Dancing with a Star – Carrie Ann Inaba

Carrie Ann Inaba sits alongside 2 male judges on the ABC hit show, Dancing with the Stars. I would say she’s the most prominent Asian face on nightly television today.

Inaba is a veteran dancer and choreographer who has also worked on some of the most popular contest shows in TV history, a few of which includes American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance.
In 2007 Carrie Ann served as a coach and choreographer, along with her DWTS co-judge Bruno Tonioli, for the well-received ABC reality competition series Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann.
But it all started when she landed the job as a Fly Girl in 1990 on FOX’s infectiously popular sketch comedy show In Living Color—which led to her gig as a main dancer on Madonna’s “Girlie Show World Tour.” I remember her vividly! She was the shaved headed Asian girl that slithered down the pole, topless, in a G-string and opened the show for the legend.
Inaba’s extensive choreography credits now include a variety of television shows such as: American Idol, American Juniors, The TV Land Awards, The Swan, Starting Over, and Dance Fever.
Carrie Ann’s moves can also be seen in several music videos including Ricky Martin’s “Shake Your Bon Bon.” She has also worked on the Miss America Pageant for four consecutive years, and on Fashion TV’s World Supermodel Pageant in Dubai.
If that weren’t enough, Inaba’s talents extend to the big screen, having starred in two Austin Powers films, Showgirls and several other films.

Carrie Ann is also an accomplished recording pop artist in Japan. Under the umbrella of her company EnterMediArts Inc., she directs, writes, and edits digital documentaries and films, while simultaneously developing television projects.

ASIANCE: No one really knows the true story! How did you land the job on Dancing with the Stars?

Carrie Ann: I’ve been choreographing TV and working in dance for 20 years. I’ve been choreographing for a long time. When they brought this show over to the United States, Andrea Wong was one of the heads at ABC at the time. She spearheaded bringing over Dancing with the Stars from the UK. She took a huge risk. I think part of the reason I got the show was that Andrea Wong believed in me. They held all these interviews and basically interviewed ever choreographer in the United States. They interviewed the top choreographers in the United States. We were all there and at all these different casting sessions. I went back three or four times. We’d do mock judging sessions where they would show us videos from the UK show. Then they would see our chemistry with various people.

The funny thing is, I was working on So You Think You Can Dance as a choreographer for that show. I was doing a lot of things with Fox and American Idol and that whole team, including Nigel (Lythgoe). We were on tour doing the first season casting auditions. I was getting messages that they were offering me the job at DWTS. It was a really tough choice because I had a strong sense of loyalty to Nigel Lythgoe. He gave me so many great opportunities but at the same time I was falling in love with this show. There was something so unique and it was out of my comfort zone because I don’t come from the ballroom world. I come from the commercial dance world and theatrical dance.

I decided I’m just going to take a risk. So I went with the strange ballroom show. It worked out really well. I’m glad I did.

ASIANCE: Did you have any inclination of how successful the show was going to be?

Carrie Ann: No because if you think back to the time, these shows weren’t successful. There were no big dancing shows. So we were the first at the time. You had no sense. I thought I was going to take a risk and it sounded like a fun opportunity. This ballroom dance show with the red velvet curtains could lead me down and interesting path. It looked like a demented Lawrence Welk scene and I thought, “I’m going to try it!”

Fortunately for us, it was a hit! People were craving good old fashioned, variety show entertainment. And that is what I think our show provides. You become a part of people’s family.

ASIANCE: Do people stop you on the street?

Carrie Ann: Yes. They’ll say hi and I’ll be like, “hmmm I don’t know you?” (laughs)
They’ll tell me my point of view. They’ll say, “Well this is what I think”. And I’ll say, “Yes. That’s what I think too.”

I was at IKEA this weekend. We were loading the heaviest piece into the car and this one little boy starts screaming, “Excuse me miss, Excuse me miss! Are you the judge?” I said, Yes I’m the judge. And he said, “On American Idol?” And I said, “No.” (laughs)

ASIANCE: Do you have a favorite teacher on Dancing with the Stars? Maybe not favorite but someone whose style you always like?

Carrie Ann: I think Derek Hough and Juliana Hough are incredible choreographers. They have a mixture of contemporary, jazz and lyrical. Their training is not just ballroom. They mix in a lot of different styles. I know their background, where they came from. They have the most versatile background and you can definitely see it in their choreography.

They group up in England and lived with Corky Ballas. They lived and breathed dance. It doesn’t hurt that they are just so drop dead gorgeous. It’s really nice to see that. They have so much going for them. Juliana performed on our show and Bruno and I were crying because we were so proud of her. You almost feel like their parents.

