'Flirty Dancing': Could a Mt. Angel native find love on the new Fox dating-show?

Abby Luschei
Salem Statesman Journal

Alex Morrissey could describe his dating life in two words: "Pretty nonexistent."

Traveling regularly, a prior relationship ending poorly and being comfortable staying in the safety zone of friendships were among the reasons the 28-year-old said he's remained single. 

That may no longer be the case.

Morrissey is looking for love on the new Fox blind dating-show "Flirty Dancing." The Mt. Angel native will be featured on the two-hour season finale Saturday, Jan. 25. 

"Flirty Dancing" is based on a U.K. series of the same name. It combines the worlds of dance and dating for a truly unique reality show where singles meet for the first time — never speaking — by performing a choreographed dance together. 

(Pictured from left to right) Alex and Melissa in the two-hour season finale episode of "Flirty Dancing" airing Saturday, Jan. 25.

Take the clip of a dance between two singles from the U.K. show, for example, that went viral in November and melted the hearts of thousands.

The United States version, hosted by dancer and actress Jenna Dewan, differs from its British counterpart. Each episode typically features two singles looking for love, and each of them performs two dances with two potential matches.

After the single has performed with each person, they must choose who to take on a second date without even knowing their names — no pressure, right?

Morrissey, who currently lives in Southern California, will choose between two matches during the season finale. 

(Pictured left to right) Alex and McKenzie in the two-hour season finale episode of "Flirty Dancing" airing Saturday, Jan. 25.

"It made me far less nervous than I would have been had I been one of the potential matches. I feel like I would have gone into it with fear and doubts had I (known) I was going up against another person," he said.

But being the one choosing presented a different fear. 

"I still had to make them want me," he said. "There still has to be a connection on their end, as well. 

"Believing that this experience can lead to something really cool and then just trusting the process ... it was my goal the whole time to keep my mindset on the hopeful side of what could be."

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From Mt. Angel to California 

Long before Morrissey was potentially dancing his way to love, he was dancing in Mt. Angel's Oktoberfest. 

Before graduating from Kennedy High School in 2010, he was president of the Oregon FFA Association and recipient of the Mt. Angel Chamber of Commerce's Junior First Citizen award, among other accolades. 

Morrissey has always loved to dance, and growing up in Mt. Angel allowed him to do so during Oktoberfest — something he still does each year.

"I love my hometown of Mt. Angel," he said. "But I had dreams that led me out of there."

Morrissey moved to Southern California in 2011 and currently works as a high school speaker and leadership trainer.  

"I'm always traveling," he said. "My lifestyle doesn't make it easy (to date)."

When it comes to a potential partner, Morrissey said he's looking for a woman with big dreams who is passionate about life and compassionate to those around her. 

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Looking for love on 'Flirty Dancing'

It didn't come as a shock for friends and family when they found out Morrissey was going to be on "Flirty Dancing."

"He has always had this outgoing nature and kind of grows in the limelight of things," said his mom, Teresa Kinkaid.

After a friend tagged him in a "Flirty Dancing" Instagram post several months ago, Morrissey said he connected with a casting director and applied for the show. Before he knew it, he was doing Skype interviews, plenty of phone calls and a dance audition. 

They filmed in Mt. Angel this past October and in California about a month later. 

Host Dewan was "an absolute angel" to work with, Morrissey said. She took the time to get to know him and was nothing but positive and encouraging throughout the whole process.

Alex Morrissey, a Mt. Angel native, photographed dancing with one of his two potential matches, Melissa, during the season finale episode of "Flirty Dancing."

"I couldn't have asked for a better matchmaker," he said.

Morrissey said there is a ton of practice and preparation prior to the dances, but the moment he danced with his matches was "surreal."

"No matter what you do to try to imagine who this other individual might be ... it's, at the end of the day, impossible," he said. "I remember walking up to where the dance begins at, facing away, standing there hearing her footsteps walk up ... it was so wild."

But then came the tough part — choosing who to see again.

Morrissey relied on trusting the chemistry he felt during the dances, his gut and heart when making this choice. He said he had to envision the dance connection translating to one he could see in his life.

"(This experience) took something that I feel so comfortable with, such as dance, (and) really challenged me to overcome something that I'm quite uncomfortable with, which is putting myself out there in that vulnerable way — being open to romance."

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An unforgettable experience

Regardless of the outcome, Morrissey is "without a doubt" happy with his experience on "Flirty Dancing."

"Whether or not that individual is someone I still talk to today or not," he said, "the experience itself is so ... challenging and even healing in some ways."

Alex Morrissey, 28, photographed dancing with one of his two potential matches, McKenzie, during the season finale episode of "Flirty Dancing."

To get to know another person through dance was unique and special, Morrissey said. He hopes people watching the show understand the connection they see on screen is real for those actually experiencing it.

"I will always be a hopeless romantic," he said. "There's not a single bit of me that will ever stop believing that there is some form of a romantic musical style love story that is possible for just about everyone."

Will Morrissey find love on "Flirty Dancing"? Watch the season finale at 8 p.m. PST Saturday, Jan. 25, on Fox to find out.

Abby Luschei is the arts and entertainment reporter for the Statesman Journal and can be reached at aluschei@statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-6747. Follow her on Twitter @abbyluschei or facebook.com/luscheiabby.

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