Drowned Madonna: Hi Steve, welcome to Drowned Madonna. Where were you born and where have you grown up?
Steve Nestar: Paris, the suburb.

DM: When did you start dancing?
SN: In 1992.

DM: What was your first important job as a professional dancer?
SN: The opening of the World Cup Soccer... in 1998 I think.

DM: Were you a fan of Madonna before working with her?
SN: Not really... but as anyone else I knew her classics. I’ve never been a fan of anyone. I just love good music and I listen a lot of music... from different type too.

DM: What is your favourite Madonna's song?
SN: “Papa Don’t Preach”... yes, a good classic that I used to hear on radio all the time when I was really young... remind me a lot of souvenir. (laughing).

DM: Do you remember the first time you met Madonna?
SN: The first time was for the “Hung Up” video... and, well, for the part of the “human wall" in the video I bent over with her in my arms... and I remember that she smelled that someone smoked a cig and that was me. So she asked me to take a gum and wash my hands... (laughing).

DM: That’s fun! Any other anecdotes?
SN: Well, a lot.. the list is huge, but the anecdote that I won’t forget is just that one.

DM: What about your fist meeting with Jamie King and his assistants? What did they tell you?
SN: Well, the same first time… for the “Hung Up” video. They’ve been really kind to me. They just briefed me and the other dancers about how we were about to do that... you know… to rehearse and everything...

DM: Did you rehearsed a long time before shooting the “Hung Up” video?
SN: Sure, we did.

DM: Did you expect it was going to be such a world-wide success?
SN: No, I had no idea!

DM: They filmed a documentary during the promotion of “Confessions on a Dance Floor” and they gave prominence also to you…
SN: I guess that the cameraman liked the way I was dancing and the fact that I was European too... I guess.

DM: The MTV European Music Awards was your fist live performance on stage with Madonna. How did you feel? What are your memories?
SN: Well, I was kind pressurized that time, but it was ok. It’s just small details… like, for example, the choreographers came to me to brief me about the fact that she (Madonna) had a link who was going from the wireless in her belt all the way in her back to the earpiece in her ears. And when it was the moment to bend over with her in my arms, in the “human wall”, I had to be extremely careful to not unplug it, because otherwise she couldn’t sing anymore or hear anything either. Big, big f*ck up and no more concert (laughing). Pretty high pressure on my shoulder too (laughing) but it was fine after 2 or 3 tries out.

DM: After the EMAs you performed on stage with Madonna in two small gigs in London, KoKo and G-A-Y Astoria, and another one in Japan. Can you tell us something about these experiences?
SN: Well, after the one in Portugal (the EMAs), it was pretty cool to do it. Except, there were more songs than only “Hung Up”. And, well, Normann and me did make routines for "Get Together" and showed some steps for "Everybody" too. And it was a new experience of choreographing also.

DM: Did you prefer performing at KoKo or at G-A-Y Astoria?
SN: G-A-Y was more fun, because gay people were really cheering up for us too… and screaming and dancing all over the place too. It was dope! (laughing). But KoKo wasn’t that bad after all...yeah it was good too.

DM: So what do you think about gay people? Many Madonna's fans are gay, you know…
SN: As I said, gay people know how to party and enjoy life more than straight people I guess... and that makes it more fun to perform for them because they’re alive during the concerts! Really!!

DM: After "Hung Up", it was the turn of "Sorry". Jamie King was directing for the first time. How was being part of it?
SN: Well, it was really different than “Hung Up” to be honest. I didn’t really feel that video shoot. But still it was one more experience again and that’s cool to me.

DM: Even if it’s now obvious… We can not keep from asking you the following question. Do you prefer "Sorry" or "Hung Up" video?
SN: “Hung up” so far...

DM: For "Sorry", dancers had to learn how to roller-skate. Fred Tallaksen and his staff did a great job in a few days. What are your memories?
SN: Well, Fred is hilarious. He’s full of energy and he really did a great job with April, his assistant. It was always a lot of fun to try tricks and routines on roller-skates (laughing). I know that Cloud and Hypno after 2 weeks were rocking it... but me...uhuh! I wasn’t that good to be honest! (laughing).

