Haim Perstein Says His Friendship With Anna Aronov Was Strained After She Eliminated Him

Haim Perstein, who is now a judge on "Dancing with the Stars" after four seasons as a dancer on the show, says his new role is still taking some getting used to. He sits on the judging panel alongside his close friend Anna Aronov, who has long been familiar with the same position.

In an interview on "Good Evening with Guy Pines," the two said their friendship was shaken by a painful incident on the program. Perstein and Aronov have known each other since they were young, bonding as two immigrants from the dance world. Over the years, Aronov became a judge while Perstein established himself as one of the show's standout dancers.

The crisis came in season three, when Perstein danced with Yana Yosef and was eliminated first after Aronov made the decision. Perstein said the blow hit him so hard that they did not speak for two months. "I didn't answer her calls," he said, adding that she called him the next day "with a trembling voice" and asked, "How are you?" He replied, "Everything's fine, I understood," and hung up.

Aronov described her own reaction by saying she told him, "I'm here, waiting for you to calm down and for this to pass. I'm always here for you." Perstein now says he understands the professional role better: "All the dancers are my friends and colleagues, and you are very conflicted because you understand that the job requires it. You have to be professional and tell them to their face."