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Tony Dovolani explains the reason for his exit from Dancing With The Stars

The 44-year-old also spoke about the difference in work ethic of celebrities at the show.
UPDATED JAN 6, 2020
Tony Dovolani (Getty Images)
Tony Dovolani (Getty Images)

Former Dancing with the Stars professional Tony Dovolani is a man on the move. In an interview for Hollywood Life's  podcast, the dancer revealed the real reason why he departed the show.

“When I decided to quit nothing major happened, it was just a build up of things where I just said, ‘I didn’t sign up for this,'” Tony said.

Dancer Tony Dovolani poses backstage at the Betsey Johnson fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring 2015 at The Salon at Lincoln Center on September 10, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week)

“For babysitting, maybe, a little bit. Some of these celebrities, or reality celebrities, I should say, they sometimes … they have an idea of what they think they are and who they are, and they didn’t realize that I wasn’t there to deal with them. I was there to teach them how to dance. So, when it becomes about other than teaching them how to dance, I want no part of it.”

Tony Dovolani (L) and Lina Dovolani attend Celebrity Golf Tournament Afterparty during Sandals Emerald Bay Celebrity Golf Weekend on June 4, 2016 in Great Exuma, Bahamas. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Sandals)

Tony went on to speak about how the work ethic is starkly different when it comes to celebrities or reality TV celebrities. 

“For me, it’s like when it comes to reality stars, I mean the word itself explains it: reality star,” Tony added. “Which means that you’re an interesting individual, character maybe… like the villain or somebody that you like. For me, I respect talent. I respect hard work.”

Dancer Tony Dovolani attends The 6th Annual George Lopez Celebrity Golf Classic To Benefit The Lopez Foundation at Lakeside Golf Club on May 6, 2013 in Burbank, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images for The Lopez Foundation)

In a previous interview with the publication, the dancer had talked about how he keeps dancing 8-9 hours a day at the age of 44. I do about eight to nine hours a day,” he told Hollywood Life. “[E]ven when I go home. My daughters dance, so I have to dance with them.”

When asked how he manages to perform for such long hours, the former pro revealed that he uses a Renue neck wrap that “relaxes your neck, it keeps your blood flowing, and you never get a headache.”

The reality TV star continued, "I’ll be honest with you because I’ve had a neck issue pretty much all my life as a dancer doing lifts, and now I play a lot of golf, so I always get kinks in my neck. The moment I’m done, the Renue neck wrap goes right on me.”

 'Dancing With The Stars: All Stars' winners Tony Dovolani and Melissa Rycroft visit ABC's Good Morning America at ABC News' Good Morning America Times Square Studio on November 28, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)

He went on to say that he’s still helping and guiding other dancers to become the very best they can be.

“I work with a lot of the now current world champions and finalists and so on,” he added. “For me, I’m constantly demonstrating as well. Even though I might be retired from competing, I still dance full out.”

RELATED TOPICS DANCING WITH THE STARS (DWTS)
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