And then if you're wanting to be like a competitive dancer, you really got to get your kids in, like, going hard around like four or five, which is that.

[Danielle Fishel]

Do you think 44 is too late?

[Sabrina Bryan]

Not at all.

[Danielle Fishel]

Okay, good.

[Sabrina Bryan]

Because, I mean, listen, the show isn't. I think what's great is you're entering it during a time where the show has seen all kinds of celebrities come on. When I did my first season, there wasn't a lot of quote unquote dancers that would do it. And so I got actually a lot of flack for the dance background I had because I had been on the Cheetah Girls. They knew already I could dance, and they, that was actually a little bit of a, A backlash at that time during the show because it was like, well, this isn't even fair. She. She can dance. And it's like, I can dance. But my habits. First of all, I had never danced with, like, a partner like this, like, learning for someone to lead me. Oh, yeah, Are you kidding me? I know the choreography. Why am I, you know, Right?

[Danielle Fishel]

Why do you. Why are you doing anything?

[Sabrina Bryan]

Yeah, yeah, It's. It's like, it's one of those things where being hooked to somebody and having them steer you into the direction and waiting for them, because that's part of the technique of learning ballroom in Latin is being as a woman and being in the man's frame. You're supposed to be led by them. And that was really difficult for me to lean into because I just was used to being on my own. I mean, yeah, I would maybe grab a hand, do a spin and something, but, like, never like this, where the entire time you are locked, like, hand in hand.

[Danielle Fishel]

Right.

[Sabrina Bryan]

And that was really hard for me for timing. I mean, I, I had Mark Ballas my first season, and what was awesome with Mark is it was his first season, so we were both kind of just lost. Didn't really know what in regards with the show, but he was so vibrant, and so he had already, like, what he came from when he was in London is he was teaching a lot, which I think makes a big difference because it gives you a bit of a. An understanding of somebody brand new and also giving the level of patience.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. How to communicate what he's trying to get out of you. He's already had practice of that with.

[Sabrina Bryan]

Kids, too, which is great.

[Danielle Fishel]

You're like, talk to me like I'm four.

[Sabrina Bryan]

There's nothing that gives you more patience than handling kids. Yes. So that was really amazing. And he was really good on teaching me the steps. He. He saw that I needed to learn choreography, then timing, then how he wants to push me into being where I need to be on that timing. So it was just it. But you'll see. See, everyone has their own journey. But you'll see, regardless, everyone's journey involves creating a relationship with your partner, learning to trust them. And like I said, now where we're at with Dancing with the stars, 45 years after I've done it, it is like the. The pros have it locked in. So, yeah, all you gotta do is listen to your pro, and you are gonna be golden.

[Danielle Fishel]

So you. You mentioned you were in one of the earlier seasons. You were originally on the fifth season season of the show back in 2007. So.

[Sabrina Bryan]

Yeah. What season are we?

[Danielle Fishel]

34. I know. Nothing will make you feel older than hearing that for sure. Do you think having had experience with other styles of dance helped you or hurt you with learning the choreography?

[Sabrina Bryan]

I think for learning helped me. I. There's something. I think this is what is great with athletes that join the show as well. Is it? There's. There's a way in your brain that is. It's a training process of learning to be able to see. See movement, do movement and have it sink into your body and then remembering it. And that memory aspect is what I think. People who don't come with any kind of training in that sense, whether it's, you know, a football player, an ice hockey, or what, you know, a figure skater. That ability to remember movement is what helped me. What didn't help me was my movement was, like, heavy, and I was not elegant in any sense. And when I say I trained in ballet, it was like I did the bare minimum classes they made me do. I didn't like being like, this elegant ballerina. That was kind of my cousin's role. She was a dancer and she was very into ballet.

[Danielle Fishel]

Okay.

[Sabrina Bryan]

So that elegance that happens within the ballroom side was probably the hardest for me to really lock in. I could get into the fierce cha cha and the fun, you know, paso and all of that, but when it came. Came to ballroom and I had to be this, like, elegant, like, princess vibe, that's just not me.

[Danielle Fishel]

That is. I'm so glad you said that. That is my Achilles heel, too. I have been watching videos of. Of ballroom dancing just to, like, get. Just to vision, like you said. Part of my training for myself is like, I want to watch as much of it as I can so that I know what I'm trying to emulate.

[Sabrina Bryan]

Yes.

[Danielle Fishel]

I am going to break my neck. I'm going to break my neck.

[Sabrina Bryan]

How do they leave? How do you. Oh, gosh, it is back and now.

[Danielle Fishel]

And I'm sore. I'm just sore. I've been practicing and I'm achy. It hurts. It all hurts.

[Sabrina Bryan]

Oh, well, it's going to get a whole lot worse before it gets better. But you're going to love it because you're what's great too, about the show. Unlike doing something like this, you have video from the start to the end, and you're going to see your progression and you're really. I think, you know, there's only a few people that I think come off the show and aren't, like, proud, But I think 98 of the people. No matter how far you make it in the competition, you look back at that first package they put together when it's the first day, the first couple of weeks before the audience ever gets to see you, and then your first dance and you're going. Even in that short amount of time, look at me.

[Danielle Fishel]

I really.

[Sabrina Bryan]

I really. I really learned something. Like a whole routine. You're not learning a couple steps, you're learning a whole routine. Yeah. So I think you're gonna really enjoy the process. And it's something so magical. I would do it again in a heartbeat. Even though it's so. I know how much work it comes into. Yeah. I know the kind of criticism you get while you're on the show. You know, the viewers now are professionals themselves.

[Danielle Fishel]

Right.

