Renowned actress, producer, designer, and philanthropist Jane Seymour will take to a different sort of stage next week when she debuts Monday night (9/24) as a competitor on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars”- and she’s very excited about it, for a lot of reasons. 

Jane Seymour is excited about costumes for her Dancing with the Stars appearances

 “Dancing with the Stars has always been our favorite TV show, but television has always been a sort of ‘guilty pleasure’ for us at home,” she said in a telephone interview.  She explained that when all homework and music practice, etc., was completed, she, producer husband Stacey Keach, and the boys would sit down together as a family to watch “Dancing.”

When the offer came to compete for and appear on the show, Seymour was a bit taken aback.  She hesitated slightly because of her age, but also because she was in the midst of handling a family health crisis:  her mother in England had just suffered a very severe stroke and loss of speech.

“I am by far the oldest female on the show of all time,” Seymour wisecracked.  “And some of the competitors are professional dancers- and most of them are one-third my age, too!” 

This season's Dancing with the Star's competitors

While being 56 might earn her that distinction at face, what she might be imagined to lack in supposed “youth” she more than makes up for in interest and drive.  A student of ballet as a child, Seymour’s passion for dancing was never permitted to come to fruition due to constant injuries.  It occurred to her that perhaps it was time to “dream the dream” again.

“I’ve danced in the chorus of Nutcracker and things like that.  At age sixteen, though, I spent more time in the hospital than I care to mention,” she said.  “It was always my dream (to dance) but I was never able to do it.”

It became crystal clear to Seymour to compete and appear on “Dancing” when she got enthusiastic support from her husband- and her beloved mother.  “Dancing with the Stars is also my mother’s favorite show,” she said.  “When my sister phoned and told me that my mother attempted to talk very animatedly- and managed to say one word, “yes!”- when told I’d been asked to do the show, then I knew I should do it.”

Jane Seymour with Dancing with the Stars dance partner, Tony Dovolani

Training for Dancing with the Stars is no small thing- for anyone of any age and with any other issues going on in life.  But on top of that, Seymour, always considerably active and fit, also had sports injuries- knees and spine- to contend with, including recent spinal disc surgery.  She did, however, rise to the challenge with her usual grace and aplomb and, thanks to support from her dance partner, champion Tony Dovolani, she’s made great strides in her health while also gaining a strong position as a dance competitor. 

“(Tony’s) an incredible teacher and a great choreographer,” she said. “I think he’s the toughest of all coaches.  He really cares, and he makes me want to work hard.  Without trying to, I’ve lost 14 pounds, and I’m in better shape than I was when I was 16.  I totally credit Tony with that.”

Even with all that training and great support, Seymour remains human. 

 “I’m terrified about the whole thing!  I’m at a ‘certain age’ where one doesn’t remember if one’s brushed one’s teeth,” she joked.  “Some days I just look at Tony and say ‘everything you just told me went in one ear and out the other, and I’m in a fog!”

She does, however, remain the optimist.  “If I do well,” she said, “that’s great!  If I just do my best, that’s also great.”

Her favorite dance?  The fox trot- that will be the first dance number aired.  ‘It’s so Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire,” she said.  “We’ve only worked on two dances, so far,” she added.  “I can’t wait for the show to air, and I hope to get voted to stay on so I can learn the next dances.”

Her greatest challenge?  “Getting my hips to move,” she laughed.  “They’re just so ‘British.’  And I also have troubles with shaking my upper body.  Everybody else in the household can do it, but when I try to do it my whole body just moves.”

Jane Seymour kicks up her heels with Dancing with the Stars dance partner, Tony Dovolani

Per her usual style of embracing experiences fully- and perhaps, to attempt to replicate what she called “Tony’s wiggly hips,” Seymour also took it upon herself to augment Tony’s training with her own rigorous conditioning workouts.  “The rules of the competition include not being allowed to take any special (outside) dance training,” she said.  “But I took Pilates and gyrotonics to strengthen my core.”  She worked hard at stabilizing her back- she had to, or “else.” 

“There are parts of my back that, if I weren’t careful, would not be very happy,” she added.  “But in three weeks, I’ve been able to stabilize muscles in my back that I haven’t been able to before.” 

Known for her style on the red carpet that is polished and also a showcase for her fit form, Seymour is thrilled about the costumes for the dance numbers on the upcoming show.  “As a designer, I love the fact that I’m able to have input with the (wardrobe designers),” she said.  “I’m looking forward to some really classy, special gowns!” 

The beautiful charmer is more than glad she said “yes” to “Dancing with the Stars”- and to dance- and she extols the benefits of dance to everyone.

“I’m so glad I got the opportunity to let the ‘little girl’ inside of me dance,” she said enthusiastically.   “Dancing is so great spiritually, mentally, and physically.  I hope that my joy will rub off on the American public!”

Cheer Jane on next Monday night, September 24, at 8:00 p.m. when Dancing with the Stars starts its new season on ABC (Channel 7).

Show judges agreeing (uncharacteristically) with a very positive vote- a portent for Jane Seymour?

Text copyright M. D. Caprario

Photos courtesy of ABC/Dancing with the Stars and used with permission and thanks

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