Aslak Maurstad: From Gaming to Dancing – A Surprising Journey

For almost five weeks, actor Aslak Maurstad (31) has been swinging around on the floor in prime time during this year’s season of “Shall we dance”.

In recent weeks, Maurstad has impressed both the judging panel and the audience, and Nettavisen’s own “Skal vi danse” commentator has previously praised the 31-year-old to the skies for his efforts.

Also read: The professional dancer’s father never got to see her in “Shall we dance”: – Do this for him

Because there is no doubt that he has surprised with his dancing skills, but what perhaps not everyone knows is that Aslak Maurstad has been dancing for several years.

According to Maurstad, he is also an unofficial Norwegian dance champion.

– Not high value

However, Maurstad’s dance background is not like everyone else’s. Before the 31-year-old became a well-known TV face after programs such as “Farmen kendis” and “Forræder”, the actor spent a lot of time on computer games.

He has his own gaming channel on Twitch where he streams himself playing computer games – and this is where the dancing comes in.

Also read: Jan Thomas was unhappy on “Shall we dance”: – No fun

Maurstad has put many hours into the computer game “StepMania”. The popular dance simulator comes with a dance mat, and it’s all about dancing in time and rhythm to the steps on the screen.

When Nettavisen met Maurstad earlier this month, he was able to reveal that he has secured a high position in international championships, and that he is, in a sense, the Norwegian champion in “StepMania”:

– I am a kind of unofficial Norwegian champion, says a somewhat shy Maurstad.

Although the 31-year-old has taken part in both the EC and WC in the dance mat game, Maurstad does not think that there is a clear advantage for him as a participant in “Shall we dance”.

– I don’t think the transfer value is very high, he says with a laugh.

Earlier in the season, attention was drawn to the “Shall we dance” contestants Alexandra Joner (33) and Harlem Alexander (35), both of whom have good experience with dance from before. Alexander has previously told Nettavisen that his dance background is not problematic, and that he was simply born with rhythm.

Also read: “Shall we dance” participants are put in booths because of experience: – Maybe a small advantage

Although Maurstad believes that the “StepMania” background is not necessarily an advantage, he does not hide the fact that he has taken with him useful experience from the dance game:

– If I have anything with me, it is rhythm and tact. But as for steps, I don’t think it has any transfer value at all. It is more of a game than a dance, he admits.

Dance tournament started

Maurstad has been very successful with the dance mat game, not surprisingly as he has been doing it since his teens.

NRK has previously written about Maurstad’s dance background, and at the time the 31-year-old stated that his fascination with “StepMania” began when, as a 13-year-old, he discovered the game during the computer game “The Gathering”. The following year he took part in his first National Championship and finished in third place.

The fascination has not waned over the years, and two years ago the actor started a celebrity tournament, “Dansematte Kjendis”, where a number of famous people competed against each other in the popular dance game.

The celebrity tournament was also a fundraiser where all proceeds went to Zulufadder, a charity started by her mother Mari Maurstad.

Also read: Aslak Maurstad regrets not using the “Traitor” prize on this

He repeated the success and launched season two of “Dansematte Kjendis” last year, and again earlier this year. In 2022, he joined well-known personalities such as Morten Ramm, Olli Wermskog and Øyunn Krogh in the dance competition, which was broadcast live on the gaming platform Twitch.

Back then, Maurstad and the celebrities managed to collect NOK 35,000 for Zulufadder within 12 hours.

2023-09-20 20:17:50
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