#julz tocker

Performed by: Dave Coombs, Julz Tocker, and Annalisa Zoanetti

Numbers: “End of Time” and “Let Me Love You”

Styles: Samba and Cyr Wheel

For my second time seeing this tour, I'm still in awe every time they step out onto the stage. Knowing what to expect, I wanted them to over do what they have already done. They didn't disappoint. I had more of an appreciation for more dances like, Julz and Emma's Waltz. The instrumental version of "Secrets" by One Republic is amazing and beautiful. The contemporary that Alan and Brittany do is just pure art. It's so passionate. It reminded me of the passion I once had for dance and reawakened it.

Of course my favorite part is going to meet them at the buses after the show. The minute Brittney and I got out there, we automatically made friends with two people: Khendi and David.

We started to talk about whom we wanted to see most and as soon as you know it, Alek walked out. We were at the end of the line of people waiting (side note: you can speak with them longer when you get to the end of the line.) When he came up to us, Khendi met him first. She made the comment that he was, "a fine piece of white chocolate."

Then I met him. He was actually the one person I was dead set on meeting. He came up to me and gave me the largest hug. I almost melted standing there. You could tell he still wasn't used to the whole idea of being "famous." I asked him to teach me how to tango and he said that he isn't the one that should be teaching me and hugged me again.

Then he wanted us to take a group photo. He never let me go the whole time we were getting set for the photo. He rubbed my back while waiting, because he said it was cold out. (Yes, I was dying!)

Overall, a great first time meeting Alek. Never will I trade this encounter in my life. (Ladies, he’s tall, his smile is to die for, and he smells delicious.)

Soon after he went to the bus, Artem came out. I’d met Artem the last time I saw the show in New Orleans a few months before. Surprisingly, he remembered me. He came up and asked how I was doing while giving me a hug. He wanted to know if I was still impressed with them after already seeing it. I told him that I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. We took a few photos and then hugged again. He asked to see what our photo looked like and when I pulled up the last photo taken, Brittney had taken a photo of the ground in the last shot. He and I joked about how good we looked in the photo of the ground. He had his arm around me and laughed with me about it. He made us feel like we were the only ones outside. He really is such a sweetheart.

Right after Artem stepped to the next group of people in line, Julz came right up to us and also recognized me. He asked me how I was since he last saw me and how I liked the show. He was jumpy, because it was so cold outside. He grabbed me really fast and hugged me while asking how I wasn’t cold. Apparently, New Zealand never gets this cold. We talked for a bit longer and took a photo together. It wasn’t until we finished taking our photo that we realized we were matching. We both had on a plaid shirt and converses. He looked at my shoes and said, “Even our shoes match!! Shoe twins!” and he kicked my feet with his. I couldn’t help but to laugh. 

After Julz went to the next group, we saw Alan, Keo, and Val come out from the venue. During the intermission, I, of course, started tweeting. I first tweeted Alan and then Val. After the show, when we were standing outside to meet them, I got a tweet back from Alan.

I’m pretty sure all the color drained from my face when he came out with Val and Keo and came straight for me. I’m pretty sure I died and went to heaven actually. He came and grabbed me up in a hug and said to me, “Ahhh, you waited for me!” I then responded to him, “of course I waited for you.” We talked for a bit about the show and how amazing it was the second time around. Then it was time for the photos. He, unlike Julz, wasn’t as cold. So, he grabbed me in a hug and started to rub my arms to warm me up. 

As the photos were being snapped, I all of a sudden heard the group of girls on the sides of Brittney, Khendi, and David say, “awwwwww.” I had no idea what was going on. So, I turned my face to see Alan starring down at me and smiling. I couldn’t feel myself at that point. I was definitely frozen in that moment. I couldn’t think of the words to say, so I just looked back and smiled. He is definitely my favorite person I’ve ever met. I would definitely marry that man one day!

Just when I thought I couldn’t come off of cloud nine, I tripped over a purse and got caught by the one and only, Paul Barris! This was actually the first time I’d ever met Paul. So, being caught by him was quite the first impression. We talked a bit about the show and where he learned how to Salsa like he does (while I was still straddling the purse I had just tripped over) and he asked us why we weren’t wearing jackets. Definite dad moment there. 

Soon after Paul walked to the next group of people, Keo came up. I’ve waited to meet Keo for the past three seasons. I was so excited whenever Brittney took a photo with him, because she also has wanted to meet Keo for such a long time. He made her feel like the most important person in his world the moment he met her. After she moved behind me to take our photo, Keo opened his arms and grabbed me into the biggest bear hug. I told him how long I had waited to meet him and he said that he was so excited that this was my first time and asked me if I watched the show. We talked about that for a bit and then took our photo. I had an overwhelming feeling of being with my big brother. He was the best. 

Right after Keo was Val. Brittney had also waited such a long time to meet him. He has been her icon for a while when it comes to the show. She has her favorites, but Val always seemed to take precedence. She told him how excited she was to meet him and he treated her the same way that Keo did. Gave her the biggest hug and treated her like she was the most important person in his world at that moment. Then, he went to Khendi. She had the biggest smile on her face when meeting him. She was in such excitement that she was about to pass out. Then, he came to me. He remembered me right away. As I went up to him, I was dancing, because I started to get extremely cold with the breeze that came in. As soon as I reached him, he took me into his arms and picked me up off of the ground and into a big bear hug. The photos were snapped and he didn’t let go until I was warm again. When he put me down, he said, “you may not be able to see my face in the photos, but that’s because I’d rather you be warm than have a good photo.” I didn’t know what to say to him. I just smiled and of course received another hug from him. 

The guys went back into the bus not long after Val and I spoke. Then....the girls came out. I was so excited when Emma came straight up to us. She was such a doll. Even sweeter than you see on television. She was so excited to meet everyone and get photos and stories from everyone. I’m pretty sure this is where I fangirled the hardest. I was so excited to meet someone who was so compassionate towards people. 

Lindsay came up directly after her. We hugged like we had been friends for years. I asked her all the hard questions, “What was it like to have someone with absolutely NO dance experience and turn him into a mirrorball finalist?” “What was the most difficult experience with him in this season.” Stuff like that. She was so open to answering questions and also had a mom moment when she asked where our jackets were. She said she was used to it being a girl from Utah, but the sentiment of her caring said a lot of her. 

Lastly, before the buses pulled out, Brittany came to see us. She remembered me also from the New Orleans show. We talked about the show and when she thought they would find out if they would pro this season and which celebrities were going to be on this season. She said they have told them all nothing as of yet. I’m assuming they will be told after this tour. She said that she hoped she was proing this season. I couldn’t help, but agree because she deserves that and so much more.