Looking back at DWTS Season 1

Shane Cortese & Nerida Lister freestyle


Shane Cortese & Nerida Lister rhumba



Shane Cortese & Nerida Lister quickstep

Carol Ann Hickmore & Norm Hewitt freestyle



Carol Ann Hickmore & Norm Hewitt paso doble



Carol Ann Hickmore & Norm Hewitt waltz

Pace and Passion on Dancing With The Stars

Tonight is the first elimination on Dancing with the Stars. Who will be leaving the spotlight? Will it be Michael Laws and his broken toe or will there be a shock departure from one of the favourites?

Tonight contestants dance the Quickstep, the fastest of the ballroom dances and a test of stamina or the Rhumba – the dance of love.

After last week’s “naff” music, costumes and choreography April Ieremia and Csaba Szirmai are this week getting over disappointment and moving forward. They were first on the floor dancing the Quickstep took to the floor. He in hat and tails and April in a flowing ballgown. They started with a Charleston style improvisation but it didn’t mesh well into the rest of the dance. This time they chose the music ‘You Can’t Hurry Love’ which had a more traditional feel. The performance was rhythmic but lacking the grace necessary for ballroom.


From the judges, Brendan Cole said Csaba had not taken the judges advice. He said the frame was floppy and the style didn’t show up April’s skills. Carol Ann said April’s topline wasn’t there. Craig said it was better than last week, good cross-section of steps, lively but the beginning was out of time and too heavy. It should be light and lively. Alison also liked it better than last week and said she was grumpy. She felt that Csaba should have nursed April around the dance floor more – him being the coat hanger and April the beautiful hanging.

Judges results 4, 6, 5, 5 for a total of 21


Paul Holmes and Rebecca Nicholson danced the Rhumba, but rehearsal had to break to chat to Rachel Hunter, who competed on the US and UK versions of the show. Holmes danced with his bowtie undone while Rebecca draped herself over him.

Memories of Rodney Hide, with lots of posing and no Latin hip action. He had sticky fingers that looked like they belonged in a baseball mitt. To be fair he was better than Rodney, but it was stiff and ungainly. Rebecca, of course, looked magical in white. Their music was Cliff Richard’s ‘Some People’.

Judging: Carol Ann thought he did well and mastered the timing, but felt he needed to be pushed to do more. Craig thought it was tragic. It was stiff, still and stilted with sticky transfer of weight and forcing his hips into submission. He described Paul’s hands as egg slides – yes that was the word I was searching for. Alison, said teaching a man of a certain age to Rhumba is a challenge and that it was a sexy performance, quipping she was surprised that no one has snapped him up for a prime time television slot. Brendan thought he did an alright job, room for improvement, but potential to go far in the competition.

Candy Lane highlighted that Paul can’t do any lifts or drops due to his past injuries and brittle bones.

Scores: 5, 7, 3, 7 for a total of 22

Before Brendon Pongia took to the stage there was an official apology from Jason Gunn that there would be no hip action accompanied by huge sighs of disappointment from the audience.

Jason ran through Brendon’s daily routine. He trains at the gym for an hour with weights, then to Avalon studios for makeup, the Good Morning Show and planning for the next day, with dancing practice in the afternoon. Dancing the Quickstep, Brendon looked smart in his tails and Hayley Holt looked elegant in red. Brendon started with a mini haka and then and scatter-chassed his way across the floor to the music ‘Reet Petite’. An extremely energetic and fun if not graceful performance from Brendon ‘the body’ Pongia.


Craig loved the original opening, and said Brendon moved brilliantly, looked fantastic, however it was heavy and the pigeon feet were driving him mad.
Brendan didn’t like the beginning and said it belonged in Tango or Paso Doble.
Alison said he needed to tuck his bottom under as it was poking out.
Carol Ann also commented on the pigeon toes and a few missed heel leads but loved it.

Judges scores 5, 8, 7, 8 for a total of 28


Frank Bunce and Krystal Stuart danced the Rhumba. In a costume reminiscent of Norm Hewitt in season 1, Frank wore a V-necked black sparkly top. It was a very sexy slick routine and Frank showed significant signs of improvement from week 1. Good movement and timing to the music ‘Move Closer’.


Judges comments: Alison thought it was fantastic, Brendan said finally someone with a good interpretation of the music and song, Carol Ann said chemistry and movement excellent. Craig said a well constructed and intelligent routine and absolutely smashing. A very positive set of comments from the judges.

The scores 8, 8, 8, 9 = 33 which put Frank and Krystal in the early lead.


Described by Candy as Fifty and Frisky this week Suzanne Paul was kept on her toes with the Quickstep.

Partnered by Stefano Olivieri, Suzanne performed beautifully and showed no sign of her rib injury. She looked elegant and her facial expressions showed she was enjoying herself. If I’m that dainty and fit at 50 I’ll be a happy gal. They danced to ‘Putting on the Ritz’ which was a very upbeat fun tune.


