Dancing With The Stars Producer Changed Partners Last Minute
Translated & summarized from Israel Hayom by baba
Producer Yoav Tzafir changed the dance pairings for "Dancing With The Stars" at the last minute, pairing Julia Shahar with Yogev Malka instead of Barak Shamir. Shahar revealed that Tzafir stated the original pairing "wasn't working for me." The couple, now married, explained their romantic connection developed through deep conversations rather than physical proximity during rehearsals.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Producer Yoav Tzafir changed dance partners for "Dancing With The Stars" at the last minute.
- Julia Shahar was originally paired with Barak Shamir before Tzafir intervened.
- Tzafir stated the original pairing "wasn't working for me" to justify the change.
- Shahar had prayed for a suitable match on the show two weeks prior to the pairing.
- Shahar and Malka emphasized their love developed through conversation, not physical contact.
Dancer Julia Shahar and "Ninja Israel" winner Yogev Malka were not originally slated to dance together on "Dancing With The Stars." The couple, who married a year ago, revealed on the "Tel Avivian and Rabbinic" podcast that producer Yoav Tzafir made the decision to pair them at the last minute.
Shahar explained that she was initially supposed to be partnered with Barak Shamir. "Until the last minute, I was supposed to be with Barak Shamir, who, by the way, danced with Alisa," she said. "I was sure I would be with Barak. Yoav (Tzafir) said at the last minute, 'Folks, this isn't working for me, I want Julia to be with Yogev.'"
Shahar found the timing of Tzafir's decision particularly striking, as it occurred just two weeks after she visited New York and prayed at the Rebbe's grave for a suitable match on the show. "Exactly when I was writing at the Rebbe's grave when we were in New York, it was about two weeks before my first meeting with the star... Julia wrote to the Rebbe that she wanted a worthy match on the show. It's somehow the Rebbe and Yoav together."
Despite the intimate nature of ballroom dancing, Shahar clarified that her romantic feelings for Malka did not stem from physical contact. "The question we are asked in every interview and everywhere is when did you feel you fell in love with Yogev?" she stated. "Yogev's and my falling in love did not happen because of physical touch or physical proximity."
Instead, Shahar and Malka described their connection as developing through deep conversations and shared experiences. "I always remember a lunch we had, or we sat on the side and talked about something deeper in life," Shahar said. Malka added, "We spent a lot of time together, saw many common traits, and fell in love along the way. Suddenly, slowly, you realize she has so many traits I love. There was a moment I said, 'Wow, she's really perfect, she has everything.'"