And waltz, two, three, four…
Twelve celebrity stars put their best feet forward as they step their way through dance routines.
Dancing With The Stars SA Season 1 Sundays (from 4 February) M-Net (*101) 17:00
Stepping onto a dancefloor is daunting enough, so imagine having an entire country watching your every step. That’s reality for 12 untrained local celebrities who’re breaking in their dancing shoes on reality show Dancing With The Stars SA (2018- current). They won’t be left with two left feet though – they’re being partnered with professionally trained dancers. And like the dancers, the producers have gone for a mix-and-match from across the entertainment world, says producer Kee-Leen Irvine. “When we cast the celebrities, we looked at film, television, sport, music, radio and everywhere in-between. Fortunately everyone we approached said yes and were able to commit time required for rehearsals and the live filming.”
STEP-BY-STEP
Like popular SABC reality show Strictly Come Dancing (2006- current), there will be behind-the-scenes rehearsal footage as well as the glitz, glamour and sequinned outfits of the live performances. “Strictly is the original title and format,” explains Kee-Leen, who also produced seasons 1- 8 of Strictly Come Dancing SA. “It was created by the BBC and is sold around the world under the brand name Dancing With The Stars.” She adds that “the show has been successful because it follows a basic winning formula, along with constant innovation in production like with lighting, staging and other elements”.
TAKING THE LEAD
The producers also had specific ideas
when it came to the hosts: Chris Jaftha, who’s presented on lifestyle show Top Billing (1996- current) since 2013, and radio and TV personality Tracey Lange, who’s hosted kykNET lifestyle show Bravo! since it started in 2012. “Chris has a career spanning over 20 years in the theatre world – he sings and dances and his work in the television and film industry makes him a perfect fit,” says Kee-Leen. “Tracey is a seasoned presenter and gorgeous to boot. When they were put together on camera, it was clearly a match made in heaven!”
VOTES, NOTES & THE JUDGES
The voting process is pretty basic and follows most other reality shows, explains Kee-Leen. “Viewers cast their votes live each week during the performance via SMS. The scores are then split 50/50 between the judges and the viewers, but in the finale episode, it’s purely up to the viewers to decide the winning couple.” Three pairs will dance off in the final, which airs in late April.
And what would a live dance show be without live music? The routines will be supported by a band and backing vocalists (possibly even a wellknown singer or two) under the hand of musical director James Bassingthwaighte. Each of the 13 episodes’ dance styles will be chosen by head choreographer and judge Jason
Gilkison and Kee-Leen. Expect to see everything from the waltz and salsa, to the tango and paso doble – and there will be a tumble or two, warns Kee-Leen. “This is not a walk in the park. The celebrities have signed up for a serious challenge!”
The celebs and their pro partners will be putting in hours of training before they take to the dancefloor for their first performance – over 12 hours a week rehearsing their twists and twirls in the dance studio! And it’s only going to increase as the weeks go by because the judges will be scrutinising every movement with hawk eyes, looking for even the slightest flaw. And the contestants won’t be able to fake it ’til they make it because the judges are from the dancing industry and know what will be good enough for a so-so five points and what will earn a thumbs-up 10. The other judges were being kept a secret at print, but if Jason’s credentials are anything to go by, it’s going to take a lot to impress – the Aussie is a ballroom dancing champ and since 2004 he has served as creative director on Strictly Come Dancing UK (2004- current).