In a new interview with the AARP, former tennis ace Martina Navratilova talked about joining the season 14 cast of Dancing with the Stars (premiering tonight) — as well as her best and worst dance memories.
Surprisingly, Navratilova’s fondest memory of dancing was spurred on by a beverage that is associated wit many people’s worst memories: “My best memory is from Billie Jean King’s 50th birthday party – a big bash in New York. It was at Denim & Diamonds, and I just danced the night away, mostly by myself. I had a couple of tequila shots and felt totally uninhibited. I was just glad it wasn’t me turning 50!”
Her worst experience with the art of dancing, meanwhile, is one of her first such experiences: “My worst memory is of my first dance lesson as a 14-year old in Prague. My mother put me in this silver and pink lame dress. My hair was all curled, and it was the first time I wore a garter belt. I felt so out of place! Every boy I danced with was going to be a mechanic. When they asked me I said, ‘I’m going to be a tennis player.’ And they said, ‘Oh? You can make a living doing that?'”
Finally, Martina reveals that she’s actually been turning down Dancing with the Stars for years, but when ABC told her she wouldn’t have to wear high heels, well, that sealed the deal.
“I have an arthritic big toe — from playing too much soccer as a kid,” says Navratilova.” So it hurts in high heels. But [ABC] told me I didn’t have to wear such high heels, so my toe apprehension was alleviated.”
Source: AARP.org
