It has been 15 years since the first episode of Dancing with the Stars premiered on June 1, 2005. Yes I know! The show will be celebrating its 30th season when it returns for the new upcoming season. We have seen countless celebrities compete for that infamous mirror ball trophy. No additional information has been released since the network announced it would be renewing the historical show in March. We can’t wait to hear who will be contending in the new season.
Keo Motsepe joined the cast of pro dancers on the long-running show in 2014. Becoming the show’s first black professional dancer in the show’s history. His list of partners has included Lolo Jones, Charlotte McKinney, Jodie Sweetin, Charo, Barbara Corcoran, Jennie Finch Daigle and Anne Heche. Motsepe started his dance career at 11 years of age by entering into a competitive dance scene representing his country.
FEMI Magazine got a chance to talk with the pro-dancer on life during a pandemic and the upcoming season.
How does it feel to be coming on to your seventh year?
Oh, my god it feels great! It doesn’t even feel like I have been on for that long. Time goes by quickly. I looked up and realized, WOW…this is my seventh season! I guess because when I am performing on the show, I go into this world where nothing else matters and time stands still.
The realization of the show hitting its 30th season didn’t hit me until the pandemic when we had to stay still. I think that was the case for most of the dancers. That’s when I broke and realized it. Where did all those years go? Obviously, I have loved every minute of it and all of my partners. To be honest, I feel like I have grown so much on the show, not only as an entertainer but as a person. This show feels like my rock. It’s not just me dancing on TV for a seventh season. I am this kid from Africa who is living out my dreams in America you know.
Covid hit us all hard. We all had to adjust to a new normal and figure it all out as we went. How were you able to adjust your fitness routine during the beginning of the pandemic from now?
Yeah, I am going to be honest, like very straightforward. When the pandemic hit, it was a mental block for a bit. For probably two months, I didn’t work out. I was just like, I’m just gonna relax and enjoy life! I remember talking to one of my dance partners in London, on the phone every single day, as well as my parents, with no motivation in the beginning. Once I realized this was more than a few weeks of lockdown, I pulled myself back up. I began to readjust my exercise routines to accommodate my surroundings. It can be tough at times. You’re looking at the same walls every single day. You know you have to give yourself a pep talk when you look at the same thing every day.
I started getting crafty with my workouts at home because everything was closed. Really it began getting back to nature with near daily hikes. I finally had the time to reconnect with the Earth. When things started opening up, I just went crazy! I was like a kid in a candy candy store. I now go to the gym twice a day; in the morning and evening. I do my cardio on the treadmill. It’s been so much fun now because everything is opening back up.
Dancing with the Stars is no easy feat. It takes a lot of hard work to get prepared and to win that shiny mirror ball trophy. How will you be preparing for the upcoming season? Is it any stricter than your normal routine?
I have already become more regimented. I use a meal prepping service and maintain a strict gym routine. Once the show begins, the training will become more intense with longer rehearsals. I will easily be burning up to 4,000 calories, so that meal prep service will be getting more calls! (LOL)
There is also a mental component when it comes to getting ready for the show. In order to get fully prepared. Motsepe lets us know that discipline is key.
It’s hard because sometimes there’s an event to go to, where there is decadent food and drink. Everyone wants to stay up, out, and late. You can’t always do that. You have to maintain balance. I’ve been listening to this interview with Dwayne Johnson these past two and a half months. He’s like the best motivational speaker. They go for like a good hour of him just talking. He’s encouraging you. It’s so motivating. I listen to that at the gym. No music. Just that same video. The entire time.
There’s something about his voice that just pushes me! When it’s getting hard I’m like “oh, my god it’s just been a crazy day today!” Like, this morning I’ve been doing my zoom meetings, running errands, etc. and then I’m like… okay, it’s suddenly 6:00 pm, and I need to go run for thirty minutes. I then listen to that interview. The Rock’s voice just gives me this pump. I just go for it! And then after that; crushing my workout out like a baby. I will also be hyper focused on maintaining my partner and myself. I am in it to win it.
What is Motsepe looking forward to the most this upcoming season. Well, winning of course. Duh. He laughs but no seriously, winning is the ultimate goal for this talented kid from Africa.
Not only can he dance like no other. He also has a love of cooking. A man of many talents. Care to share your eating habits with us?
Since I am always in training mode, I do a lot of meal planning and prepping. In the morning, I’ll have oatmeal before heading to the gym. I’ll make a cup of coffee with my vitamins. Post gym, I will come home and make some toast.
I grew up in South Africa, and there was this bread that I can’t recall the name of. It is very different in the States. We referred to it as boom boom cake. It’s delicious, but I cannot eat that anymore while training. Now, everything that I buy I need to read the label to ensure the ingredients and nutritional value. There’s so many options in America, which is a good thing. Back in South Africa, I would go in the store, grab what was available, and leave. Here, I am spending an hour in the grocery store and I’m like, “Why am I taking so long?” I read everything down to the last ingredient.
Back to my eating habits. In the early afternoon, I’ll go for a healthy snack. Perhaps, some steamed broccoli with carrots. For lunch, I’ll make a chicken salad. In the evening, I’ll make ground Turkey with mixed veggies on the side. I still like cakes, sushi, and burgers. I don’t do it all the time. It has to be in moderation. I keep my cheat days.
Another variation is in the morning, I’ll do oatmeal (same breakfast every morning) and avocado toast post gym. In the early afternoon I will have a natural smoothie. A small salad for lunch. For dinner, I will make a Ribeye steak with a side of sliced tomatoes and cucumber. My biggest vice is wine. I love a nice glass of wine. That’s my go to “cheat.”
Earlier this year, we heard the news of the passing of Motsepe’s Mother.
We are so sorry to hear about the passing of your mother this past year. You have recipes she passed on to you from South Africa, our readers would love to have you share with us.
Thank you for your condolences. I appreciate them. I miss her everyday. One of my fondest memories growing up was my mom making a Sunday meal for us every week after church.
All of us ( my mom, dad, sisters) would go to church together. Very early on Saturday morning, she would prepare for that Sunday meal. She would cut all the vegetables, season the meat, peel the potatoes, etc. She didn’t want anyone in her kitchen but her. Everything would be prepped and ready to go for Sunday, so when we came home after church, she just needed to put it on the stove. She would do this every week with such grace and ease.
There are so many dishes of hers that I love. I genuinely miss her cooking. It’s hard to pick just one. She would make this sort of mincemeat, that’s what we call it in South Africa. She would make a side of white rice with some creamy spinach. There was another dish she would make with a layer of cheese at the bottom of the pan, a layer of rice, turkey meat, and another layer of cheese on top. I don’t know the name, but it was delicious. The way she made it…. I feel like I’m literally tasting it right now. Then, we would have some nice tea post dinner. It was always tea. I didn’t start drinking coffee until I joined Dancing With The Stars.
Like all of us we hope that she will be looking and rooting for you to bring home that trophy. We are all rooting for him this upcoming season at FEMI Magazine. Be on the look for the details of the upcoming 30th season of Dancing with the Stars.
Victoria is a Disney fanatic and Team Marvel. A Southern Girl and Naturalista but loves a good wig. The epitome of Black Girl Magic. Victoria launched her lifestyle blog this year focusing on inspiring others with her experiences and words. She is inspired by helping women reach their full potential in all aspects of life. Follow her on instagram at always_withlove_tori
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