Dance judges are like club managers... if you listen you will improve
REPUBLIC of Ireland footballer Stephanie Roche has revealed the difficulties of balancing Dancing With The Stars with her career with Shamrock Rovers. After a rocky start on the show, she found her groove with dance partner Ervinas Merfeldas. Despite the intensity of learning to dance, Stephanie has been training ahead of the new season with
Shamrock Rovers, which she joined in December from Peamount United. Speaking ahead of her performance tomorrow, Stephanie gave an insight into her hectic schedule, which also includes coaching children with her footballer husband, Dean Zambra. ‘It’s been very difficult. I’ve been balancing my football and dancing training. In terms of my coaching business, I’ve been very lucky I have Dean and his dad, who have been very hands-on in helping me out.
‘We do after-school programmes in schools and camp in February that myself and Dean are trying to organise for the midterm break.
‘It’s tough because Monday and Tuesday we’re in the gym and on the pitch in the evening. Then I’m in Dancing with the Stars Monday to Friday. It’s been hard getting the balance of that. We’re three weeks in so I’m getting used to it,’ she said.
She said that, at times, she has a ‘tired body’, and is thankful for the support her new club has shown for her appearances on Dancing With The Stars.
‘Shamrock Rovers have been brilliant in terms of helping me manage my load. I haven’t missed a session.
‘They’ve been very, very supportive – the girls from the Irish team through to the girls from Shamrock Rovers,’ she said.
Stephanie added: ‘Someone said to me the other day that when the judges are giving me my comments, I look at them dead in the eye looking to take everything on board...
‘That’s the footballer in me. As a player, if a manager has something to tell me, I’ll listen to it and try to improve on it. The same goes for dancing.’
■ Dancing With The Stars airs on RTÉ One and the RTÉ Player on Sundays at 6.30pm.
‘Hard getting the balance’