[Sabrina Bryan]

So, you know, I mean, my parents included, they used to watch the show. They're not as avid anymore. But the reason why I did the show is for my mom. I walked into their house one day, I was living up in la and I. And it was on a Monday night, and I walk in and they each have their own little Tablets of paper and they're writing down notes and giving their own scores to see how they match up to the judges. I mean, these, the audience, you can't really ask for a better dancing of the stars audience. They are invested, right?

[Danielle Fishel]

They love it.

[Sabrina Bryan]

Yes, they do.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, I can't wait to get to know them too.

[Sabrina Bryan]

Yes.

[Danielle Fishel]

So had you, you said you did it for your mom. Your mom was obviously a fan. Had you watched the earlier seasons before you get on the show?

[Sabrina Bryan]

No, I, it was, this was back when the show did two. Two seasons a year.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Sabrina Bryan]

And it was around Mother's Day and it popped in my head. You know what would be really cool? I'm going to call my agent and see if I can get my mom and I at the live show for Mother's Day, like a Mother's Day present. And I called my, my agent, Julie and she was like, are you being serious right now? I'm like, yeah, I haven't watched the show but my mom loves it. And she goes, I literally just the phone with casting and they're interested in you coming in and we're gonna ask for you to come watch and see if you'd be interested. And I was like, well, tell them yes, I am.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, that's so great.

[Sabrina Bryan]

It's just kind of, I mean, just one of those things that happened. Like the timing couldn't have been perfect.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, that's so, that's so amazing. What a great feeling.

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[Sabrina Bryan]

Isn't he terrific?

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[Danielle Fishel]

Okay. What was your rehearsal process like?

[Sabrina Bryan]

I've heard it changed a little bit and it changed from, and I think it's just again, the show progressing. It changed from my season five to my all Star season. So season five we had I think a max of eight hours a day to be in the rehearsal studio.

[Danielle Fishel]

Okay. Just a max, just a max of 8 hours of physical activity.

[Sabrina Bryan]

And I think a lot of that had to do with they had to schedule other celebrities within that studio. Back then we were sprinkled out throughout la. So there was, you know, one off of Ventura, one in, in, you know, North Hollywood. There was all different dance studios that they were renting from.

[Danielle Fishel]

Okay.

[Sabrina Bryan]

And so we had, they had to kind of, you know, schedule all of everyone getting their time in to have room space. Then I went back for my all star season and they had built this Dancing with the Stars like complex where there's multiple rooms in this big building, which was really fun. The first season, the only time you really saw the other celebrities was if you maybe passed them, they were coming into your room while you were leaving. But the complex made it to where like you could be, you know, hitting up the water station and you know, you're hanging out with Emmett Smith. Okay. I was always so like enamored with everyone I was on my season with. So it was really fun. So that rehearsal process, I really didn't know anyone until that first show day. And so that's when you kind of Met everyone on the set. I then with. I think more so my first season than the second season, we did. And I think it was maybe against the rules. I don't know. But what can they do now? I mean, take my mirror ball trophy. I never won one. So we did. Mark and I did. We would park, like, we both lived at the same, like, complex, because I was. I moved into, like, an apartment situation. He had moved into one down the street. And we would be in the parking garage and going over. I specifically remember my quick step because we needed a lot of space. We were, like, going over, or we'd be in each other's park. Yeah. In the parking lot. Like, when no cars were there. We were just going through our quick step, you know, and we were working on it outside. Just because him and I both knew. I mean, I was a Cheetah Girl, but that was not at all the demo of Dancing with the Stars. So I knew I was going into this, like, I had to come full throttle to prove my, you know, legitimacy, because I wasn't really, like. I mean, I was going against, like, Wayne Newton. How do you. How do you. It's Wayne Newton. Everyone knows him. Right. And. And Mel B. A Spice Girl. Like, yeah. You know, So I. We really took our rehearsal, like, as much as we can. But what's on the opposite end and why you start burning the candle at both sticks? And I think they're better at this. This time with the rehearsal, amount of time you're all allotted is because you're doing so much press. You are going to, like, every premiere or you're doing, you know, morning shows, or, you know, you're doing so much all within your rehearsal. Your fittings, your second fittings, your tapings for the. Just the crew so they can get their. Their schedule of, like, what they're going to do with the cameras and then whatever you're working on. I was working on the Cheetah Girls. We had actually put out our own album.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh.

[Sabrina Bryan]

Aside from the soundtrack. So I, you know, Mark was flying with me to New York to do Good Morning America. And then straight from. When I was done with that, we were in a studio rehearsing, you know, and so you kind of also have to, like, bob and weave with your own work schedule. Right. This, as you, I'm sure, know, you're so busy to make this job, also makes sense.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, my gosh. Well, you definitely showed your legitimacy. Let's jump into the season. You scored a 26 out of 30 in week one, which is the Highest score from a contestant during week one in the show's history at the time. So still to this day, I don't know about. To this day, at the time, still the highest.

[Sabrina Bryan]

I'm like, there's been so many people. There's just.

[Danielle Fishel]

I know, but I don't know. That is a good question because I have seen several week ones in part of my prep and process. It's like, what do people look like during week one? I haven't seen a 26. I haven't seen that high. But listen, that's anecdotally, that's not facts. But you did a cha cha to the song Don'tcha by the Pussycat Dolls.

[Sabrina Bryan]

Yes.

[Danielle Fishel]

Getting a 26 out of 30 must have been an incredibly great feeling.

[Sabrina Bryan]

It really was. I mean, I. Especially after we ended the routine, you know, there's nothing like. I mean, we're gonna get. We're talking about live music.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Sabrina Bryan]

You see your package is. The first time you see it is when you're sitting on the stage waiting for that package to be done and you're.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh my gosh.

