Hits the Dancefloor
Mark Dacascos is not a household name, but he is a well-known face. Soon he may also be known for his featherlight feet. The man, simply known as “The Chairman”on the Food Network’s wildly popular Iron Chef America, will add “dancer”to his already impressive resume, as he joins 15 other contestants on the upcoming Dancing with the Stars season.
Dacascos, who is also an accomplished actor, writer and Kung Fu champion, has been at the helm of Iron Chef America since its debut in 2005. Although he has no professional dancing experience, his expertise in martial arts should serve him well on the dance floor. With a body already conditioned to accept the discipline that dancing requires, Dacascos will likely be a formidable competitor against some of the lesser known and less experienced contestants, which include a former politician, a former football player, an Olympic champion, a reality show personality, the son of a former Dancing With the Stars contestant and a Las Vegas showman. (As an aside, seven of those competing for the title have already been caught dancing on the wrong side of the law, and have rap sheets, but Dacascos is not one of them.)
This is not the first time someone from the food industry competed on the popular reality show. Chef Rocco DiSpirito was a contestant last fall, but was eliminated after just a few weeks of dancing, coming in ninth overall.
At this time, it is not known which of the professional dancers Dacascos will be paired with. Dancing with the Stars premieres September 21 on the ABC network.
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