Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Britt Stewart

Britt Stewart made history as the first Black female pro on Season 29 of Dancing with the Stars, competing with partner and Olympic ice skater Johnny Weir. It’s a fitting milestone for the dancer and choreographer whose mission as an artist has always been to inspire and break barriers. Pop Culturalist had the pleasure of speaking with Britt about discovering her passion for dance, her journey with Johnny, and what she took away from her first season as a pro.

PC: How did you discover your passion for dance?
Britt: Dance has always been a part of my life. I started dancing when I was three. My parents knew that they wanted me to be in an activity and dancing was the only thing that I loved. That’s how I got into it. Neither of my parents are dancers. They’re both creative, but they’re business people. So, dance is new to me and my family.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Britt: Oh my goodness. That’s hard. It’s hard because I’ve been professionally dancing since I was fifteen. I’m thirty-one now, so I’ve had a lot of different experiences. I definitely have to say that Kenny Ortega is someone that’s been extremely influential in my professional career. My first major job was the High School Musical series, all three movies, so he’s really the one who discovered me and gave me an opportunity to be in those movies. From there, I went on to work with him on other projects, but he really discovered me and gave me my start in the entertainment industry.

Also, Mandy Moore is someone that has had a big part in my professional career. She’s one of the main reasons why I became part of the Dancing with the Stars family. I owe her that, for giving me the opportunity to be on the show.

Then, personally, my mom. I’m really close with my family and my parents, but my mom is one of my best friends. She’s there for me for all sorts of support—professional, emotional, spiritual. She’s my guardian angel on Earth.

PC: One of our favorite theme weeks on the show is “Most Memorable Year”. You’ve had a lot of success in your career. When you look back, what’s been your most memorable year?
Britt: I know this has been a hard year, but it’s been really interesting. Being a pro on Dancing with the Stars and having this opportunity has been absolutely amazing. I will definitely look back on this year as one of my most memorable.

Also, when I toured the world with Katy Perry. I was with her for three years, but those years were so memorable. I got to travel and saw what the world has to offer, but then also being able to dance and do my passion is something I will remember forever.

PC: This season, you became the first Black female pro on Dancing with the Stars. What has that milestone meant to you?
Britt: That milestone of being the first Black female pro on Dancing with the Stars is so fulfilling. It’s such an honor. I feel so blessed that I was the one to get that opportunity. It’s funny, I’ve had a few people in my life say, “You made history.” When you look at it from that perspective, it’s overwhelming.

When I got the job, I knew that I was the first Black female, but when people put it into that sense, it seems so much more than me. I’m very honored. I hope that my position and my opportunity can now open doors for more diversity in the industry.

PC: Throughout the season, you could tell that there was a beautiful friendship forming between you and Johnny Weir. How were you both able to build that bond so quickly?
Britt: Some things are out of our control. With Johnny, I feel like I have a friend for life now. Johnny and I connected deeply and instantly. It’s one of those things where I felt like—I still feel like—I don’t know how he wasn’t in my life prior to this.

When you’re on Dancing with the Stars as a pro and when you have your celebrity partner, you’re really put in this vulnerable position. You’re with each other every day and teaching someone a new craft that they’ve never done before and asking them to do it in a week on live television. You form a support and bond between each other, and you have to be vulnerable and open to the experience. When you do that together, you just naturally form a friendship. That’s why you see so many friendships come from the show. It was our circumstance of being on the show, but then also it was an extra layer of that—we just love each other.

PC: This is your first season on the show as a pro. What was the biggest lesson you learned that you hope to bring to future seasons?
Britt: That’s a good question. I’m really proud of what I was able to do in my first season. That has a lot to do with Johnny. He was so open to the experience and so dedicated. Having such an amazing partner is what I believed helped my first season be so successful. But moving forward, I really want to carry it on. When choreographing, learning, and figuring out our dances each week, I really cultivated them to Johnny. We would always have a day of experimenting where I really molded the choreography to him. That’s what I think makes a really great choreographer; you still have your voice as a choreographer, but then it’s about making sure that the piece works for your partner.

I found that to be really helpful this season. I want to carry that on in future seasons no matter who my partner is. At the end of the day, Johnny and I are both fierce competitors, but our main goal is to bring joy, happiness, smiles, laughter, and to inspire. We got so many beautiful messages from fans. That’s something we accomplished.