[Sabrina Bryan]

To be on. And I just knew at that point, you know, it'd been a couple weeks, I'd really started to feel like I got to know Mark and I just knew how much he was really wanting make such a big entrance into this. This was going to be so huge for his career, you know, and what he wanted to do with Dancing with the Stars. So there was that. And then when I feel like I nailed every single footwork and as much of the technique as I could really, like hold on to and just the explosion in the room was like. It's just a moment I don't think I'll ever forget. When people ask, like, what was your favorite dance? I always say it was the cha cha. Because it just was a moment that just. It was just so epic for me, you know, it just was. And looking over at my mom and dad that were just like, you know.

[Danielle Fishel]

Again, probably tears streaming down my face.

[Sabrina Bryan]

Bawling, my dad just giving his big woo woo. You know, the way he used to do when I was on. Up on the stage or on the soccer field as he was coaching me, it was like. That was like. It brought back just. And to have them there on the floor with me was just so magical. And then to look at Mark and for him to be so proud was just like. It was just such a great moment. And yeah, it was.

[Danielle Fishel]

I have full body chills. I truly. I have full chills at that Point.

[Sabrina Bryan]

Sometimes, you know, when you get into the season, it does matter to you. But at that point, the scores, because I really, again, I hadn't watched it a lot, so I didn't know what a good score was. You know, I mean, I knew the, the max was 30, but I didn't know what a good score would be for us. And so, I mean, when it was mainly what happened in the ballroom that you're just like. I think I remember hearing some of the things the judges said, but really I was just in like a, a total bubble of like, yeah, it's amazing, this show. I never want to get off that. I just remember saying that we have to make it to the end. I mean, the first episode, are you kidding? Nobody should ever have that expectation. Just get to the next week.

[Danielle Fishel]

Just get to the next week. As someone who then obviously did conquer those first week jitters, what is your advice for me when I feel them?

[Sabrina Bryan]

Okay. I will say first, focus on what you're going to do. Focus on your dancing, focus on your partner. I think it's really good to stay close, continue to talk, look at each other's eyes, try not to get distracted. Okay. And don't watch your package. You just never know when they're gonna again. Remember, it's alive. You know, it's a reality show as well.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Sabrina Bryan]

And you never really know when they're gonna pull from something that happened in rehearsal that like, you're not really so stoked about. Like, you know, we had, I remember, see the third week, Mark and I had an argument about and when I say argument, it was just like we talked about it.

[Danielle Fishel]

Right.

[Sabrina Bryan]

About something you had a disagreement about something he wanted me to do on, on our jive. And I, I really just didn't feel comfortable. For me, he did, he didn't come from where I came from where it was Disney. And like, for me it wasn't like malicious. And I know that's why he felt a little bit like I was maybe thinking too hard into it, which I probably was because I'm a Disney kid. And everything I did at that point was looked at, you know, was it Disney esque? And it was a little bit of a jab at one of the other contestants and I just kind of didn't feel right about it. And I voiced that opinion. And then, you know, of course we kind of went back and forth because he was, he's the creative, right. And at the end of the day, he's the pro, he's the one that's choreographing but you still have to advocate for, like, what feels good for you, of course. And that sort of in the magic of producing turned into a little bit more like, we had this all out. Me disagreeing and it being this big thing. And that totally got in my head right before. I'm trying to do a routine that I'd only done for less than, you know, five days. And I just remember going, I'm not watching those packages ever again. And so I just needed to focus because it could have. It turned out fine. Our jive looked great, but it could have been. It could have been a downfall. And why would I want that to be the reason why I have a misstep that maybe ends up taking me off the show after, you know.

[Washable Sofas Advertiser]

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[Danielle Fishel]

Well, that is really good advice.

[Sabrina Bryan]

It's. And there's also going to be emotional weeks, too. That one really. I don't know if you can get, like, earplugs or what, because that really gets you in the feels, too. Yeah. There's a lot of things that they do and people don't. I think contestants don't necessarily think about that part, you know, until it hits them and you're going, oh, my gosh. Now I'm, like, all, like, thinking about this. This package instead of thinking about my routine. So it's good to. And your pro, I'm sure, will walk you through that, right? And they'll just keep you close. I've been to the taping since, and you just see, you know, that that's why the pros really keep them in, because it's like they're also used to competing, but, you know, and all the craziness that happens in the Latin world, you know, right before they hit the floor. So they're really good about keeping you guys close, keeping your chemistry good, keeping you focused to do what you. You've worked so hard to do all week.

[Danielle Fishel]

Okay, good. When did you know that Mark was your partner? When did you find that out?

[Sabrina Bryan]

On August. I'm just kidding.

[Danielle Fishel]

What if you knew the date and time? I meant how early in the process.

[Sabrina Bryan]

I think we worked. I want to say it was three weeks before the premiere.

[Danielle Fishel]

Okay. Yeah. Okay.

[Sabrina Bryan]

And they.

[Danielle Fishel]

Did they film you finding out Mark was your partner?

[Sabrina Bryan]

They did. And again, I only. This is gonna sound terrible. The only partner I partners I knew of was more of the women partners. Those are the ones I was watching. Right. So Cheryl Burke, Julianne Hough. And then the only one that I knew of, male wise, was Max and Louis Van Amstel.

[Danielle Fishel]

Okay.

[Sabrina Bryan]

I don't even know why I knew of them, but they must have had good partners the season before or something. But those are the only two. So he walked, walked in and he was just like a brand new person. I had never seen him before. He could have walked right by me. Right. Oh, you would never know. So he was brand new. But it was cool because he, he was young and I, I liked that. I wasn't gonna, it wasn't gonna feel like too much of a, like an age gap, you know, because again, I didn't know how, how old any of the pros were, you know. So it was right there, you know, first meeting and I wore everyone else in my season was like dressed ready to like start dancing. I wore like an outfit and then I was like, oh, nice to meet you. Oh, I probably should go change because he started teaching me while I'm in like jeans and, and heels. And I'm like, I'm going to go get. I did bring dance clothes, so I'm going to go change.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh my gosh. Dance clothes? What even are dance clothes?

