Gleb Savchenko told PEOPLE he’s looking forward to focusing on dancing this season after his partnership with Hilaria Baldwin was announced for Dancing with the Stars season 34.
The professional dancer, 41, wants to avoid the drama that marked his previous season. Last year, Savchenko started dating his partner Brooks Nader, which ended in a public breakup in April.
“I’m most looking forward to just enjoying work and dance. Finally I have a partner that I can go out there and dance [with] and really enjoy and not try to figure out the routine of like, ‘Okay let me just hide all of your minuses and bring out the pluses.'”
The full cast for season 34 was revealed Wednesday, September 3rd.
Savchenko praised Baldwin’s work ethic and commitment to the competition. He says they share the same vision for their partnership.
“We can actually go out there and create something. I can create something that will be hopefully an incredible routine and tell the story through dance. That’s what I’m all about and that’s what Hilaria brings to the floor.”
Zero Drama Policy
Both partners emphasized their goal of keeping things professional this season.
“Zero drama,”
Savchenko said.
Baldwin, a mother of seven, agreed.
“No drama. Zero drama. Only fun, good vibes.”
Savchenko’s mission is reaching the finale so he can choreograph a freestyle routine. But his biggest priority remains having fun with Baldwin and enjoying the process.
Last Season’s Controversy
Savchenko began dating Nader, 28, shortly after DWTS rehearsals started last year. Their relationship became public during the competition but ended when Nader accused him of cheating in April.
The dancer denied the allegations to E! News at the time.
“I’m not a cheater. I’m actually a family guy. I’m a relationship guy. I’m not a f— boy who goes around and goes on all these dates. I’m not even on dating apps.”
He called the split “really upsetting” and something “that broke my heart.”
Nader recently claimed she had “proof” of Savchenko’s alleged cheating on her new reality show, Love Thy Nader.
Savchenko responded with a TikTok video lip-syncing to audio that says, “I don’t know where you got your information from, I don’t know who your source is, but I will be the first one to tell you that is incorrect.”
He captioned the post: “Your ‘source’ needs a refund… because that story? 100% fake.”
Return Uncertainty
In the comment section of that TikTok, Savchenko seemed to indicate he’d been fired from DWTS before season 34. When a user wrote they couldn’t wait to see him in September, he replied, “Afraid you won’t.”
Another comment prompted him to respond:
“14 years of loyalty, erased by someone’s lie.”
Those concerns proved unfounded when his return was confirmed in the September 3rd cast announcement.
Savchenko has competed on the show for 10 seasons. His previous partners include Mira Sorvino, Shangela, Chrishell Stause, Nikki Glaser, Erika Jayne, Jana Kramer, and Lisa Vanderpump.
Dancing with the Stars season 34 premieres Tuesday, September 16th at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and simulcast on Disney+. The show streams the next day on Hulu.
