Sunday, October 31, 2010

Brandy leaving rehearsal

Brandy on Access Hollywood

A clearer version of Brandy and Maks on Ellen

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Brandy and Maks cozy backstage at Ellen

Access Hollywood: Inside Brandy and Maks rehearsal

Maks TV Guide Blog: Brandy Rose to the Pressure

Hi everyone,

Hope you had a great week! Thanks for voting for us!

What can I say? It was a great week for us. It felt good being on top again. We had a great time. It was interesting to see how Brandy would do going last and being on top already. She came out and did great. Then, immediately after that, we had this crazy marathon and had to change in three minutes. Everybody was yelling, "C'mon, C'mon." We literally lined up with all the couples in, like, 20 seconds. We just had this adrenaline from the tango and went after it. It's unfortunate that all the cameras didn't catch everyone doing their thing and fans only caught bits and pieces at home. There was a lot of jive and swing in ours. I'm not upset people didn't get to see the whole thing, that's how it is and everybody's in the same position.

As you saw in the package, she felt the pressure to stay on top. She cried, like, four times. I think everybody expresses themselves differently. I realized that when she cries, it's not necessarily my fault. It was good for her and something she needed to do to let her emotions out. I don't want her to bottle everything up. I want her to feel good and to feel confident. Unfortunately, the show is such that you have to do it even when you don't feel confident. When we, the pros, start to push, it's because we know what the end result will be and should be, but the celebrities don't, so they get really frustrated. Everybody expresses it differently. I just felt really bad because she didn't need to beat herself up. She's doing great and she can relax a little, but she's very responsible and focused. We didn't have time to sit down and talk it out after she came back in. I felt like it would be better for her if we didn't say anything. So we just went right back to dancing and she was hitting every mark. We're working hard and are doing our best. We want to do great every week so that there's as much consistency to it as possible and everybody can see that we're not a one-time deal.

Last week was also tough since Audrina and Tony left. It was terribly unfortunate since they have been doing great and I think had a real shot at the final. I'm not just saying that because Tony is my best friend — they were doing well and had one of the best scores of the night. But, you know, as we've seen before, these things happen. You just never know how people are going to vote and how the math all works out. That's why it's important for everyone to vote for their favorites. Don't rely on the judges' scores.

Next week is the 200th episode and it's Icon Week. Everyone has to redo a famous routine of a past couple. We have Gilles and Cheryl's foxtrot. I'm not using the same choreography, but just the style and the idea. It's not about the doing the same steps. What was successful in their routine was Gilles' interpretation, so we have to take that and put a feminine twist to it.

Then we have the group cha-cha. We're on Apolo's team. We're still finishing up the choreography. I'll tell you — we're absolutely exhausted from our first rehearsal. We did it immediately after the show Tuesday. I am wiped this week! I think we're going to have a good time. Jennifer and Kurt are on our team. I think the one advantage that the other team has is that Bristol and Kyle have already done the cha-cha, but I don't think it'll make that much of a difference. It helps, but it's not like they're doing the same routines. We all bring something different and exciting to the table, so now we have to highlight everyone's strengths.

That's all for now. Thanks for reading!

Maks

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Brandy and Maks Interview Week 6

Brandy and Maks Tango Week 6

DWTS Week 6 Recap: Top 10 dances

The show started off with the top ten dances voted on by the viewers.

10. Shawn Johnson and Mark Ballas: Season 8- Freestyle
9. Donny Osmond and Kym Johnson: Season 9- Tango A Pugliese
8. Helio Castroneves and Julianne Hough: Season 5- Quickstep
7. Apolo Ohno and Julianne Hough: Season 4- Freestyle
6. Joanna Krupa and Derek Hough: Season 9- Futuristic Pao
5. Mel B and Maksim Chmerkovskiy: Season 5- Paso Doble
4. Nicole Scherzinger and Derek Hough: Season 10- 50's Paso
3. Apolo Ohno and Julianne Hough: Season 4- Samba
2. Gilles Marini and Cheryl Burke: Season 8- Argentine Tango
1. Drew Lachey and Cheryl Burke: Season 2- Freestyle


Audrina and Tony
Len: Tells Audrina that she's getting on his nerves a bit after the dance. She has potential to blow them all away week after week. But she lacks the character of the dances. He finishes by telling her to work on her character.
Bruno: Agrees with Len about her character. He tells her that she look scornful and tense. Finishes by saying she need to get to the next stage of the Latin.
Carrie Anne: Agrees with the other two judges but believes she has shown improvement since week one. Also believes that she is lacking the intention behind the movement.
Scores
Len/8
Bruno/8
Carrie Anne/8