[Sabrina Bryan]

I am going to send you some with you to start your rehearsal process. You have a dance clothing? Okay. Yes, yes. I'll re dance some cute, awesome stuff. It feels good. It feels sexy. So when you get into that, you need to get into that like, growl part of the cha cha.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, gosh.

[Sabrina Bryan]

You know, all of that, it's going to give you just that little bit of an oomph. So I'll get you some Sabri apparel. Absolutely.

[Danielle Fishel]

Okay, thank you.

[Sabrina Bryan]

I'm going to send them.

[Danielle Fishel]

Thank you. Okay, looking back now, what do you think made Mark like, what are some specific qualities that made Mark such a good partner? And what are some qualities you had that made you a good partner?

[Sabrina Bryan]

Oh, there's so many to talk about. Mark's creative. I, I feel really lucky because it was his first season, so he was kind of just really staying in the realm of Latin dancing. So when you in on the floor that they do, I don't think it happens as often, but there's like in ballroom, you can only go through the outside perimeter of the, the ballroom and to cut through, you have to center and then can go to the site. There's all these rules. So he was so. I mean, Mark's parents are very. His mom specifically is like one of the most well known Latin ballroom instructors like across the world. Okay. So he was just everything. He was so detailed and he even was teaching me where the cha cha comes from. Started in Cuba. Like, I was learning everything. Like, I was learning all the stuff that I probably didn't need, but it was great to know it. So he was so informative. He had so much energy and the desire to just make this the most epic season, you know, for me and for both of us. And so he was really great with that. And I loved his level of creativity. And now, since he's broken out of maybe the box of what he thought he had to be in the first couple seasons, he went on to do some of the most incredible routines on the show that I just think the show has ever seen. So it was great and awesome to be, like, there on his first beginnings and then later on watch his journey just, like, explode. So his creativity, I think, is one of the great. And then there you'll notice, like, if you ever dance with, like, forever, whatever reason, maybe in a group dance or something, and you get paired with someone else.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Sabrina Bryan]

To do a couple of eight counts or whatever. I really loved how he was able to lead me some dancers. And I've danced. I've had a chance because I did so much with Dancing with Stars in Vegas on cruise ships and everything that I've danced with a lot of them. And some of them tend to, like, fling you, or some of them are. Are so strong that you feel like you're just being, like, grunted to a place. He was just the perfect for me as far as getting me where I needed to go, having the power behind it, but it. Not ever feeling like it was overwhelming me. Okay, good. Which I would have never known that the first season because he was the only one I danced with. It's like, you get, you know.

[Danielle Fishel]

Right.

[Sabrina Bryan]

Like, having a first kid, you just kind of. You win. Just go with it. You win. Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. You're like, yeah. And then the second time, you're like, oh, I've been through this before.

[Sabrina Bryan]

Yeah. Yeah. And then. Oh, I. And then you start seeing the differences. But those were my things for me, I think the ability for me to really lock in during rehearsals. Like, I was not somebody that you'll see, I've seen on the show partners that tend to, you know, even though I had so much going on, I wasn't somebody who would get, like, distracted, like, oh, my phone or. Or if I was tired, that wouldn't make me want to go like, oh, can I use the restroom? And you're like, you just did five minutes ago. Or. Or water breaks or anything. Like, I was. I feel like for him, it was great that he had my Full attention. I was hitting him right at that halfway mark and ready to go as long as we had to do what we needed to do to get it right. And we really melded that way. That was, like, good for him to not have someone who. He was, like, pulling teeth, like, can you please care about this?

[Danielle Fishel]

Exactly.

[Sabrina Bryan]

Don't. You don't have the choreography. Let's do it again. He never had to do. Do that with me. I was like. He's like, you want to do it again? I was like, yes, let's do it. Yeah. It was always, you know, and. And not just because I was trained, because I actually really, really wanted to. I also wanted it to be as perfect as possible.

[Danielle Fishel]

Well, I want to jump ahead. Speaking of perfect, I want to jump to week four. You had been safe from elimination every week, never scoring below that 26. And then it happened. It's pasa doble. You spin me right round. You get the shows first ever perfect 30. I'm sure you must have felt good rehearsing that one throughout the week. Like, you just knew, oh, I'm. I'm locked in on this. But did you ever think a perfect 30 was possible?

[Sabrina Bryan]

No.

[Danielle Fishel]

No.

[Sabrina Bryan]

That was. That was. It was. At that point, I just was so scared if my. Again, because I didn't have the fan base that so many. I mean, Marie Osmond think about how much, right. It wouldn't have maybe mattered what she did out there. Her fans are avid. They were gonna keep her on the show as long as they could. Right. So mine was just wanting it to be as good as possible so that my score would be high enough that no matter. Like, hopefully that the votes that did come in would just keep me going. I knew my fan base wasn't anywhere near pretty much the majority of the team, like, the. The cast I was on, if not everyone, if I was not actually the lowest fan base on the. On the show. But we actually. Funny story. I don't think I've ever told this. There was a point where I. I think pasa doble might have been that week. I had to go to. To New York because I do remember rehearsing that. That in New York. And I remember at one point, because, you know, Mark would film or whatever, he came in and was like, yeah, I'm scratching like that. And I'm like, like, what? What does that mean? He was like, from this point, like, I like the beginning and I like the end, but, like, all this in the middle. I. We're gonna. We're gonna rework It. And I was like, oh my gosh.

[Danielle Fishel]

You'Re out of town, you're working on something else. And now you have to relearn brand new choreography for the middle of a dance.

