Exclusive! Will Juan Pablo Di Pace Win Dancing With The Stars?

Fuller House and Dallas star, Juan Pablo Di Pace, and his pro partner, Cheryl Burke, a two-time Dancing with the Stars champion, are the top scorers in season 27 of the reality competition series, which airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on ABC. Can they stay on top?

Di Pace took time out of his busy rehearsing schedule to chat with Soap Hub about his DWTS experience, working with Burke, and what it was like playing Nicolas Treviño on the revival of Dallas.

Read on to get the scoop from the Argentine-born actor/director who scored the first perfect score (30) on this season of DWTS!

You and Cheryl have an average top score of 26.2!
It feels amazing. It’s been such a ride, a great, beautiful journey that we’re having. It’s challenging. The numbers don’t matter. Yes, I’m competitive but with myself. It’s never a done deal. Things could change on Monday!

How did it feel to get a perfect score of 30 in week 3?
Incredible. We didn’t think it would be a possibility. We were hoping for 8s. I wasn’t getting the samba. We had the steps, but I didn’t have the groove. Something clicked the day before. That was Most Memorable Year week. I tried not to look at the video package but I looked up and saw a picture of my brother and me when we were [young].

Also, that night, Patricia Kelly, [the late] Gene Kelly’s wife, came to the show. Bruno [Tonioli, one of the judges] told me that I reminded him of Gene. Patricia had heard that so she gave me that day a photo of him with a nice note telling me that Gene would be with me on the dance floor. Then, we got the perfect score.

You’ve opened up on the show about personal problems you endured while growing up.
Yes. Afterwards, I got tons of messages on social media, people telling me they’ve gone through or are going through the same thing. It’s quite heartbreaking to know that bullying is everywhere.

You don’t want to talk about it because you feel alone or that you’re not enough. You can sometimes try to demonstrate that you’re enough. That was my case. I remember wanting to show people that they were wrong. Then I realized I’m an artist because I love it [not to disprove anyone else].

Cheryl can be a demanding teacher. How’s your working relationship?
I had watched some of Dancing with the Stars when Jodie Sweetin [Fuller House] was on, but I hadn’t seen much of Cheryl’s seasons. When I learned I was partnered with her I started watching all her choreography. She’s special. She dances for passion and it’s because it’s what she’s meant to do. She’s an incredibly challenging teacher. She’s a coach, a therapist, and she’s very strong-willed. Sometimes we don’t see eye to eye, but it’s all worth it. I’m so happy to have her. I wouldn’t want anyone else.

What was it like being part of the revival of the iconic series Dallas as Nicolas, a man who mixed it up with the Barnes and Ewing clans?
Amazing. It was one of those times in life when someone’s looking out for you. I had been living and working in Europe for 17 years and had hit a wall in my career in terms of work…continue reading on the next page —>

Continue reading on the next page…

What was it like being part of the revival of the iconic series Dallas as Nicolas, a man who mixed it up with the Barnes and Ewing clans?
Amazing. It was one of those times in life when someone’s looking out for you. I had been living and working in Europe for 17 years and had hit a wall in my career in terms of work.

I said to myself you always wanted to come to Hollywood. It’s now or never. I moved to LA on a Monday, got my driver’s license on Tuesday…had my first audition on Saturday, and it was for Dallas. By Monday, I was in Texas shooting.

Can you preview tonight’s dance?
We’re doing a jive. But it’s a dark jive. We have to give it a twist! I can’t reveal the theme. We don’t know the order on which we’re going on. We shall see. We’ve been in the front of the show most of the time. I wouldn’t mind going on later in the show. Either way, I’m having a blast!

To vote for Juan Pablo Di Pace and Cheryl Burke call 1-800-868-3408.

Fans of the show can also vote online (during eligibility periods) by going to ABC.com.

Dancing with the Stars airs Mondays on ABC at 8 p.m. ET.