DM: Finally, it came March and the rehearsals for the Confessions Tour started. Were you excited?
SN: I was excited, but in same time scared, because it was a totally new experience for me. But I handled it and I did a good job, I guess.

DM: How demanding was rehearsing 8 to 10 hours a day, 6 days a week?
SN: Well, it was hard sometimes and sometimes not... depending on what song we were rehearsing! But, we had to please Madonna all the time… make sure that whatever you show her for her show... well she will pick up one thing that you’ve been working on... make sure that you show her enough… knowing what she might pick up...

DM: You had not to roller-skate for the Confessions Tour. But we guess it was very demanding for the other dancers… they couldn't be wrong!
SN: Well I didn’t do that part, considering the fact that I wasn’t good enough in roller-skating (laughing)... but that was pretty hard for the others to do it. But they finally got to something... it was cool.

DM: Do you know if Madonna originally planed to perform with roller-skates on stage?
SN: I’m not sure about that... maybe?!

DM: During the months before the tour started, we at Drowned Madonna revealed a lot of exciting details. Many of them made people talks. For example, the Live To Tell performance on the cross and equestrian section. Did you know that “all over the world" people were talking about what was going on at your rehearsals? Have you ever browse Drowned Madonna or other fansites to read what we were posting?
SN: Well, I heard about it... through websites and stuff...

DM: What was the best thing and what the worst during the rehearsals?
SN: The best thing...the food!...just kidding! No, the best thing was this opportunity to work with different kind of people, with different talents. The worst... well, for some reasons. the unity in the crew wasn’t the same as the crew for re-Invention... but still it was cool to work and get to know them better.

DM: Drowned Madonna heard that "Deeper and Deeper" and "Everybody" did not make the final set list. Can you tell us more…
SN: We never started anything for “Deeper and Deeper”. As for "Everybody", well, Jamie called other choreographers for that, but Madonna didn’t like it, and she finally made up her mind for “La Isla Bonita”… if I remember correctly.

DM: What is your favourite costume to wear during the Confessions Tour?
SN: I guess the one for “Sorry”, “Forbidden Love” and “Isaac”, because it was more comfortable to dance with... (laughing).

DM: And what is your favourite segment?
SN: The Confessions, and “Sorry Remix”.

DM: We also ask it to Mihran. What do you think of the whole Religious Ban and controversy over Madonna's performance of Live To Tell during the Confessions Tour?
SN: Well it’s stupid to pay attention to such things, I think, because the point here is not about that she (Madonna) wanted to treat religious people badly... not at all!! Instead of tearing people apart, she tries to make people join together... you know what I’m saying.... that’s it! You understand, because a lot of people don’t listen when you just talk to them. But if you do it the way she does it... well, yeah, now you have their full attention! Funny isn’t it?!

DM: What did you do on your days off?
SN: Visiting, filming, taking pictures… or calling my friends... or working on the start of my documentary… and meeting new people sometimes.

DM: Can you tell us some of the night off with Madonna and the rest of the team?
SN: Well, it was really cool sometimes. She (Madonna) was always down for inviting us and surprising us... to go to the movie... or to see something special to her eyes and heart. You know, she really liked to share with us. Even to party with her is a lot of fun... and well those are great memories too!!

DM: With whom did you bind more?
SN: Well everyone you know. Mostly with Normann of course, but also with Hypno, Jason, Cloud, Mirhan, Charm, the free runners, etc, etc. I got along with each and one of them. They are good people! All of them! Also the technical crew or the band too.

DM: Which city did you feel the most "Energy" from the audience during your performances?
SN: Definitly New York, Montreal, Paris and Rome. Yes, those cities were crazy in love for her! (laughing) … screaming and cheering up for real! (laughing).

DM: What's the most beautiful city you have visited with the tour, in your opinion?
SN: Rome and Prague was definitely the cities where I took a lot of pictures, because of the history and monuments… and also for their countryside which stayed real!

