The pro dancer recalls choreographing for Scheana in the past
DANCING With the Stars' Gleb Savchenko has weighed in on Scheana Shay appearing on the show instead of her co-star Ariana Madix.
The DWTS drama between Scheana and Ariana began after Brock Davies' wife revealed to Lisa Vanderpump on the March 12 episode of Vanderpump Rules that she was preparing to be on the show.
Gleb Savchenko weighed in on Scheana Shay joining Dancing With the Stars in an exclusive interview with The U.S. Sun
Scheana said it was a 'punch to the gut' when she found out that Ariana was joining DWTS
Ariana, who was partnered with Pasha Pashkov, placed third in season 32 of DWTS
"This year I started taking dance classes. I was preparing in case, you know, I did get it," she told Lisa while at the entrepreneur's home.
Scheana, 38, described finding out that Ariana, 38, would be competing on the show as "kind of a punch to the gut" and said that while she was "so happy" for Ariana, she was "sad" she did not get it.
Now, in an interview with The U.S. Sun, DWTS pro dancer Gleb Savchenko - Lisa's former partner - has shared his thoughts on Scheana and whether he believes she was the right fit for the dance competition.
"I'm glad Scheana didn't go [on the show]. I don't think she would've had the same chance as Ariana," the Russian native told The U.S. Sun exclusively while promoting his upcoming Chippendales gig.
Gleb, 40, noted that he worked with Scheana on her first dance when she tied the knot to her ex-husband, Mike Shay.
The former couple got married in July 2014 in Santa Susana, California.
"I choreographed their first dance, and I remember it wasn't easy," Gleb revealed.
"I'm not saying bad things about her. I think Scheana is amazing. I really like her. She's an awesome girl and everything.
"But as my memory calls, I didn't think she had a lot of dance experience. That's what I'm trying to say," he continued.
Without knowing firsthand what her dance skills are like today, Gleb said that "maybe she's improved" over the last 10 years and "got much better now."
PREPPING FOR DWTS
It seems like Scheana may have more work to do if she wants to be a celebrity contestant on DWTS.
Gleb suggested those who want a shot at competing on the show, they "better start dancing" and can't rely on their star power.
"If you ever want to be on Dancing With the Stars and you feel like you have enough celebrity power to be on a show, whoever that is - it's not just Scheana or anybody else - you should start taking classes.
"People think, 'Oh yeah, we'll just chill for a couple of hours in the dance studio. I'm going to hang out with this handsome dude who has got a Russian accent, and he'll be smiling,'" he explained.
"No, that's not the case. You're coming in and I'm turning on my Russian dictatorship and being like, 'Okay, straighten those knees. Let's go.'"
He continued: "A lot of people can't take that, especially a lot of people when they are a little older and they're thinking themselves that they're the s**t of the s**t."
IN THE KNOW
While speaking on the Ariana versus Scheana drama, Gleb couldn't help but recall when he danced with Lisa Vanderpump in 2013.
"I've danced with her in season 16 when she fainted during my rehearsal. That was fun," he remarked to The U.S. Sun.
"I remember when I danced with her, we hung out a lot and I used to go to the restaurant where everybody worked."
Lisa, herself, called her partnership with Gleb "an emotional affair" since the experience involves "having to connect and hold onto each other."
The pro dancer, although he said he does not watch VPR now, went on to say that he's "friends with a lot of people" on the show, including Ariana who placed third on last season of DWTS.
He isn't sure, however, who will be cast for season 33, and won't know even if he's returning until the cast gets the phone call in August.
Without naming names of his dream celebrity partner, Gleb hopes that she is not "too old" and that "she's hot" and "nice to look at."
He admitted, "It would be nice that she's likable and she's this girl next door and it would be nice if we can freaking win because she's got a huge fan base."
ARIANA CLAPS BACK
Ariana, for her part, has spoken out on Scheana's comments.
"I mean, on one hand, I can totally understand being happy for a friend while also feeling like, 'Oh, you did also really want this thing for yourself.'
"But on the other hand, my thought process is that if one person from our show gets on it, wouldn’t that help someone else from our show get on it?'" she told Andy Cohen on a recent episode of Watch What Happens Live.
"So, you know, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander. And that’s kind of where I’m at with that."
Until the cast is revealed for the next season of DWTS, fans can watch Gleb as he stars in Chippendales for a limited engagement in Las Vegas from April 25 until May 12.
Following that, he'll travel to the East Coast with the Chippendales and perform at the Hard Rock in Atlantic City, New Jersey, from July 18 to July 21.
Scheana said on a recent Vanderpump Rules episode that she was happy for Ariana to go on DWTS, but was sad that she wasn't asked to be part of it
