Gleb Savchenko Drops Truth Bomb About 'Dancing With The Stars'

"Dancing With The Stars" pro Gleb Savchenko is no stranger to long rehearsals, glittering costumes, and celebrity drama, but even after 14 years, the ballroom still pushes him to his limits. The professional dancer, who recently competed alongside Hilaria Baldwin in Season 34 of the hit ABC competition, says the show remains "the hardest thing I've ever done in my life." In a new interview, Gleb Savchenko opened up about the intense demands of being a "DWTS" pro, navigating difficult partnerships, and what really goes on behind the scenes before showtime.

Savchenko didn't hold back when describing the reality of life as a professional dancer on the show. "Listen, 'Dancing With The Stars' is freaking hard. I don't think people understand how hard it is," he admitted to Covers. "This show and 'Strictly Come Dancing' [are] probably the hardest thing[s] I've ever done in my life."

Reflecting on his past seasons, including his partnership with Shangela, the show's first-ever same-sex pairing, Gleb revealed that the mental and physical toll is immense. "It's really hard on your body and mental health, especially being a pro," he explained. "You want to be able to teach your celebrity not just the steps, but how to connect. That's very important."

While the ballroom glitz may look effortless on TV, Savchenko revealed that the process is far from glamorous. "Pros pretty much do everything," he said. "We have wardrobe, music, and creative teams, and weekly Zoom meetings where we pitch everything, from the music to the choreography. It's a collaborative exchange of thoughts and ideas."

According to Gleb, the professionals often work three to four days before even beginning to teach the celebrities. "I prep everything prior to teaching. In my previous seasons in Los Angeles, I had Alexis Warr assisting me, she's now on 'Strictly Come Dancing' in the UK, killing it," he said proudly.

When it comes to filming days, Monday is for camera blocking, and Tuesday is a marathon. "We run the opening number again and again to make sure it's perfect," he said. "Then it's straight into the full dress run. It's a long, exhausting couple of days."

Even seasoned pros like Savchenko aren't immune to pre-show jitters. "It's good to be nervous," he said. "It means you care, and it gives you that rush of adrenaline to kill it. Imagine performing in front of millions every week, it's easy to get nervous, and I get nervous too."

Gleb explained that nerves often come from wanting to do justice to the hard work put in throughout the week. "When you know your stuff, the less nervous you'll be," he said. "Being a little nervous keeps you sharp."

Over his 14 seasons on "Dancing With The Stars," Gleb Savchenko has been paired with some of the show's most talked-about contestants, including Lisa Vanderpump, Erika Jayne, Jana Kramer, Lauren Alaina, Nikki Glaser, Chrishell Stause, and, most recently, Hilaria Baldwin. Each partnership brought its own unique chemistry, challenges, and headlines.

While he didn't name names, Gleb admitted that not every pairing has been a smooth ride. "It's f-cking hard!" he said with a laugh. "Listen, it's part of your job, and you have to suck it up and do your job. That's when you become a good pro. You cover all the minuses and bring out all the pluses, then let the public and judges decide. There's nothing you can do."

While Gleb Savchenko is known for his on-screen chemistry, one partnership extended far beyond the ballroom and into the tabloids. Last season, the pro dancer was paired with Sports Illustrated model Brooks Nader, and the two sparked headlines after taking their partnership off the dance floor and into real life.

The pair began dating just weeks into the competition but called it quits shortly after their elimination in October. By November, they rekindled their romance, only to split again in April, this time for good. Neither revealed the reason behind the breakup at the time, but speculation exploded when Brooks' sister, Grace Ann Nader, accused Gleb of cheating. Savchenko has since shut down the rumors.

Despite the public scrutiny, the "DWTS" veteran kept his focus on his career and his daughters, maintaining that he's always been a "family man" first.