Selma Blair Hopes to Be 'An Inspiration' by Competing on 'Dancing With the Stars' With MS (Exclusive)
etonline.comSelma Blair will continue to defy the odds of her multiple sclerosis diagnosis this year as she heads into competition for season 31 mirrorball trophy.
ABC announced her name among 15 other contestants via on Thursday. She’ll be partnered with veteran pro Sasha Farber. Both Blair and Farber gushed with excitement following the official announcement, telling ET that Blair's mobility challenges will only add to their creativity on the dance floor.«Walking is much harder for me than when I can get into the groove of settling into dance and fluidity,» explains Blair, who first announced her MS diagnosis in 2018.MS is a nerve disorder that disrupts the connection between brain and body, and Blair tells ET that she now uses a cane when walking and struggles with drop foot in her ankles.
Nevertheless, the dancing has already proved to be a smoother experience. «There is something when the nervous system and brain are calm,» Blair says, explaining that her symptoms tend to worsen when she’s nervous, and she’s used her rehearsals as a tool to learn how to relax while moving. «This is an amazing lesson to use my emotions and body together to unite a little more with the support of Sasha and music,» she says. «Amazing things can happen and I hope that I can be an inspiration.»Farber added that he came to rehearsal with a different set of goals this season: He started small, with daily check-ins on Blair's level of soreness and breathing exercises to begin each rehearsal. «This isn't about a dance competition for me personally,» he says. «I want Selma to improve and to grow.»Blair has already started to notice the differences. «It was a thrill,» she says.
Read more on etonline.com
