(OUTscene America) Navratilova Talks DWTS to AARP!

AARP Fitness Ambassador Martina Navratilova, who will compete in the upcoming season of ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars,” chatted with AARP.org about how she’s preparing for her dancing debut and how she feels about dancing in front of millions of Americans.

 

On Deciding to Join The Cast

“ They’ve been asking for years, and either I didn’t have the time to commit or I couldn’t picture myself in those high heels. I have an arthritic big toe — from playing too much soccer as a kid. 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.”

 

On Her Favorite Dance 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!”

 

On Her Worst Memory of Dancing

“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?’”

 

On Training for the Competition

“I haven’t done anything this intense since I quit playing [competitive tennis] in 1994. But I think my body’s going to like it — it will be like coming home. It’s not as physical as playing tennis four hours a day, but it is pretty physical. I just have to be careful to not try to do too much, too soon.”