Kyle and Lacey
Bruno: Tells Kyle that his foot work is so much better. Finish off by saying "Much much better, way to good!"
Carrie Anne: Loves the way he always throw in the Kyle style.
Len: "I'm not gonna sack you. I'm gonna back you tonight," he tells Kyle. Believes the dance was an improvement over last week.
Scores
Len/7
Bruno/8
Carrie Anne/8


Jennifer and Derek

Carrie Anne: Tells Jennifer that she need to calm down a little bit. She's way out of control and the dance was totally disjointed. She's all over the place and leg came off the ground. "I don't know what's happening. You're like the chosen one," Carrie Anne tells her. Finishes by saying the dance was a rough rough ride.
Len: Tells Jennifer she lost a bit of the control during the dance.
Bruno: Tells Jennifer she was like a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Tells her to tone down a little bit.
Scores
Len/7
Bruno/7
Carrie Anne/6


Rick Fox and Cheryl Burke
Len: Tells Rick that he's always impressed with his hold and posture.
Bruno: Tells Rick that he needs to be a bit more nice but he's got the job.
Carrie Anne: Thinks they did amazing. Tells him to be careful because sometimes he get so stern that they lose the person behind Rick.

Scores

Len/8
Bruno/8
Carrie Anne/8


Bristol Palin and Mark
Bruno: He tells them that it's the best performance and technique of the day. (Of course Brandy and Maks hadn't performed yet)
Carrie Anne: Calls the performance ridiculously amazing.
Len: "Last week a chimp. Almost a champ," he tells them.
Scores
Len/7
Bruno/8
Carrie Anne/8


Kurt and Anna
Carrie Anne: Calls his dance scruffy scruffy and that he didn't have a lot of polish.
Len: Thinks Kurt looked awkward dancing. And he felt awkward watching it.
Bruno: Says Kurt looked like he was doing karate while dancing instead of Spanish dancing.
Scores
Len/6
Bruno/6
Carrie Anne/6


Brandy and Maks
Len: Len calls Maks his hero. Len says they had the dance of the night and that it was full of intensity, passion and aggression.
Bruno: Asks is it Brandy or is it Tina Turner from Mad Max.
Carrie Anne: Says she had goose bumps all over her arms because it was like watching someone who had been through a really tough time.
Score
Len/9
Bruno/9
Carrie Anne/8


Rock and roll marathon
1. Kurt and Anna- 22
2. Bristol and Mark- 28
3. Rick and Cheryl- 30
4. Kyle and Lacey- 30
5. Audrina and Tony- 32
6. Jennifer and Derek- 29
7. Brandy and Maks- 36

Monday, October 25, 2010

Brandy and Erin

Brandy Access Hollywood Blog#9


Here’s a story… of a boy and a girl working hard this past week in a competition that is only getting harder by the day.

This week has been the most mentally and physically draining week of rehearsals to date! Yes, that’s right. I’m talking about the total package. I’ve cried and laughed and then cried some more. While my body is definitely getting stronger, tackling these two dances has been an exhausting and yet wonderful period of growth for me. Being on “DWTS” continues to amaze me, as I find that I must draw deep within to overcome a new hurdle every day. It has affected all aspects of my life and I’m pleased to say that I know I will come out of this experience a better person.

They say in the face of adversity, a true champion finds her calling. Well, they certainly must have had me in mind when they said that! Every day there are new aches and pains to deal with, but I continue to push through and look for the emotional core of each dance. You want sexy love? Here is the Rumba. You want fun? I give you the Quick-step. You want simmering heat and passion? Here goes the Tango.

The dances are getting more difficult each week as Maks continues to step up his training and demands a higher degree of difficulty with each routine. Although I never let the physicality overwhelm me, I must say, emotionally, it’s hard when you invest so much into one performance. Never mind the fact that this week there are TWO performances!

Our rehearsals seem to be getting longer as we work together to become a stronger team. As you know, I have been a solo artist for most of my career and working with a partner (outside of my family) takes some time to get ‘in sync.’ Even when the two of you have found that rhythm, dancing together is definitely an art form. You must trust one another completely… and without that trust, even the most basic moves can seem stiff and awkward.