[Sabrina Bryan]

And the thing is, I, I do know he wouldn't have done that if I was a partner that he didn't think could take that on. So I do. It's not that he didn't trust. It was like. And that's. Or that's my. What I was gonna say is, is I fully trusted him. If he knew, if he thought I could do it, then I was pretty convinced I could at this point. We had known each other for like almost two months. And he knew my work ethic. He knew the abilities of things that I could and couldn't do. So if he felt like he could do this and it was at the end of the day gonna make it better, I was like, let's do it. I'm exhausted, but let's go. You know. And so it was pretty awesome. I, you know, the whole. I loved that song. It was a song that I don't know if anyone really knows. And if have you put yours in, you get to put in like song requests. Yes. Yeah. A list. Right. I put in maybe 40 songs. I then find out Joey Fatone, who's, you know, I got to know him later on through the Dancing with the Stars world. He put in like 250 songs. I put in like 40 songs. Just 40 of my favorite songs. 40 songs that I thought were great. Knowing absolutely nothing about Latin and ballroom, knowing that achacha has to have a certain kind of thing. A mambo, a salsa. All of those dances have to have certain, like, specifics within their. Their musicality.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Sabrina Bryan]

So, but I put in. And this happened to be one of the songs that I put in. It's been a song, a favorite song of min. So I loved it. It was awesome to. To learn choreography to it. But yeah, that week, actually during the rehearsal, they used to let you do what Latin and ballroom dancers do at a real competition where your walkout isn't just walk, walk, walk, and you get in your first position, you do like a spin and a drop and a this and a that and a this and a that and that. And then it's like this whole thing you do like, it was like a 28 count thing that we would learn to walk out. And it wasn't ever filmed, they never showed on the camera. But it was something that we would do. He wanted to do for the audience and so him and Derek both did these things. Like, I remember Jenny going, why do I have to learn extra stuff that I'm not gonna. No one's gonna see. No one's even gonna see this. The audience is gonna see the ballroom. This is how we're setting the stage for what we're about to do. Okay, So I loved it because it was so dramatic and, yeah, totally what I love. But there was one part, and I don't remember if it was in that. That thing or if it was at the end, but I, like, did this thing, and I. Oh, it's at the end. I slide through his legs, and I'm like. Like, literally, like, wrapping around. And I'm like. It's like a little snake going through his legs. And then I landed on the ground. Well, in the rehearsal, you know, you do the whole show. The. What is it? Dress.

[Danielle Fishel]

Camera blocking? Yeah, the camera blocking.

[Sabrina Bryan]

And I like my. I mean, to the point where my whole face, because I had gobs and gobs of makeup like you do on the show, was on his leg. Like, I hit it so hard. And I remember being so mad at him because him and Derek could not stop laughing. And meanwhile, my eyes are watering. I might have a broken nose, but they are cracking up because I'm like, you know, not so much pain. I knew it wasn't broken, but it hurt. It, like, not comfortable. It knocked me silly a little bit. And him and Derek are just. Just laughing so hard, and I'm like, this isn't funny. I was like, totally like a toddler. Like, my toddler now. Like, mommy, it's not funny. And he just could not get himself together. And him and Derek together have this ridiculous laugh that just. They keep themselves laughing. And I remember that. So I'm thinking I'm not all I'm worried about. Pretty much that whole routine is not smacking my face on his inner thigh. Have that happen on live tv. Please, God, don't let that happen.

[Danielle Fishel]

Please, please.

[Sabrina Bryan]

So I think at the end of it, I was just happy that I made it through. And I didn't get my face mask put on his inner thigh at that point. What would the, like, rumors be at that point?

[Danielle Fishel]

So that was during a camera blocking. Did you ever have, during a live taping, any sort of. Of wardrobe malfunction or the music stopped playing? Any sort of thing that maybe the audience wouldn't notice, but that you noticed?

[Sabrina Bryan]

I did my second time on the show. I had.

[Danielle Fishel]

During the All Stars.

[Sabrina Bryan]

I could feel I had to stop wearing. They put These pads in your top. Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

In your cleavage and your clay.

[Sabrina Bryan]

It's on the side. So that.

[Danielle Fishel]

Right, okay.

[Sabrina Bryan]

Which looks really nice. But when you have of. If you're more busty than the average.

[Danielle Fishel]

Actress, which you and I both are.

[Sabrina Bryan]

I had to ask them to stop putting those in because, you know, the. It was just. It was too scary. It felt like they were out. But then I feel like there's one. It was actually my paso the second time, which is funny. We're talking about where I had a spaghetti strap and my. My strap went down and I could feel like I had to like, quickly get it. And you can't really see it from the camera angles. But I came back and I was pretty sure I was gonna. I had a nip slip and I came back to Tom Bergeron and I was like, whoop. Yeah. That was really fun. Like, oh, my gosh. I felt so exposed because it's not just the people in the room, it's millions watching tv and I. You know, so that. I think from then on out that there I was like. Again, guys, I think we put this. You know, because you're. A lot of times your mic packs in there too.

[Danielle Fishel]

So they.

[Sabrina Bryan]

Yeah, right.

[Danielle Fishel]

It also feels like maybe we could just also double stick everything so that if a strap does break, at least.

[Sabrina Bryan]

You are double sticking.

[Danielle Fishel]

And it doesn't matter if the strap breaks.

[Sabrina Bryan]

You're moving and grooving. You're going so fast. It's like, you know, and. And the girls sometimes just do what they want. Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

There's no controlling them.

[Sabrina Bryan]

What are we gonna do? You know? Come on.

[Danielle Fishel]

They wanted their moment in the spotlight. What are we gon.

[Sabrina Bryan]

I guess so. They're like, you didn't show us first season. So here we go.