Brendan Cole commented that it was great choreography and the performance was superb. Craig loved it too – he said it took him back to the roaring 20s. Alison said Suzanne is very capable of both Latin and ballroom, with great foot speed and style. Carol Ann said they’d be around for a few more weeks. This caused Candy Lane to comment that the judges must have taken their happy pills and she congratulated Suzanne on her mastery of a difficult routine.

Scores 8, 9, 9, 9 = 35 overtaking Frank and Krystal for the leading position.

Greer Robson and Aaron Gilmore danced the Rhumba, the dance she has been most frightened of. It was a very smooth performance, extremely graceful and elegant. She could have afforded to relax her facial expression. Beautiful highlights with drops and lifts. Greer said she found it hard to look Aaron in the eye and needed to build trust. It sounded like a rugby match with her repeated comment “All credit to Aaron”. Their music was Brooke Fraser’s ‘What to do with Daylight’. Nice to hear some Kiwi music.


Carol Ann said she was glad that she said what she did last week as they had put the work in and it was excellent. Brendan thought they had mastered the dance even though there were some dodgy bits.

Scores 8, 9, 8, 8 = 33 placing them second equal at this stage.

Michael Laws and Lauren de Boeck were up next. How will he cope with the Quickstep with a broken toe? Jason Gunn mentioned again the auction for the oche that did the damage to Mayor Michael’s toe. It’s signed by Lauren de Boeck and the auction is still open for bidding.

They appeared to lose their timing in a couple of places and he looked awfully awkward bordering on spastic. It was a pretty laid back performance considering it’s meant to be the fastest of the ballroom dances. I kept being distracted – it looked like he wearing eyeliner. They chose the tap your feet tune ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love’.


Alison enjoyed watching Michael’s performance and liked his frame. Craig said there was a plethora of things wrong with the dance, there were the usual timing issues and footwork and it was more of a hoe down than a Quickstep. Despite this he thought it was a vast improvement.

Their score 4, 6, 3, 6 = 19 which is the lowest score so far.

Megan Alatini and Jonny Williams danced the Rhumba to Celine Dion’s ‘My Heart Will Go On’. TVNZ showed footage of her at a photo shoot during the week wearing very little and looking confident with her toned body - this is not a shy girl. Her dancing was beautiful and elegant, but is it just me or does her facial expression appear somewhat smug?

Brendan thought it was a fantastic rhumba and was speechless. “Sensational. Oh my Lord,” he said. Carol Ann wondered if she was sleeping with the work she must be putting in to her routine. The first 10 of the competition was awarded by Alison to Megan and Jonny. Candy also said it was a beautiful routine with wonderful choreography.

The scores were 9, 9, 8, 10 = 36 putting Megan and Jonny in the lead for the second week running. Continuing his trend from last week Michael was bottom of the judges table for the second week running.

The Decision
At this point the vote lines officially closed leaving us to wonder, who will be leaving Dancing With The Stars? The public phone votes are added to the judges score. Each is weighted 50%.

Jason and Candy announced that the six safe couples in no particular order are:

• Suzanne and Stefano
• Greer and Aaron
• Frank and Krystal
• Paul and Rebecca
• Brendon and Hayley
• Megan and Jonny

Leaving April and Michael at risk of going home.

The first couple to leave was April and Csaba who paid for the poor choreography and costuming. In her interview April asked, “Who doesn’t know the music from High School Musical?” Ummmm well that would be me. Miss Prozac enjoys a good song and dance but she can’t ever remembering seeing High School Musical and she suspects that most of the audience was in the same boat.

April said her time on the show had been enjoyable. I guess her charity, the Breast Cancer Foundation, will be even more disappointed.



This week's Competition:
Go to the TVNZ website for a chance to win travel and 3 nights accommodation and breakfast for two at the Novotel Lakeside Rotorua.

Dancing with The Stars celebs on minimum wage

Hmmmm, if the publicity is to believed the celebs who will soon be gracing the small screen for series 3 of Dancing with the Stars for the paltry sum of $12.50 per hour.

In series 1 and 2 there were rumours of stars making up to $4,000 per week from the show. Other news releases suggested that the stars were being paid the equivalent of a professional speaking fee which would suggest they are earning around $2,500 per week.

Jason & Candy

According to The Sunday News the stars are putting in 40 hours a week training for the next season. At $12.50 per hour that equates to only $500 per week. It's hard to imagine TVNZ being quite that stingy after the deal Norm Hewitt swung in series 1 that gave him the rights to his images. In that deal (and I'm sorry I can't lay my hands on the link right now) Stormin' Norman prohibited TVNZ from using his images in future advertising without paying a significant royalty. I guess that's one chap that knows how to make money.

Even without the lure of a big paycheck (hey, isn't this meant to be for charity?) the celebs make out well with extra profile, opportunities to sell books and to market themselves. Lorraine Downes is now the new face of Petrena Miller Design and is enjoying a rebirth of her modelling career. Shane Cortese hosted TV3's So You Think You Can Dance