Witney Carson, renowned professional dancer from “Dancing With The Stars,” is taking her passion for dance to new heights with the introduction of her fitness app, Finesse. Having spent over a decade on the popular dance competition, Carson, who joined the show at just 20 years old, has built a remarkable career, reaching the finals six times and winning the coveted mirrorball trophy in 2015 with partner Alfonso Ribeiro. Her competitive spirit has made her a standout on the show, and now she aims to extend her influence beyond the ballroom.
Outside of her DWTS accomplishments, Carson has showcased her talents in various platforms, including competing on “So You Think You Can Dance” and earning an Emmy nomination for her choreography. With the launch of Finesse, she hopes to blend her expertise with a broader vision aimed at enhancing the dance experience.
In a recent conversation with Screen Rant, Carson shared the inspiration for her app and what users can expect from it, especially in light of her partnership with Robert Irwin for the upcoming season of DWTS.
“Yeah, well it’s kind of been a passion project, I would say for many years, but we just didn’t really know how to kind of bring it to the world until earlier this year,” Carson explained. She highlighted the app’s focus on providing an in-home dance experience, allowing users to engage with dance on their own terms. Noting her own fortune to have had great mentors growing up, Carson said, “We definitely wanted to make it affordable, and we wanted to make it accessible for everyone.”
Finesse caters to dancers of all levels, whether they have prior experience or are completely new to the art form. “If you’re just never danced before, but you love dance and you want to try it out, this is for you. If you’re a dancer that really wants to level up and learn cool new choreography, then this is for you,” Carson remarked, emphasizing the app’s inclusive nature.
Carson and her husband, Carson McAllister, played pivotal roles in designing the app’s content, ensuring it resonates with a wide audience. “If you didn’t want to learn how to dance, but you just love dance and want to watch it, there was enough for that user [along with those training],” she added.
One of Finesse’s standout features, “Mirror Me,” invites users to dance alongside professionals like Carson and Irwin, creating a sense of community reminiscent of popular social media platforms like TikTok. “Many, many hours went into this app, training, building, and choreographing,” Carson noted. Her dedication shows through the interactive elements designed to engage users.
Additionally, Finesse includes entertaining series such as “Skill Swap,” where Carson learns new skills from various celebrities. Reflecting on her experience swapping skills with former DWTS partner Danny Amendola, she shared, “I had actually never really taken a deep dive in football at all, and I just respect the sport so much more now. I mean, I almost threw up after doing the drills. I was like, this is so hard!”
Carson also opened up about her approach to choreography on DWTS, especially regarding the buzz-worthy moments she creates: “I always kind of think of the balance of making sure that we create kind of a show-stopping routine, or there’s something in it that there’s kind of a wow factor, but then everything else is very much technical… I’m always looking for a good balance.”
As for the playful moment involving Robert Irwin’s shirt during a recent dance, she admitted, “I didn’t anticipate how much the shirt rip would cause that much of a commotion. I was like, well, I knew it would definitely be talked about, but the way that it’s been talked about has very much exceeded what I thought.”
Looking ahead to Disney Night on DWTS, Carson teased, “We’re really trying to just bring like a different side of Robert out. A really light, fun, and positive side. I mean, that’s really what Disney is. It’s very nostalgic, and it makes people feel happy.”
Carson also humorously addressed the flood of fan messages she’s received urging her to set Irwin up on dates. “I have had to post a few times being like, okay everyone, let’s hold off on the applications! Because we cannot be distracted at this point in time… I’m like handing it over until we’re done, and then we can assess his love life.”
With the launch of Finesse and anticipation building for the upcoming season of DWTS, Witney Carson is poised for an exciting chapter in her career, continuing to inspire others through her dedication to dance.
