Jason Mraz Shares Why His Dancing With the Stars Partner Daniella Karagach Is His Perfect Match During Rehearsals

Like any duo in Dancing with the Stars, superstar singer Jason Mraz and dancing pro Daniella Karagach have gotten quite close during rehearsals. After all, nailing a different choreography week after week can be quite time-consuming, to say the least.

Talking to SheKnows, the two proved they’ve gotten to know each other quite well during their many weeks of training together. So, of course, we put it to the test.

When we asked Karagach if the “I’m Yours” singer has a tell for when he’s in a bad mood, the new mom admitted that doesn’t happen as often as we think. “I’m not gonna lie, I don’t think he’s ever in a bad mood,” she tells SheKnows. “He comes pretty focused and we have belly laughs all of rehearsal,” she says. “So far so good.”

“He is very hard on himself at times but I feel like this is a very vulnerable process and you’re pretty much jumping into something you’ve never done before in front of millions of people and I feel like considering that he’s doing a great job,” she adds.

As for Karagach, Mraz revealed the way she leads with stress is precisely why they’re the perfect match on the ballroom together. “I think both of us are very similar,” he says. “If the pressure gets on, the repetition starts to eat away, if we’re hungry, whatever it is, if the hours are stacking up, she and I are both similar,” he says. “Rather than continue to work and injure ourselves or say something nasty, we just shut down, we quiet, we mellow out and we figure out a way to remedy the situation either with a break, with water, with food, whatever’s necessary.” Seems like a perfect pair!

As for each other’s go-to dance move, Karagach knew right off the bat. “It’s either a snap or the shoulder shrug,” she says. “There’s definitely always a wink in there.”

When it comes to their go-to karaoke songs, however, neither Mraz or Karagach could think of one for the professional dancer. “Girl, you do not want to hear me do karaoke, that is not my thing,” she says. “I’d rather just keep it dancing.”

For Mraz, on the other hand, his number one karaoke song, “It’s Not Unusual” by Tom Jones, might be changing soon. “I look at karaoke the same way I used to look at dance,” he admits. “I’d put humor first.”

“I would always dance in a comical way ’cause it kind of protected my ego a little bit if I were broadcasting that I was not taking it seriously,” he says. “I’d be interested to re-approach karaoke.” Regardless of how he approaches it, we know he’s winning karaoke night every time!

When asked how the two are feeling about this season, which also has other incredible contestants like Alyson Hannigan, Xochitl Gomez, Lele Pons, Ariana Madix, and many more, the two agreed it could be described as Mraz’s latest album: Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride. “I think his album is pretty much summing up except we just need ‘painful,'” Karagach says, before adding “vulnerable” to the list as well.

“You know how sometimes rides are described as an experience? That’s really what this ride is on this show,” Mraz says. “It’s an experience. It’s unlike anything else. I got to do Saturday Night Live once. And that’s what this show feels like. Dancing with the Stars works seven days a week to make the best television they can possibly make live on a Tuesday night. And it requires all creative departments coming together to make it great for everyone from editors, to customers, to producers, musicians, choreographers, I mean it’s just insane.”

“It’s really impressive,” he continues. “And when you’re standing in the middle of it, no matter where you are, it’s an experience. It is a four dimensional multi-sensory experience. And I wish everyone could have it because it’s phenomenal.”

As for what the two have in store for this week, which will be Music Video Night with special guest judge Paula Abdul, Mraz and Karagach will be performing a Jazz to “Take On Me” by a-ha.

“This routine is definitely different because I have a partner who can really move and feels music so well,” Karagach says. “I hired a jazz choreographer for this dance because I wanted to kind of step back and be the student as well, because jazz is not something I grew up doing. And I feel like for this specific song, and for this theme, I couldn’t have asked for a better choreographer for this night.”

“So I’m really excited for you guys to see it,” she says. “It’s very different than what we’ve been doing. And I feel like Jason is thriving in this one.”

Mraz also teased a unique performance in tonight’s show. “We’re back into some very fast and syncopated footwork, dance moves that surprise you,” he teases. “They’re not always on the beat. They’re sometimes on the Lyric, they’re mostly on the lyric. And for a song that’s so well known. It’s a fun dance to watch, because the dance goes along with with the cadence of the lyrics. And hopefully, the creative department helps us bring some of the elements of the music video as well into the experience. So I’m really thrilled about this one.” We can’t wait!

Before you go, click here to see all the Disney+ originals you’ll want to watch with your kids.