Las Vegas Weekly

December 30, 2011 · 1:37 AM

Rob Kardashian’s foray into ‘Dancing’ inspired him to do more, such as go to law school

By John Katsilometes

The Kardashian Khaos grand opening red carpet celebration at the Mirage featuring Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Scott Disick, Rob Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, Kylie Jenner and Kris Jenner on Dec. 15, 2011.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/DonoghuePhotography.com

Rob Kardashian is the most-oft choreographed of the Kardashians, having nearly won the Season 13 championship of “Dancing With the Stars.” His pro dancing partner and good friend, the ever-radiant Cheryl Burke, and he finished as the runners-up to J.R. Martinez and Karina Smirnoff.

The appearance helped set Kardashian apart from his family, which has gained international fame (if not acclaim) as a result of the highly rated and frequently referenced “Keeping Up With the Kardashians.”

The 24-year-old Kardashian is a graduate of USC with a bachelor’s degree in business. Fittingly, he’s bringing some business to Wynn Las Vegas on New Year’s Eve as he hosts a party at Tryst. Individual tickets are sold out, but tables are still available (as always, the prices for these tables make it seem as if they are molded of molten gold), and if you are interested, hit the Tryst Web site.

Last week, I kept up with Kardashian (not the pop culture consciousness of that phrase) in a phone interview. I believe he was in L.A.; I’m certain I was not.

The Kats Report: In watching you dance on the show, it seems you got along particularly well with Cheryl Burke.

Rob Kardashian: Oh, yeah. I knew her from before. I had some friends who have done the show, so it wasn’t at all an awkward experience. It was really very comfortable, and, for me, that’s everything, to feel comfortable in what I’m doing in front of so many people. She’s a great girl.

TKR: Had you watched the show very much before you were asked to be on it?

RK: No. Never.

TKR: What were your expectations when you started considering taking part?

RK: I just really didn’t care (laughs), that was my whole thing, just to have fun with everything, and I did, because it is a show, and it’s a fun performance. But at the end of the day, it also is a competition. I started to take it seriously, but mostly I just wanted to have fun with everything.

TKR: At what point did your competitive nature kick in?

RK: I started to begin to realize that I actually can do this as the weeks moved forward, like maybe by Week 5 or Week 6, when I did my tango. That’s when I actually realized that I could actually do this, and that’s when the competitive nature kicked in … the tango is tough, but I really enjoyed it.

TKR: Were you genuinely disappointed not to have won the championship.

RK: I feel I went as far as I could have gone. I would have loved to have won, obviously, but J.R. definitely deserved it. I did the best I could do and ended with a perfect score, when coming into it I never would have imagined myself even making it to the finals.

TKR: When you go through this type of intensive dance training, does it make you more likely to go out and dance than before you were on the show?

RK: You know, maybe a little bit. I’m still not the guy who goes out there and wants to dance, but the other night, I went out to a salsa restaurant for a birthday party, and I was one of the first guys out to dance. That wouldn’t have been the case before. I just enjoy the process of learning something new and different.

TKR: Has being on the show inspired you to want to branch out in other ways?

RK: Well, actually, it kind of inspired me to want to go to law school.

TKR: Really? How?

RK: Because it was something I was thinking about, and you can really do anything if you put your mind to it. I know that I can do it. I mean, I just thought about putting in the hard work, and I realized I could do that because of the dancing. We’ll see what I’ll decide to do.

TKR: You’ll be at Tryst, one of our biggest clubs in Vegas, on New Year’s Eve. What are required to do that night, exactly?

RK: I don’t know what I’m technically committed to, but (managing partner) Jesse Waits is a good friend of mine. I’m just there to support him and the club and bring in the New Year with good friends and family. I’m hosting, counting down the New Year and having fun just like everybody else.

TKR: Do you have any New Year’s resolutions?

RK: Just try to eat healthy, stay healthy, enjoy the fresh start. I had a great year.

Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at Twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow “Kats With the Dish” at Twitter.com/KatsWithTheDish.

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