Joey Graziadei may be on TV for millions of people to see, but there’s just one woman he hopes to make proud.
After the premiere of the 33rd season Dancing with the stars September 17, former Bachelor talked to PEOPLE about joining the dance competition show. He explained that although he was “very nervous” about his first dance, he was looking forward to the coming weeks.
“It’s nice to have [partner Jenna Johnson] as a safe space and [I’m] just trying to perfect and hopefully breathe,” said 29-year-old Joey. “But we got through it. I felt great about it and it’s nice to finish one.”
A key factor in getting through a grueling rehearsal schedule and a nerve-wracking performance? His fiancee Kelsey Anderson, who sat front row at the show.
“I’m so lucky to have a supportive fiancée,” the tennis coach said. “I texted her right after I finished and said, ‘Did you make you proud?’ I just want her to be so happy with how I’m doing this season, but she also gives a lot to be here with me, and I know I’m gone a lot.”
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Joey Graziadei; Kelsey Anderson.
Disney/Andrew Eccles; Phillip Faraone/Getty
Competing alongside the former Bachelor Jenn Tran, who was originally on Joey’s season bachelor, “It makes Joey feel like they’re in this together,” he said.
“It feels good,” he said. “Jenn was amazing for us tonight. I think we both said we’re just focused on what we can do. We love the support of Bachelor People. I know it’s weird that there’s two of us in it, but we’re just going to control what we can control and we’re just hoping to dance the best we can every week.”
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Joey and Jenna, who kicked off the evening’s performance, sang the Cha Cha to Tyler Hubbard’s “Dancing in the Country”. Aiming to break out of his shell and “golden retriever energy”, the pair scored 21/30 – seven from each judge.
“I was told anything six or more, I should be delighted,” he said. “I saw the fact that I got three weeks to start [Jenna’s] reaction — that’s what I was going for, I don’t know what I should expect — but her reaction, she was shocked.”
“I’m nervous to watch it back because I think my eyes are going to pop out of my head!” she added jokingly.
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Joey Graziadei on ‘DWTS’.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Joey and Kelsey got engaged at the end of season 28 Bachelor and they currently live together in Los Angeles while he films DWTS. They told PEOPLE in March that they plan to move to New York in the near future.
“I’ve always wanted to live there, and Joey is so supportive,” Kelsey said. “We are young and I think now is the time to live together in a small, cramped apartment and experience it. Even if we hate it, at least we can say we succeeded.”
Joey noted that living in the big city sounded “fun,” though he admitted that he’s more of a beach guy.
“Anyone who knows me personally knows that beach, warm weather, it was all my vibe. I lived in Hawaii, but I really grew to love New York from my time there,” he said. “It has a different feel. I’ve never lived in a big city. My family lives in the Philly area and I have close friends [there]so the idea of finally getting closer to them will be great. I think the time is right for it, so we’re excited.”
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Dancing with the stars airs Tuesdays at 8pm ET on ABC and Disney+, and the episode is available the following day on Hulu.
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