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Here's What Pooja REALLY Thinks About Colette Dropping by Her Job on Dancing Queens
Pooja Mehta also told The Daily Dish the real reason pro dancer Kristijan Brazer "partner dumped" Colette.
It was a dance divorce drama between Pooja Mehta and Colette Marotto as seen on Dancing Queens, but has their relationship improved?
The tension between the Scottsdale, Arizona-based dancers mounted throughout the season after professional dancer Kristijan Burazer “partner dumped” Colette in favor of Pooja. Colette’s perceived rejection from her partner of two years continued to nag at her, prompting her to visit Pooja at her Scottsdale-based makeup business in a recent Dancing Queens episode.
The Daily Dish recently caught up with Pooja to talk about the confrontation.
Why Did Kristijan Pick Pooja Over Colette?
The Dancing Queens ladies regularly discuss the importance of having a great relationship with their professional partners in the world of Pro-Am ballroom dance. For Pooja, Kristijan not only trained her when she danced in the American Rhythm category but also trained her dancing mother, Luna, and sister Meera.
When Pooja shifted into Latin dance — where Colette had already found her footing — it seemed Kristijan felt forced to make a choice.
Simply put, “it was that both of us couldn’t be in the B division together,” Pooja told The Daily Dish.
As seen in the series, Kristijan sent a text to Colette, explaining his “really difficult” decision to focus his energy on Pooja, fearing Pooja might “quit completely” if he chose Colette. Colette said she “cried for two weeks,” comparing the split to a divorce.
“I didn’t feel like I wanted to change instructors,” Pooja told The Daily Dish. “So, for me, it was like Kristijan already knew me and had known me through all of rhythm. And I just wanted to stay with the same person.”
Colette would end up then pairing with the “sexy” Oleksiy “Alex” Pigotskyy.
Things became a little awkward when Kristijan — often accompanied by his wife — entered the ballroom dance venues, and neither he nor Colette acknowledged one another. But based on what Pooja told The Daily Dish, it’s easy to see why the Slovenian dancer is so sought after.
“I think it’s just who he is,” said Pooja. “He’s a very special person.”
Pooja added that Kristijan “really understands his students,” and while placing high in the competition matters, Kristijan is more concerned with the mentee.
“He’s never the type to get upset if we don’t place well,” Pooja continued. “He cares about the direction of the growth of the dancer. And he’s just a funny guy … He’s just a special person.”
Are Colette and Pooja Friends Now?
In Episode 5 of Dancing Queens, Colette paid Pooja a surprise visit at Pooja’s Makiaj Beauty makeup business, hoping to let bygones be bygones. Equipped with some iced brews, Colette believed closure could be found, even through an uncomfortable conversation.
Although the exchange ended in a hug, it was still tense.
“I think I was definitely caught off-guard,” Pooja admitted to The Daily Dish, saying that walking into a business is “kind of off limits, especially to talk about drama.”
But Pooja said even though things were awkward, she welcomed her and kept it professional.
“I think I said everything I wanted to say, and I’m glad we had that conversation,” Pooja explained. “Because it kind of diluted the tension — that I didn’t believe was ever there — but she thought was.”
Pooja told The Daily Dish her and Colette’s relationship is “absolutely” better off following the conversation.
The dance competition continues for Pooja, Colette, Donie Burch, Leonie Biggs, Sabrina Strasser, and Gaëlle Benchetrit. New episodes of Dancing Queens air Tuesdays at 9/8c on Bravo and will be available to stream the next day on Peacock.
