Why Are They Dancing?

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

25 Feb 2008 02:21 AM

By now you know that despite being "mature," hearing impaired, and having two-left feet certain Hollywood celebrities have signed on to compete on season six of ABC's "Dancing with the Stars."

Which has prompted many to ask: WHY?

For 62-year-old Priscilla Presley the answer still escapes her. Elvis' former wife recently told Oprah Winfrey that it took a while before she agreed to strap on her dancing shoes and strut her stuff in sequins in front on a national TV audience... and she says she still doesn't know how she will pull it off on premiere night.

As for Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin the reason she is undertaking the physically grueling schedule is simple. She says she wants to "prove to people that the only thing I, and 26 million Americans who are deaf or hard of hearing like me, really can't do - is hear."

The other reason Matlin decided to join the hit show is because she and her children are "huge fans" of the reality series.

The "Children of a Lesser God" star recently told PEOPLE magazine that her 12-year-old daughter is hip-hop student and dance lover and is ecstatic that her mom is competing on the show.

Matlin says she is ready to prove to viewers that she has "a sense of rhythm" that not many people are aware of. In addition to her innate rhythm, Matlin will be assisted by two powerful digital hearing aids and a "fabulous dance partner" in Fabian Sanchez.

The 42-year-old actress also says that sign language gives her "an internal metronome" and she reads Sanchez's lips and hips to learn all the right moves. What's more, Sanchez says he has learned some sign language and an interpreter is on hand at all times to help the pair communicate.

Finally, for former "Police Academy" star Steve Guttenberg, agreeing to shimmy and shake his stuff on national TV was a bit more complicated.

"Well, I was told I'm doing The Bachelor, so I don't know," the actor joked to reporters during a recent interview. "They said Dancing and I said, well, I guess that's a new Bachelor, you know, and I get to choose."

Kidding aside, the Guttenberg says "Dancing with the Stars" is his mom's favorite show and he is hoping to make his family proud despite the fact that he claims to have two left feet.

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Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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