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[Danielle Fishel]

I want to ask you because there's always been just such a a buzz around Dancing with the Stars and relationships. People I know, were there any relationships during your first season or your second season for that matter that you were aware of?

[Sabrina Bryan]

No.

[Danielle Fishel]

Okay.

[Sabrina Bryan]

No. I if anything it honestly again season five everyone was really kind of sussing out. So I'm not saying that there wasn't things happening but like an actual full blown relationship? No, but it was definitely a cast that was very young. We were not after we were done rehearsing then going to whatever, you know, in industry party or whatever. We were all hitting up the same club, we were all going back to the same house and we were just literally having the time of our lives knowing like like this was such a cool experience. So we were all hanging out and it was just fun. Everything about it. I mean for me to be able to say for however many weeks straight I hung out at Mel B. A Spice Girl's house after we went to hide and had fun and hung. I mean it was magical.

[Danielle Fishel]

Time of your life.

[Sabrina Bryan]

It was your Life. I was 23.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Sabrina Bryan]

There was no better time. Like that was just the best, most exciting.

[Danielle Fishel]

But that is how I feel now at 44 when I'm in bed by 9pm and I've taken a melatonin and I know I don't have to wake up until 5am Oh, I can't wait.

[Sabrina Bryan]

Yeah. But again, different climate. I mean, I think the show has just become so much different now and I think, you know, not that, not that everyone's not having fun. I just think, oh yeah, it's just, just like evolved into so, so much of a different situation.

[Danielle Fishel]

Totally, totally. You were also like you said you were 23 at the time. You were probably single at the time. It's a little different when you're a 44 year old married, mother of two, you know, joining the show. So it's, it's all just, I think back to that time for you and I think I remember what it was like to be 23 and just gosh, to have that experience at that age. What a time to be alive.

[Sabrina Bryan]

Five years later. Even me just having like in a relationship, my boyfriend and he was up there living with me while I was on the show, that was a different experience. Now being married and having two kids like that would have been on the show now would be a totally different journey for me.

[Danielle Fishel]

Exactly. Well, I want to get to the elimination heard around the world. It's week six and you get your lowest score which is a 25. Damn that 25 and boom, you're gone. Can I, before I ask you what your thoughts are on why it happened, can I tell you my theory here?

[Sabrina Bryan]

Sure.

[Danielle Fishel]

So my theory is that people watching had seen you kill it week after week and just totally assumed there was no reason they had to vote for you because you were going to be safe for sure. I, I know you probably also feel like, because you feel like you had maybe a smaller fan base than the Wayne Newtons and the Marie Osmonds and, and maybe everybody else on the show. I just think it's the fact that you were so darn good, they figured you were safe no matter what.

[Sabrina Bryan]

Yeah, I, I, I think that that would, I mean that's kind of the, the mindset that, that I have that they were, you know, because at that point of the show, you know, as always, someone's gotta go. And so they're, I feel like their votes were going towards somebo bit more worried about with a lower score that they, they were more worried about, you know, saving versus thinking they had to for me. But that just goes to show, like that's how the show works. You have to vote for who you want to see that next week. Right. Not necessarily vote for who you're trying to save. Right. Don't out.

[Danielle Fishel]

Don't try to outsmart the system. Just vote for who you want to see the next week.

[Sabrina Bryan]

Yes. And. And. And, you know, and again, too. I mean, that, again, that was why my mindset was I had high scores to hopefully help me, because even if I had everyone voting for me, how big was my vote level compared to everyone else? But I will say, I mean, what I was told by my publicist at the time was like, listen, because, you know, she let me have my. I mean, Mark and I were devastated.

[Danielle Fishel]

I was gonna say, you had to have been crushed.

[Sabrina Bryan]

I was devastated for Mark because I felt like I let him down. You know, this was a season that he could have come in and made it to the finals his first season as a pro. And how big would that be? You know, I think Julianne Huff had just done it the season before with Apollo, and they actually won. And so I felt really bad for him. I obviously really wanted it, but for me, it was like I was. Was leaving there, and then in a couple months, going to India to do Dan to do Cheetah Girls 3. I. I had my. My career was moving, you know, and I felt bad because this was the start of his, and I knew he needed to really make a big splash to. To get all the things that his music and everything and our time coming to an end, like, thinking like, oh, my gosh, like, this is. This is done. I loved being on this show. I loved my rehearsal schedule. I'm a person that loves being busy, Psychotically busy. I love that, you know, and so it was just like, wow. I had other stuff to do with the Cheetah Girls. Like I said, we had just released our album, so there was lots to do. But I was getting to dance, and I really fell in love with ballroom and Latin dancing. I just did. And so it was like, we're working our next routine. That week was when we were going to start doing two of them, and I had already picked out my costume for the next week. Not because, okay, let me give a prep, guys. Don't come at me. Not because I thought I was going to make it. That's just what you do. While you're working on one routine, as you're entering the end of that week and you're getting to the. The taping and the actual show, they start having you. You look at material, start designing your Costumes.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. The crew has a lot of work to do to get everything ready for the next.

[Sabrina Bryan]

This wasn't me being like, oh, I decided no, because I. Cause I'll make it. It wasn't that. It was. That's the course of the scheduling. And so I had already picked out my costume. I had already known what the design was gonna be. I remember it was gonna be like, was it Christian Dior? It was some kind of like designer material that, that they were getting me. And it was beautiful. I knew my dance song, Mark.

[Danielle Fishel]

Dance song.

[Sabrina Bryan]

It was for a mambo. I was gonna do a mambo, which I really wanted to do because I wanted to learn bachicottas so bad. And I still am obsessed with them.

[Danielle Fishel]

I don't know what a bunch. I don't know what a bachacotta is.