With trust comes a lot of responsibility. If you have to jump, you have to know, deep down, that he will catch you. If you have to spin, you have to be certain that his hand will be there to catch you. As a woman, it can sometimes be difficult to have a blind trust in someone you’ve known for such a short amount of time. I can only imagine what the celebrity men in this competition have to go through to obtain that comfort level with their female pros.

Thank goodness, Maks is not only a pro, but also a commanding leader. I don’t have to worry much except for hitting my mark on time, remembering the moves and most importantly – feeling and expressing the mood of dance within the music.

But, I admit this is really hard! There’s no better way to say it than that! I am feeling confident going into tonight’s performance, but only time will tell if you, the audience, will appreciate all of our hard work! It is understood that your support over these past weeks has meant everything to Maks and I. When we are in rehearsals, he comes up with amazing routines that are designed with you in mind. As for the competition part, well, it’s still anybody’s game and I’m just very happy that I’ve made it thus far.

I’ve grown as a woman, as a mother and as an artist. I hope that you can tell how amazing my journey has been thus far and I will hopefully continue with you after Tuesday’s show.

So, AH family and fans – be sure to wish us luck tonight and we’ll see you on the dance floor!


Brandy also answered fan questions here

What's Making Brandy Cry?


Uh-oh! What's going on with Brandy? The pop singer admits she's been reduced to tears during rehearsals for tonight's Dancing With the Stars.

No, it's not because of her partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy's tough-love booty spanking

"I cried this week," she told us at Barbara Davis' Carousel of Hope Ball at the Beverly Hilton hotel. "With the pressure of the leader board and staying on top, it's a lot of pressure. And it's week six. We gotta' really step it up to bring it."

Maks warned, "I sweat and she cries. We've got the tears and sweat. The blood, we haven't had yet."

Despite the tears, Brandy says this week's tango is coming along just fine.

"It's very aggressive [and] sexy," she said. "My personality is not aggressive so it's been kind of up and down for me to channel that particular emotion with the tango. But it's going good. Maks helped me out a lot today with this one little part that I was messing up on and I think we got it."

"It's a traditional tango," Chmerkovskiy explained. "An Argentine tango would be a little
different. Traditional tango is not that sexy, but we're making it hot."


Read more: uk.eonline.com

Brandy on Abstinence









You can see Maks in the background

Brandy and Maks on Their 'Hot-Cold' Relationship

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Brandy and Maks Interview Week 4

Brandy and Maks talk about what makes them feel sexy



(Kyle and Lacey at the end is really funny)



Brandy: What makes me feel sexy is rumba-ing with Maks
Maks: What makes me feel sexy? When my partner is enjoying the dance

Brandy reacts to Florence going home

Brandy and Maks Chemistry

Brandy Gets Toned



Brandy talks about The Situation's elimination. Maks look like he could care less (lol) that The Situation is gone. They also discuss the changes in Bran's body and her getting toned.

Maks TV Guide Blog




Dancing's Maks: We Want to Stay on Top

Hi everyone,

Hope you had a great week. Thanks for voting for us!

So we got the top score! It felt great! I mostly was just happy that Brandy got rewarded for all the hard work she put into our quickstep. She's doing all the right things. It's very hard to explain to people why you get criticized. For obvious things, it's fine. We can go back and work on it. But when you get criticized for vague things I can't explain or barely get criticized at all, we're in a state of confusion. She was applauded for what she did. I didn't have to go back and find an explanation for anything.

I honestly was surprised at how well the dance turned out to begin with because of the state of mind and the way the week began. But we persevered, worked hard and pulled through. I'm not saying we work harder than anybody else. We just know we're in the studio a lot. It takes a lot to stay consistent. I think Brandy's getting the hang of this ballroom dancing thing and Dancing with the Stars as a competition. I totally see the potential is there. This is very different from anything she's done in her life. We're finding a way to deal with all the difficult elements. It all came together in the quickstep. I know my grandma was watching over us. My mom called me from Russia. My family's coping. We're just hoping that grandma's in a better place. My grandpa's doing fine. All his kids are there now. We're just trying to figure out that he'll be OK later on.