ASIANCE: I’ll give you a name and you give me the first word that comes to mind.

Carrie Ann: Cheryl Burke – Powerful
Derek Hough – Stylized
Pamela Anderson – Wild
Maksim – Sexy
Bruno – Crazy
Madonna – Strong
Edyta – Gorgeous
Kate Gosselin – Afraid
Jlo – Fly-girl

ASIANCE: What was it like opening up for Madonna and just hearing that crowd as soon as you come out?

Carrie Ann: Best job in the world! Those were my favorite moments! Those moments never leave you! I remember that feeling like it was yesterday. I don’t remember much. I seem to have ADD! Ahaha! I remember when that curtain would open and I was at the top of the pole and they would cheer! And my pole which wasn’t attached to the ground, would swing back 8 inches just from the energy!

If you could imagine what that is like. It was incredible.

ASIANCE: Do you ever watch that part on the Girlie Show DVD?

Carrie Ann: That’s funny because my boyfriend and his daughter live with me and I was just showing them some old footage because we were cleaning out a room. I showed them the Madonna tour! It was so fun to watch that! I miss performing like that!

ASIANCE: Will you get back into something like that if you could?

Carrie Ann: Yes but I have to find what’s appropriate. That was appropriate for me at 23 to do something crazy like that and break down boundaries for Asian American stereotypes. I really felt strongly about doing something so crazy and over the edge. Hmmm maybe I’ll do something which will show another side of my culture? As an Asian American, I feel I’ve been pigeonholed in so many ways.

When I was a fly-girl, I received so much fan mail from families who would say, “It’s so nice to see you as a role model and not being a doctor, lawyer, or dentist. You show our kids that we can be something else”. I realized that when you are in front of the camera or a performer you have the responsibility.
So when I was offered the opportunity to shave my head, come down the pole topless, in a g-string for Madonna, I thought THAT would be kind of cool!

Now that I’m 42, I should keep much of my clothes on and keep my hair long. (laughs)

ASIANCE: Maybe you can tour with her again?

Carrie Ann: I would actually love to work with Madonna. I would love to creative direct something for her. I’m still such a huge fan of hers. I know how she works up close. That is one of my dreams to help create a tour for her.

ASIANCE: I remember you coming down that pole and being shocked. Just leave it to Madonna to create that.

Carrie Ann: Oh yeah she did. She pushes those boundaries. I love that. I’m glad that she was one of my earlier work experiences because she taught me so much about hard work, how to push boundaries, how to reinvent yourself and to be aware of what is happening in the world. Stay current. She’s amazing! It was really an honor. The fact that she gave me her stage for the first minute and a half when she wasn’t even on stage yet, is really an honor.

ASIANCE: What is your beauty routine?

Carrie Ann: For regular days, when I’m not on camera, I get up, wash my face with Ice Elements. It’s aloe based because I’m from Hawaii. It’s a cool peel. I work out and then I stretch. Then, I wear sweats and a tank top the whole time. I like to wear a baseball cap with my hair in a pony tail.

ASIANCE: Do you have a set workout routine?

Carrie Ann: I’m normally pretty set with my workout routine. I do Bikram Yoga. I do cardio kickboxing. I do regular Yoga and I do Pilates. I was recently diagnosed with Stenosis of the spine. I had to change everything and it’s actually taken me a long time to regain my movement. I’ve actually been immobilized for the past 12 months. I’m now able to work out again. I still do my kickboxing but I’m much more gentile! I still do Pilates and yoga, the stretching. I miss dancing. I have to be very careful. I can’t have an impact or I could be paralyzed. It’s so scary to think of that. I have major damage in my neck.

ASIANCE: Well I guess that’s from dancing all those years right?

Carrie Ann: Yes. It’s one of the few injuries you can get from repetitive motion. This is in the neck. I’ve given myself whiplash so many times. I have to work out to music. I love Yoga but I have to connect to music.

I want to try the stripper pole.

See Carrie Ann “answer” questions about being a fly-girl with JLo

ASIANCE: Is your mom in New York?

Carrie Ann: Yes!

ASIANCE: Do you admire any other dancer’s career?

Carrie Ann: Oh yes. I love Martha Graham. She is just so inspirational, her and Clive Barnes were huge innovators. I think deep in my heart, I’m more of modern dancer and love it when the movement really expresses the human emotion. I feel movement for movement sake, it doesn’t do anything for me. I can appreciate amazing technicality and I can appreciate amazing ballerinas but if there is no emotional connection to what people are doing then I lose interest quickly. So Martha Graham, Twyla Tharp, people like Simone Forti, one of the leaders in the post modern movement, doing these real simple movements. Those are the people that inspire me.

