Here's Why Dancing Queens' Pooja Mehta Is Switching Ballroom Dance Styles (Again)
Pooja Mehta also revealed whether her children will join the world of ballroom dance, as it's a family affair for her.
It hasn’t been an easy journey for Pooja Mehta as she competed on Dancing Queens. After switching categories of ballroom dance, she didn’t make the top six in the finals at the Millennium Competition in the season finale.
Pooja has also felt the high expectations from her family. Her mother, Luna, and sister, Meera, also compete in ballroom dancing, and the three share a partner, Kristijan Burazer — who is the ex-partner of castmate Colette Marotto. At Millennium, Luna placed third in Latin group D ages 61-70, while Meera placed fourth in Latin group A ages 16-35.
So, is Pooja still dancing six months after filming?
Where Is Pooja Mehta Now?
Pooja’s switch from the American Rhythm category to the International Latin category was the focus of her time on Dancing Queens. Pooja did it in order to compete in the same style as her mother and sister — but she also felt the pressure to win.
“Mom and Meera always like to say, ‘Latin dancing is a lot more competitive than rhythm,’” she said during the season. “But what I hear is, ‘Pooja, you can be better.’”
But after the Millennium competition, Pooja revealed she switched back to the American Rhythm style from International Latin.
“I’m a great dancer, and I don’t need to be a great Latin dancer,” she said in the season finale. “I’m happy for my mom — I’m happy for my sister. That style works for them and they love it. But I’ve always chosen my own path. American Rhythm is what I love and what I’m good at.”
After failing to make the finals at the Millennium competition, Pooja's mother told her she was proud of her.
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“This is a really big moment because there have always been so many high expectations from my mom, but now I know she’s proud of me,” Pooja said in the finale. “To hear it from her means a lot. It means everything, actually.”
After switching back to American Rhythm, Pooja shared in the season finale she’s placed first in three competitions — which is more wins than her mom or sister. Although not in the same category anymore, she still appreciates the bond ballroom dancing brings her family.
“I don’t know what it’s like to dance without them,” Pooja said in an interview with The Daily Dish. “There was never a time that we didn’t. But I feel like we all encourage each other. And we all add this extra competitive layer to it. So, everyone is constantly improving because we all want to be the best.”
She's made it clear ballroom dance is in her blood — and that’s now true for her children as well. She shares two sons with her husband, Shimon: Yoav, 7, who was seen in the season finale with Pooja at the competition, and Idan, 2.
“My older one started dancing like a week ago,” Pooja told The Daily Dish.
She said she’s been trying to get Yoav to take dance lessons since he was 3 years old and he resisted — until now.
“Two weeks ago I was like, 'Do you want to take a dance lesson?' Like it’ll be fine — it’s summer,” Pooja said “He’s like, ‘Yeah, I don’t know.’ And then he agreed to it! So he’s been taking lessons with [her partner] Kristijan’s wife. I love it! We’re going to buy him his first pair of dance shoes, and it’s gonna be a really big moment.”
Watch season one of Dancing Queens streaming now on Peacock.