DM: How do you feel now that the tour is over?
SN: Well, sometimes I regret all those times spent on the tour. I wish we could be on tour again really soon, because, now that I experienced it, I want to do it again... one more and last time again. It’s so much fun and joy for doing what you like to do... and being paid for that ....isn’t that cool too?!?!

DM: What are your favourite Madonna’s tours?
SN: The Girlie Show and the re-Invention Tour.

DM: How was performing at Live Earth?
SN: That was great!! Remind me the tour a little bit... except that some of us were missing.

DM: Please, tell us something about the rehearsals…

SN: Well, it’s always cool to rehearse with everyone. And Cloud was hilarious as usual. (laughing).

DM: Any songs you rehearsed but didn't make the final setlist?
SN: Nope. And, every song we rehearsed was almost the same than the tour... except “La Isla Bonita”, which had a different version.

DM: How is working with Madonna? How would you describe her as an artist and a woman?
SN: It’s different than any other job that I’ve done in the past of course, it’s also an honour. Not only because she is Madonna, but also because when she hired us, she didn’t ask us to change a bit of what we were. She accepted us the way we were already with no conditions… and for what we could possibly bring of positive in her show. And trust me, there are not a lot of artists who do that! She is really kind with any of us, but she has her temper sometimes too... But hey! She’s a human been too, right!? But, at least, she’s trying all the time to be nice with everyone. And the more you know her, the more you appreciate to be her friend. And she gives it back to you, she makes you feel like you’re accepted in her small circle of friends.

DM: How do you keep in touch with Madonna?
SN: Well, by email of course... and phone too. Regularly I send her mails or text
messages when I can....

DM: Besides being a talented dancers, what are your hobbies?
SN: I used to be, but I just restarted recently… drums. I’m drawin, I used to be a graphic designer. Also making my own videos and stuff, and working on my own production... starting with "Deeper".

DM: What are your upcoming projects?
SN: That documentary... and many more coming up...

DM: So, tell us more about "Deeper" the documentary?
SN: Well everything started in Los Angeles already while I was in rehearsals. My friend Hardy had an idea of doing a documentary about dance, but with an other
approach of it... not showing only the good side of it, but every drawbacks too. And showing that, if you decide to get involved in it, you better be prepared to confront different things, not to be disappointed after. I had already the idea on my side to do it. All I needed was motivation, and Hardy gave that to me. So we decided to start investing our time into it about a month before the tour finished. And then I moved in New York for a couple of months with the intention to work on it. Well, we invested everything from our own pocket too, making interviews of people involved in this industry or who are here since a while, enough to talk about it. DJ's, producers, dancers and choreographers. Well, to sum up it briefly... it will show on a timeline how dancers evolved in the industry, also in the underground scene, showing good and bad in both sides. Evolution of dancing since those past 25 years in every aspect of it. I mean, in the business and entertainment  industry, the new types of dance who appeared recently, evolution of the steps in those dances who were there already since early in the 70's and 80's, the difference between commercial dancers and underground dancers, why it’s hard to work for the music industry... etc...etc... That’s what it is all about actually!

DM: Any plan to work with Madonna in the near future?
SN: Well, it will depends on her desire or not to work with me again... so right now I don’t know.

DM: Any dream that has not became true yet?
SN: Being a millionaire?! (laughing). Well, buying a house for my mom and having kids too!!

DM: Finally, anything your want to say to Madonna's fans?
SN: well hmm!! Let’s see!! I do understand why you are fans of Madonna, because she is one of those persons who keep it real!! No bullshit, no blah-blah-blah. She’s always straight with everyone. And today it’s hard to find celebrities of her kind. If I wasn’t one of her dancers and I knew what I know about her, now that I know her personally, I wouldn’t probably be a fan of her person and mentality I think... So keep supporting her, because the world needs more women like her… and men even more!! ahaha!! Peace, respect and wisdom to make the right choices in your life. That’s all you need!!! Well… and a couple of other things too, but let’s say there are the foundations here. Peace everyone!