[Sabrina Bryan]

I can't explain it because I don't really 100 know it. But I really wanted to learn those and the like, where you like, they go like, like they circle in and then they move out and then you circle in and then you move out. Like that whole thing. I wanted to learn all of that. I was really excited about the mambo choreography. And then we also had an Argentine tango coming up. So those were two styles I was dying to learn. And so that was a disappointment. You know, just your whole life is like swept up in this just big, awesome experience. And then when you realize. And it's. And trying to hold it together on camera too, which luckily I've got the Disney training of like keeping it like just because I want. If I could have, I would have just instantly cried. But I just kind of held it together and tried to be as gracious as possible for the, for the journey and the experience I did have. You know what it felt like, what a once in a lifetime opportunity. And so, so it was sad. And we, I mean, Mark and I bawled. We were the last to leave the trailers that night. On week six, Tom Bergeron, when he was hosting, would do this big party where everyone, he invites all the cast members to come to this big mid season party. We pulled our together.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Sabrina Bryan]

And then you get, you know, to be embraced by Melby and Max, Max and you know, Elio and everyone that was on the show and all the pros, Cheryl Burke, everyone being embraced, being like I. They were just as shocked as I think the rest of who was watching was. That was a. That was a really hard day. And then you go, you know, on a red eye to Good Morning America and you gotta just like save Face and feel, you know, do the interview and that's your exit interview. And then it's done. And, you know, but then luckily I had this. The fans created a petition. They tried. These fans, they were called. At that point. They. We had. They were nicknamed Team Sabrina. Had petitioned a whole. They had a whole thing going around getting signatures and they got tons of them to get me back on the show. They thought they could, like, convince abc. Oh, no. Just.

[Danielle Fishel]

Just put her back in.

[Sabrina Bryan]

Just put her back in. And no, but what was great was we had already had talks about Mark and I joining the tour, so that was nice to know that, like, this wasn't 100% the end of our Dancing with the Stars journey.

[Danielle Fishel]

Okay. That at least is a little bit of a consolation.

[Sabrina Bryan]

Yes. Yeah. And we then got to go back and do a routine with Avril Lavigne to promote the. We did a. We performed with Avril Lavigne, who I was a giant fan of. Of course it was Mark. She was singing while we were dancing. And it was all to promote the tour. I ended up getting a really great, great, you know, all around awesome thing. And I honestly think I got more press out of that elimination than I would have, than anyone would have ever cared if I actually got to the finals and. Or won.

[Danielle Fishel]

Right.

[Sabrina Bryan]

Like, no one really cared as much as my elimination bothered them. You're absolutely better. Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Well, Team Sabrina may not have been able to get their way and get you reinstated on the show the following week, but they did. Did bring you back for season 15, the only all Star season they've ever done with some of their favorites returning. Was that an immediate yes from you?

[Sabrina Bryan]

Well, it was, yes. I mean, I was doing Dancing with the Stars live in Las Vegas with Joey Fatone, Kyle Massey and Carson Kressley. We were doing a show at the Tropicana, which I feel so honored now because it's gone. I know. And we did a whole 90 minute dancing with the Stars show with a ton of amazing pros. And, you know, they would have, like, Kim Johnson, some people would come in and out and do like little stays for like a week. And so we were all there together. Joey gets the call to do All Star season. So then now I'm waiting by my phone, praying more than I have probably ever had for any other job for my phone call to happen. And then as we're like, like, like kind of finishing up our stay, I get a call from the talent coordinator there and she says, how would you feel about joining the All Star team? And I was like, yes, yes, I've been waiting for this call. Yes, absolutely. And she goes, well, hold on. This is. This is what we're doing. That's going to be special. We're going to put three of them of our Dancing with the Stars faves up. And the audience and the. The. Our. Our fans are gonna be able to vote in which of the three of you they want to compete.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, my gosh. So it's not even a guaranteed yes. You're back to being voted on.

[Sabrina Bryan]

And it's against my three people that haven't gotten the call in Vegas. It's against Kyle Massey and Carson, Kressley and me. So then they come up. We do this whole different kind of video campaign. Mine looked very presidential. I had my glasses on. And we did like a whole fun campaign to get votes to happen. And they were commercials and everything on. On the website. And just. It was kind of fun to do as an extra thing. Yeah. And then she called me when I got home, so I. We didn't know after we left, we finished our time out in Vegas. And then when I got home, like that first week and she called me and they had a film crew there filming me. They never showed it, but they had a film crew there filming me, you know, getting the call. And I'm going, I gotta, like, be super excited or, you know, okay, congratulations. Respectful. Respectful. And luckily, she said you. You know, the votes were. They were in and they were. We were not expecting them to be this overwhelming. It was so great for us to know that the fan base was. Is still dying for you to be back on the show. Will you do it? And I was like a hundred times, yes. I will be there. Today is rehearsal today. Wow. Wow.

[Danielle Fishel]

Well, you had a new partner. You were with Louis Van Amstel that time. And yet again, you got a perfect 30 during week six. And you were atop the leaderboard for two weeks. Did it feel like you were finally getting a fair shake this time or not so much?

[Sabrina Bryan]

Well, I mean, first of all, everyone on the cast pretty much had made at least the final, if not won, their season. There wasn't very many of us that went out like I did, but it was just exciting. Like, it was just. Again, it was different. I was now in a relationship. I was five years older. I was, you know, 27 at this time. And I feel like I just really took in everything so much more. I took. It was a mature way of looking at it. It was. I had Lo, who again, is an extreme. I mean, in the world of ballroom. He is, like the top notch. Louie was just. I've just felt so lucky. I got. I mean, all of the pros are so good, but, you know, when you get to really look into the background of your own pro, you just have so much respect for them. And I will say his teaching methods were different than. Than Mark. They were equally amazing, but they were different. So it was cool to. Yeah, to. To be taught by someone different who comes from a different, like, background of how. How he trains. But our last routine, our rumba was actually his routine that he competed his last season of competing with his partner. It was like his last goodbye dance type thing, that rumba. And when he told me he wanted me to do it, I just was like, are you.

