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Dancing With Lance Bass

He’s toured the world over as one fifth of the most popular boy band in recent memory, entertained a mission to space, and come out on the cover of People. He’s now poised to turn reality television on its ear when he takes to the stage this season on Dancing With the Stars. Lance Bass practically invites the question: Is there anything this guy can’t do?
An Advocate.com exclusive posted September 11, 2008
Dancing With Lance Bass

He’s toured the world over as one fifth of the most popular boy band in recent memory, entertained a mission to space, and come out on the cover of People. He’s now poised to turn reality television on its ear when he takes to the stage this season on Dancing With the Stars. Lance Bass practically invites the question: Is there anything this guy can’t do? 

Despite rumors that Lance would be stepping out with a male dance partner -- he won't --  the former boy-bander is going to be taking the more traditional approach, paired with seasoned reality show vet Lacey Schwimmer. We caught up with Lance to talk about rehearsals, how those male dance partner rumors got started, and those ’N Sync reunion rumors.

Advocate.com: So how are rehearsals going for you?
Lance Bass: They’re a little nuts. My body is completely sore. But yeah, it’s going good!

Every season, one of the competitors seems to have a dance background, and out of this crop, I’d say you probably have one of the strongest. Has your background with ’N Sync proven to be an asset for you?
The best thing that I have from being in ’N Sync is that I’m used to the work ethic we have to go through in order to get this accomplished. So I’m used to what it takes to pull off this type of production -- and to staying the extra hours and drilling it.

Has anything about your experience so far surprised you?
Yeah -- right now I’m learning the quickstep, and that to me ... when I watch the quickstep, I think it’s the most fun and the most challenging, and it definitely is the most challenging for me so far. But I was really surprised that I picked it up quicker than I thought I would, so that made me happy, and I felt like, OK -- maybe I can do this competition.

Had you watched the show before? Were you a fan?
I didn’t watch the show until Joey did it.

You were in the audience every other week, it seemed like.
Yeah, I went a couple of times [laughs]. Seeing him go through it was just amazing and I saw how much fun he had and it didn’t scare me anymore after seeing him do it.

There were lots of rumors going around that you were going to dance with a male partner. Was that ever discussed, or was it just a rumor?
That was just a rumor, for sure. I don’t think anyone dealing with the show ... I don’t even think that came across their minds. This competition is for a male and female partner -- that’s the way the judges judge. I don’t think it would be an even playing field if we were to do it.

Well, I don’t even think some of the dances would work.
No. And who would wear the dress? Come on now [laughs].

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The new season of Dancing With the Stars kicks off with a three-night premiere event beginning Monday, September 22. For more on Lance Bass, visit www.LanceBass.com.

Reader Comments

These comments are reproduced as written by visitors to this Web site. They have not been edited for content, grammar, or spelling. The viewpoints appearing here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of advocate.com, The Advocate, or its affiliates.

  • Name: sierra
    Date posted: 2008-11-22 9:40 PM
    Hometown: someware New Mexico

    Comment:

    Lance Rocked dancing with the stars He, Has shone us all not to be afrade to come out being diffrent.


  • Name: Rick Lindsay
    Date posted: 2008-09-16 9:45 PM
    Hometown: Los Angeles

    Comment:

    "Lance Bass practically invites the question: Is there anything this guy can’t do?" -- Apparently he can't dance with another guy on Dancing with the Stars.


  • Name: J. C.
    Date posted: 2008-09-16 3:40 PM
    Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Comment:

    Good for Lance! The more positive exposure he gets, the more it benefits the entire Gay community. It's the best way to encourage the homophobes out there to rethink their prejucices and bigotries.


  • Name: jason
    Date posted: 2008-09-12 11:18 PM
    Hometown: houston

    Comment:

    Note how straights are more welcoming of lesbian or bi female affection than they are of gay or bi male affection. It's a double standard. Straights are creeps and liars.


  • Name: mike
    Date posted: 2008-09-12 11:12 PM
    Hometown: new york

    Comment:

    Lance Bass has become the useful idiot for the straight community. Straights are glad to have him around so long as he doesn't kiss a guy or hold his hand. It's a phony acceptance based on segregating his sexuality. Straights do this a lot with gay guys: they're happy to have them around so long as they don't rub against each other or kiss.


  • Name: Mario
    Date posted: 2008-09-12 6:47 PM
    Hometown: Pinehurst, NC

    Comment:

    I don't think it's a foregone conclusion that Lance should dance with a woman. Puh-lease. The real reason is that the dances often involve sensuality, and they don't wanna put men rubbing up on each other on ABC primetime. It was a foregone conclusion for the producers, and Bass is just parroting the party line.


  • Name: Hal Shipman
    Date posted: 2008-09-12 5:36 PM
    Hometown: Chicago

    Comment:

    "Lance Bass practically invites the question: Is there anything this guy can’t do?" Really? Are you serious? What is it with you guys and Lance Bass? It's like you're determined to make him a mega-star in spite of the rest of the planet not really giving a damn one way or the other.


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