ASIANCE: What’s in your iPod right now?

Carrie Ann: Everything! Today my favorite song is by Train. It’s called, “Hey soul sister”. It makes me so happy! It’s the greatest song. I think maybe because my cat was just in the hospital and we were playing that song on the way back and I was just so happy that he was ok!

My iPod has let’s see, I like Sade. I think Ting Ting’s. She’s named after her friend who’s named Ting, Ting. Lady Gaga.

ASIANCE: She would be good to work with too, Lady Gaga.

Carrie Ann: Yes I would love to work with Lady Gaga because she is so much like Madonna for the modern age.

Seal. I love Black Eyed Peas. I love Ne-Yo. I like Adele. Leona Lewis. Kris Allen for One Republic. High Energy – Pink! Justin Beiber ‘s “Baby”. My new ringtone is Michael Jackson’s “This is It”!

ASIANCE: I guess you saw that movie too right?

Carrie Ann: Oh yeah. I never was one to get up and dance to the TV but when I was watching that movie, This is It, I had to get up and dance. I had to learn their dances. I think because when I was on tour with Madonna, my boyfriend was on tour with Michael Jackson. He knew all those routines. I would fly to where he was to watch his show and he would fly to where I was to watch my show. It just reminded me of that time when I was on tour with Madonna. So here I am watching this movie and dancing full out in my living room. There is something so sad about the loss of Michael Jackson but I’m grateful for everything he left.

ASIANCE: Would you ever want to be on the other side as a teacher on Dancing with the Stars rather than a judge?

Carrie Ann: Well I was on a show with Bruno called “Dance Wars: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann”, so I know what it’s like to be on the other side and I don’t envy them. I don’t think people realize the commitment. Once you sign up, I believe in the commitment because that is how you have no regrets. If you commit, you do it. However, that being said, I don’t think the audience is as sympathetic with how hard these people work. It’s not an easy show to be on.

ASIANCE: Just dealing with personalities and then you have to motivate your partner like Tony.

Carrie Ann: You’re speaking on Kate Gosselin. But speaking on her behalf she’s unlike any other performer before. She has no experience or anything. She hasn’t been successful at anything pertaining to dancing or performing. She’s been successful at raising kids. She’s become a celebrity because of that. She hasn’t achieved what the others on the show have achieved in entertainment.

ASIANCE: Yes that’s why I would think it would be hard being that dance teacher and trying to motivate people.

Carrie Ann: But that’s their job. It’s hard but they have to figure that out. You’d be surprised. The contestants start to get really competitive. After the first elimination, then you begin to see it. There’s a whole shift in the contestants. Suddenly, it becomes very competitive.

ASIANCE: Did you have an ultimate favorite contestant besides the current season?

Carrie Ann: Well I say out loud who I like but that doesn’t mean anything because the audience votes and that doesn’t mean mine are going to do well. Obviously, I think Nicole Scherzinger is amazing. She got a 10. I can think people are great but for the judging they have to reprove themselves. Liking them or not liking them doesn’t affect the scoring. As a person, I like Gilles. Emmitt Smith, Mario Lopez was great. I liked Jerry Springer. I liked Cloris Leachman. I like different people for different reasons. I loved Kelly Osborne. Different people speak to me and that’s why it’s so great there are 3 judges and the people at home. Everyone gets to have a point of view.

ASIANCE: Do you watch or are you familiar with ABDC? What do you think of the Beat Freak girls?

Carrie Ann: I love the Beat Freaks! Teresa Espinosa is one of my best friends. Actually I was considering her to be my choreographer on Dance Wars. I love Teresa’s work. All those girls in that crew are just incredible. If I could be in any crew right now, I would want to be in that crew. If I could go back 10 years, I’d love to be in the Beat Freaks and do a performance with The Pussycat Dolls.

ASIANCE: Can you guest star for The Pussycat Dolls?

Carrie Ann: Well I don’t think it’s appropriate because I’m on an ABC show so I made the choice not to do it. Robin Anton is a friend of mine, so it’s kind of nice to see how far she’s taken the Pussycat Doll franchise.

ASIANCE: Recently you were in the news because you had a bad airplane experience. You spoke to the CEO of Virgin and got everyone’s flight refunded. Was it really that bad? Are you scared now?