[Danielle Fishel]

You.

[Sabrina Bryan]

That seems like a really big deal. Are you sure? And he's like, I wouldn't trust this routine with anyone else besides you and my. My other partner. And it was like I remember crying and being so. You know, and it just. That made that dance a lot more special. The package was its own kind of emotional situation. But this for Louie, for me, to him to give this and trust me with that was crazy for me. And I. Even my dress was even very similar to what she wore when she would compete. So it was kind of like a. Like an homage to her from him. So it was very cool.

[Danielle Fishel]

Beautiful.

[Sabrina Bryan]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Well, finally, Sabrina, you have already given me so much amazing advice that I am so happy that I now have. But now that I am just weeks away from ballroom dancing for the first time in front of millions of people, if you could just tell me me one thing doesn't have to be deep or meaningful. If you could just tell me one thing that, like, you think is the most important thing to take into going into the season of Dancing with the Stars, what would it be?

[Sabrina Bryan]

Oh, man. I think soak it in, you know, because the unknown is so huge. I don't. And you. I don't even know if you know how the show's gonna work out as far as the first week. Sometimes everyone goes through the second week. Sometimes they have eliminations first week.

[Danielle Fishel]

Right.

[Sabrina Bryan]

You just really. It's a. That you really don't know what the next week is. Take it from me. At that point, I was feeling pretty good that we were gonna have a chance, a bigger chance than. Than the week, that next week. And then I got eliminated. And it's like, don't let yourself get comfortable every time you step out on that stage. Stay focused with your partner, but take a minute to scan that. That vision that. That full blown, just like, mental picture of what that's like. Because it just. When it is done, whether you go through vinyls and you win it, it's still just something you cannot recreate, you know, so just take it in and enjoy it. And the like, listen, the bumps are gonna go. You're gonna possibly, you know, disagree or just have a bad day. I mean, listen, you're a mom. That could happen and that could happen on the car ride there, you know, so you're gonna have give because that is. You're human and that's what happens. But take it in because it was really such an ex. Incredible experience. And it's something you're going to look back and like I said, you're going to have video of it. You're going to have so much. Well, I don't know how much they let you take, but it looks like on Instagram you can really have your phone freely taking video and doing fun stuff. Do all of it, whatever. Do all of the fun stuff. Get into. I know you're not as like. Well, I know. I guess I'm thinking will, but, like, get into the Tiktoks with the young kids.

[Danielle Fishel]

Like with the youngs. The youngs and the Cool.

[Sabrina Bryan]

Yes. If I were to go on it now, if they asked me to do anything. Sabrina, slide down this bandage there. Okay. Like, I'm in. Like, do it all because it's just so fun. And like I said, they have. And make it the best experience and take hot baths at night.

[Danielle Fishel]

Okay.

[Sabrina Bryan]

Okay.

[Danielle Fishel]

Thank you. I like that one too.

[Sabrina Bryan]

With epsom salt and. And all the. And just, you know, I mean, those dancers know how to take care of their body. So if your pro has, like, a.

[Danielle Fishel]

Tip, take it, Take it.

[Sabrina Bryan]

That will give you the longevity you need. And I'll see you at the finals.

[Danielle Fishel]

I love it.

[Sabrina Bryan]

I have to come watch you.

[Danielle Fishel]

I'm begging you, please, please come. Any week.

[Sabrina Bryan]

I have to.

[Danielle Fishel]

Any week. And do it earlier than later because you never know how long I'm going to be there. So please, please come.

[Sabrina Bryan]

Well, the first week I probably won't because there's. Every single contestant has, like, eight people in the audience, so there's, like, no place. But hopefully by like, week two or three, I can hop in and. And come see you and. Oh, I'm just so excited for you, girl. This is gonna be so magical. It really is. And just.

[Danielle Fishel]

Thank you.

[Sabrina Bryan]

Lean in and enjoy it. It's gonna be so fun.

[Danielle Fishel]

Thank you. I want everyone to know you are a dance coach now. So if I ever have a last minute question or a concern about where I'm supposed to put my hands, if I call you, will you please pick Absolutely there.

[Sabrina Bryan]

I've we've now are able to do sessions over zoom so I could even honestly if you're having a hard time memory which I think is one of the hardest things I will sit there and I've got patients like crazy of we'll do it four counts at a time. We'll do it four counts at a and we'll add and add and add and we can just drill it that way so you know next time you see your partner you've got your actual steps in.

[Danielle Fishel]

I love this. I might be hiring you as my my like pro beyond the pro I really like.

[Sabrina Bryan]

No, I'm not a pro. I just could I have memory. I have a good aspect of memory. Not necessarily technique that will be your pro but I can help you remember get it like muscle memory.

[Danielle Fishel]

I love that. And where can people find your dance clothing line as well? It'[e-mail] S A B R I. Right.

[Sabrina Bryan]

S A B R I. And we're on Instagram that there you can kind of see everything and that's at Sabri Dance underscore official.

[Danielle Fishel]

Well Sabrina, I am so grateful and so appreciative that you came on and just thank you so much. I feel better after talking to you and I'm going to embrace all the aspects of it, all the craziness and just do my best to soak it in. So thank you.

[Sabrina Bryan]

Yes, absolutely. And best of luck. Break a lash, girl. Thank you.

[Danielle Fishel]

Break a lash and I'll see you in the audience in a couple weeks.

[Sabrina Bryan]

Absolutely. See ya. Bye.

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