It was expected that Maksim Chmerkovskiy would be butting heads with his new partner on Dancing With the Stars, but he and Kirstie Alley seem to be working really well together.

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“Her strengths are that she wants to do it. She just wants to dance. Sometimes I think she forgets what we are doing,” he told In Touch at the 19th Annual A Night at Sardi’s Fundraiser and Awards Dinner. “I’m like, ‘It’s a show!’ and she’s like, ‘no, just teach me [the steps], I want to dance!’”

Kirstie wants this all done just right and when Maks tells her there’s not time for that she says,

“Okay, we’ll stay later!” says Maksim. “She just loves the idea, she loves the movement, shedding off weight, losing a lot.”

I knew she’d go into this with a strong head.  She’s a tough broad and I actually have a lot of faith in her capabilities on this new mission in her life.

Do you think she can pull off a long run on the show?

Photo: ABC