PC: How much pressure is it to not only create a routine each week, but to also teach your partner it?
Britt: It’s a lot of pressure. It’s so funny, I’ve been on troupe for five seasons before I got promoted to pro. I got a glimpse of what it would be like, but it was nothing like being in that actual position. It’s so much pressure and a lot of stress, but I absolutely loved it. It exceeded my expectations. I’m always inspired by the music and who I’m choreographing for. Johnny was my inspiration throughout the whole season. I wanted this experience to be completely open with no ego. I feel like that’s what helps you create the best product. It goes the same for teaching as well. You just have to be patient and cultivate the experience for your partner.

PC: You’ve also teased in previous interviews that you and Johnny may be working on a little side project. Is there any update on that?
Britt: We’re still working on it. Because we made it to the semi-finals, we had a freestyle planned. A lot of our fans, after we got eliminated, they still wanted to see it. We have hopes that I will choreograph that, and we’ll film it as a little side project for the two of us to do together.

Hopefully, it’ll make the fans happy, too! So many people want to see it. We’re still brainstorming on some things that we can do together. Our connection was so special. We really enjoyed it, and we’re friends. We’re going to look for opportunities where we can continue to do that.

I was going to visit him sooner. He doesn’t live in LA, but with COVID and the numbers increasing, we put a pause on that. But in the new year, I’m going to visit him safely and we’ll continue to brainstorm some projects that we can do together.

PC: You were saying earlier that dance has been a part of your life since you were fifteen. If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be and why?
Britt: When I first started dancing from three to twelve—before my teenage years—I was so confident in who I was. I was always my unique self. Then, as teenagers, you start to shift. You try to mold and conform because you want to be a cool kid. I only did a little bit of that, but I wish I would have been more confident in myself and who I am.

Now, as a woman, part of me that I’m really passionate about is always being authentic and being genuine to who my authentic self is. If I were to go back to myself and talk to fifteen-year-old me, I would tell myself to love myself more, be confident in who I am, and that timing is everything. We grow, we evolve, we accomplish things, and we fail things at the exact time that we’re supposed to.

PC: Besides Johnny, do you have a dream partner?
Britt: It’s so funny. If I’m reaching really big, it’s Justin Timberlake. I mean, come on. He would be amazing. But when I’m thinking about teacher-partners, why I love Johnny so much is that he was so dedicated. He wanted to be there. He was open to the process. He didn’t have an ego. He was there to learn and experience something new and to have the thrill of doing that in front of millions of people. I would be happy with anybody who has that same mindset. Recently, I started following Charlie Puth on Instagram. I feel like he would be a really fun partner. He seems quirky. I don’t know about his dance ability at all, but he definitely has the musicality. That could be fun.

PC: Having made it to the semi-finals, does that add pressure for future seasons?
Britt: Absolutely. Being in the semi-finals is amazing. Johnny’s and my friendship and our scoring got us to that point, but we were in the bottom a lot. We had to really work hard for our votes. We, as a partnership, probably had the smallest [fan base], but they were fierce. They are a fierce fan base.

A lot of people have talked about my choreography. I think I will put pressure on myself to make sure that this wasn’t just a one-time thing for me. I can always be innovative, inspire, and create new things that break barriers. I will one hundred percent put even more pressure on myself in seasons to come.

PC: You’ve created some of the most memorable dances this season. When you look back, is there one that sticks out?
Britt: Oh my gosh. I love them all so much. Our contemporary is one of my favorites. It felt amazing. The week prior, Johnny had excelled, but he came out of his skin a little bit in that number. I could feel his energy and feel his performance. Then, I would also say our Viennese Waltz to “Creep” was definitely one of my favorites that we did together.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Britt: Schitt’s Creek.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Britt: It’s not a guilty pleasure, but it is a little dorky. I always watch Pride and Prejudice.

PC: Favorite book?
Britt: The Mastery of Love by Don Miguel Ruiz.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Britt: Can I be biased? High School Musical.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Britt: NEEDTOBREATHE.

PC: Favorite dance style?
Britt: Jazz. I’m a jazz girl at heart.

PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Britt: I’m going to say Kerry Washington, but I think I would want to play her and her life. Maybe Zoe Saldana because she has a dance background.

To keep up with Britt, follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

Photo Credit: Alex Stone // Makeup: Robert Bryan // Hair: Sophia Porter // Styling: Brooke Sheperd