We have the tango next week. It's going well. We're taking the same approach. Like the quickstep, we have a dance that has us in a close position the entire time. It's the challenge of making it as exciting as possible since other couples have the paso doble, which is a much more visually exciting dance. We're just trying to do the best tango we can. I'm a little concerned about the costumes because we have to do things that represent Rock 'n' Roll. We have a rock song and the floor is going to be black. I know some people don't like all the themes, but I don't mind them. You will never be able to please everybody. Producers are doing what they can to make it entertaining. I just want to make sure that the focus doesn't shift from ballroom dancing. The simplest comparison I can think of is asking a pro swimmer to swim in something other than water. I'm just worried about the changes to the floor. It's not hardwood, so it poses some difficulty. I know there's going to be some rips and stuff. But we're all in the same situation. We all need to figure out how to be our best. I feel like they can experiment and we'll see how it goes. There's no way of predicting what it's going to be like.

We also have the Rock 'n' Roll marathon. We started working on ours a little bit. We'll put together like a 30-to-40-second routine mix of jive, swing and lindy and go from there. The biggest challenge will be to dance for a long period of time. They didn't choose an easy dance for four minutes. It's really about stamina and creativity. We'll put together a more active routine. The thing with the marathon is that the audience doesn't get to see the whole floor, especially for those watching at home. So you watch whoever you're drawn to. But this is more of a ballroom format where there are so many couples dancing at the same time, so you need to be active.

But honestly, my focus right now is the tango. I'm so in my head as far as the tango goes. Brandy and I had a long conversation Wednesday. We got a taste of what it's like to be on top and we want to stay there. We don't want to rest on laurels and say, "That's good enough." I'm focused on bringing out the best in her every week. She said she's considering putting some stuff on hold because she wants to do her best as well. Every celebrity who does the show does it to promote themselves in some way, but I always believe that the publicity will absolutely come to you. If you do too much publicity during the show, it could cost you. Or you could be on the show until the end and the publicity will come to you after you're done. Also, I want her to get the most out of this experience. You blink and it's all over. We're halfway done now. Five weeks sounds like a long period of time, but it's short in this competition. I'm happy that she actually told me that. I was like, "OK, great."

That's all for now. Thanks for reading.

Friday, October 22, 2010

DWTS PRACTICE Thursday




Maks is at the beginning and Brandy comes in at 3:30 and 9:01

Brandy and Maks on Extra










(Awwww...Look at the guy in black starring adoringly up at Brandy:-)



Brandy and Maks being interviewed by Karina's ex Mario Lopez.

Brandy Access Hollywood Blog#8






By brandy

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. --

So, we’re at the halfway mark now and while Monday was a great night for both Maks and I, Tuesday was filled with both joy and sadness. After a rough week of intensive rehearsals, I felt nothing but calm going into Monday’s night performance. All day I felt prepared and ready and very confident that I knew the routine and could hold up my frame. Practicing for the quickstep was almost as tiring as the jive, because while my arms and neck are stiffly positioned, there is a lot of footwork that goes into the dance.

We had pulled the theme song from the TV show “Friends” and I knew that it would strike a chord with the audience. While I knew the song, I had never seen the show. I definitely believed that we pulled that song for a reason, as Maks and I have a burgeoning friendship that I’m certain will go beyond this show. He brought in some useful tools to help me keep my upper body in frame during rehearsals. We went over each portion of our routine, bit by bit, and put together what I thought was a great way to incorporate the audience into our dance. So, all of Monday, I felt completely calm and ready for the show.

I admit that my nerves flared up just a bit before we went on, but once the spotlight hit we were off and I felt confident that I had managed to keep everything together and pull off a good performance. When we heard the judges’ scores of three 9’s, I was ecstatic! It’s one thing to be confident about your performance and another thing to have the judges validate it. I definitely wasn’t perfect, but I had incorporated the judges’ previous points and my confidence was at an all-time high when we returned to the booth.
Read More

Brandy and Maks on Good Day LA



Brandy and Maks talk about about how they get along as partners. They also discuss their love/encouragement taps.Brandy also talk about how she felt when Florence left.

Brandy and Maks holding hands




Around the 1:32 mark Brandy and Maks are holding hands as they walk by the trailers at the CBS studios.

Brandy: I Don't Mind The Spanking!






"I don't mind the spanking!" Brandy told E! Oct 19 at Ubisoft's launch of Just Dance 2. "The spanking gets me going a little bit. It's all good. It looks like it hurts but it doesn't hurt. I try to act like it hurts so he can feel like he really did something but it didn't hurt."

Brandy continued, "Me and Maks are really, really good friends and we're growing to be greater friends. I can guarantee you that after the show is over that he's going to be my buddy."

Read more