Carrie Ann: I’ll be honest, I started having a panic attack on my flight home. I was on my way to the airport and I called my boyfriend and I said, “I think I’m having a panic attack.” I thought to myself, take one step at a time. I’ll go to the gate and check in. I started sweating and I’m getting clammy. So then I calmed myself down and went onto the next step. I thought, OK once I check into security and I don’t feel good I can always go back to my mom’s. If I need to get off the plane once I’m on, I’ll just get off. So basically I talked myself out of a panic attack. I have to fly a lot. I’m already a bit nervous of flying. It’s scary to be in the hands of someone else for a long period of time. I was able to overcome it. I’m actually flying out tomorrow. I’m cohosting Regis and Kelly on Thursday.

ASIANCE: Was it a bad flight or how they handled it?

Carrie Ann: The flight wasn’t bad but we were kept in the air for 2 hours but then we ran out of gas and then we had to land at this other place because they still weren’t letting us land at JFK. So we’re at this airport and legally they have to get us to JFK. We sat on the tarmac for 5 hours. It wasn’t a fear of flying, it was a claustrophobia reaction. So I think I developed claustrophobia.

We finally got off the plane. A few of us decided to go straight from that airport to JFK. So it was on that car ride that I think I developed claustrophobia. It was a little van of 6 of us. It was stormy and scary and I was sitting in the back and I got so nauseous I almost blacked out. I think it was all this stress that was building up. You just can’t panic in a situation like that. I held it back and when I was finally on my own, I could let it go. The guys were so nice in the car. We stopped and they let me sit in the front seat and I could put my hand out the window so I could get some fresh air.

And the worst part was that I was flying in for my mom’s 70th birthday party and I missed the whole thing! It was a very special night so that was a bummer!

The good part of the story was that I made some really good friends and learned the power of social media. I was twittering about it and my friend David put some posts on contained. The CEO listened and called us so we all received refunds.

ASIANCE: Do you think that was only because you are a celeb though?

Carrie Ann: I would hope that wouldn’t be the case but I think my friend David’s posts had a very strong impact because there were video tapes, because that is like evidence. And also I called customer service while on the plane and I wanted to make sure they were following protocol because it just seemed a little in humane to keep us on the tarmac for 5 hours. I wanted to make sure they were doing it correctly because people ask me things all the time and I speak the truth. I just wanted to make sure they were following the right procedures. I don’t want people to ask me about this flight and I talk about it and they have done something wrong. Just explain to me your protocol. The guy on the phone didn’t know but then he asked me again, “Wait, who are you?” Suddenly things completely changed. That was disappointing. I think the CEO did do the right thing and he apologized for his customer service.

I have a tendency, when people are panicking, to remain calm. I grew up around a lot of drama. It doesn’t pay to panic.

ASIANCE: I had read that someone said well they could have got off the plane if they wanted to.

Carrie Ann: Yes that’s true. They said, “You can get off the plane, but we’re at an Air Force Base and there is no terminal. We can drop you off at the edge of the tarmac but you’re on your own”. We didn’t know it was a normal, small commuter airport. They said, “We’ll drop you off but you’re on your own. You don’t get your luggage. You don’t get anything.”

ASIANCE: Ahh so they scared you into staying on?

Carrie Ann: Nobody wanted to take that option. He said, “There are no taxis.” There’s nothing. That is why the CEO was apologizing because they didn’t handle that correctly.
I flew back on Virgin to get over my fears. Tomorrow I’m flying out on United but I do still have my Virgin miles and I will be flying on them again. I think it’s fair that they gave everyone refunds.

ASIANCE: Is there anyone you would like to work with that you haven’t yet?

Carrie Ann: I would love to work with Annie Lennox. I would love to work with Madonna now. Like I said, I’m a big fan and I just have some thoughts that I would love to share with her.

ASIANCE: Is there an ultimate job for you?

Carrie Ann: My goal is to create a musical but not a typical musical, like a sound dance music extravaganza. It’s something I’ve been working on for a long time. I’m waiting for the right time. I have a lot of dreams. I want to do a talk show. I want to do a live show in New York and a live show in Vegas. Oh and I want to do a guest spot on Modern Family. I want to be a nail person or a Japanese tourist. (laughs)
After doing the Red Carpet, I enjoy talking to people in that way. I like one on ones. I ask the questions people want to ask.

ASIANCE: What do you have to say about Ricky Martin’s recent announcement that he is gay?

Carrie Ann: I’m so happy for him. He’s one of my favorite people in this business. I toured with him on a press tour a long time ago. I’m just so happy that he can be such a leader, role model for other gay men that want to raise families. He’s such a great person. I’m so happy for him. It must be so liberating. That, in and of itself will liberate others.