Hilaria Baldwin Addresses ‘Embarrassing’ Demands Of ‘DWTS’

The doting mother of seven admitted that while it gets very out of place for her to go back to dancing sometimes, her bravery fuels her determination to be good at it.

Hilaria Baldwin is currently appearing on the 34th season of “Dancing with the Stars” alongside ballroom expert Gleb Savchenko as her professional partner.

The TV personality got candid about her time on the dancing show so far, recalling that while some routines felt seamless during her younger years, they did not come with much thrill anymore now that she is older.

“I mean, some of it is like visiting a familiar friend when you’re older, and you’ve had a lot of children, and broken some bones, if you can relate to that,” Hilaria revealed.

She added that her dance partner has also introduced her to a new world of trying out dance moves that are much more sophisticated than what she is used to.

She noted that Savchenko is also helping her find a better footing on stage by letting her do most of the routines independently. Now, Hilaria is focusing on the “authenticity of the dance,” “the quality,” and “the footwork.”

Despite this progress, Hilaria noted, “It’s uncomfortable and embarrassing sometimes,” as she reminds herself that she signed up to do the hard things and be brave. The reality star concluded to PEOPLE that her professional partner is absolutely the perfect person to fail and triumph with.

The synergy between Hilaria and Savchenko is beyond apparent, as he also had enjoyable things to say about his partner’s attitude to work. He noted that she puts all her energy into getting an impressive result, and that passion is the most remarkable part of it all.

Savchenko described Hilaria as a perfectionist who wants everything to come out without errors, even at the detriment of becoming frustrated herself. “And I love that, because that’s the spirit of a true champion, and I really appreciate that. It’s really inspiring,” the ballroom dancer stressed.

On what Hilaria actually enjoys doing on the show, the star revealed that the trick for her is in trying out routines she has never done before. She explained that trying something new is liberating and sets a different expectation.

“As [Gleb] says, I’m very hard on myself. And so, I’m trying to learn to chill out a little bit. And I think I’ve done a better job at relaxing,” the “DWTS” star noted.

Responding to Julianne Hough’s claims that she might have pulled some strings behind the scenes to get a spot on the show, Hilaria stated that none of the speculations were true. 

As shared by The Blast, Hilaria affirmed that the selection happened very naturally, with undying support from her husband, Alec Baldwin. The reality star had posted a viral TikTok video of herself and the director sharing some moves, a clip Hilaria insists had nothing to do with her appearance on “DWTS.”

Hilaria revealed that the show’s producers contacted her days before the cast list was revealed, and she accepted the offer. Upon acceptance, she had to quickly relocate alongside her family to Los Angeles for the duration of season 34.

Her husband was also beyond excited to finally see her live out her dream of dancing in front of the world, as he had encouraged her to explore that side of her life for years now.

While the director stood on the brink of going to prison after a gun he was holding on set accidentally went off and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021, Hilaria was battling with preparing the children for the trial.

The Blast noted that she admitted that the emotional aspect of helping the children get through such a challenging time was daunting. In her words:

“When something bad happens, there is a fire, and your job is to try not to let the fire spread. But I wanted to put as much as I could, a fireproof barrier around my kids.”

Hilaria added that she also wanted the kids to know they are free to grow up at their own pace, without worrying about their parents’ well-being. Between the cocktails of emotions such as fear, anxiety, panic, insomnia, and even nausea, assuring the kids seemed like an insurmountable task.