Popular dancing show back on TV
A KWAITO singer, a Japanese-born television beauty and a radio presenter battling the bulge are some of the celebrities who will light up the small screen in the upcoming season of reality dancing show Strictly Come Dancing.
The popular show returns to television in two weeks after a fiveyear break.
Durban kwaito sensation L’Vovo Derango has been training hard to reinvent his kwaito moves for ballroom dancing.
“At first I didn’t have any clue what this dancing was about or what to do, but I am learning so many different styles and taking the challenge as it comes.”
Derango, 30, is one of 10 celebrities who will be announced tomorrow as taking part in the sixth season of the show. Also in the show are actors Thapelo Mokoena, Connie Ferguson, Jay Anstey, Zakeeya Patel, radio personality Damon Kalvari, comedian Mpho Popps and television personalities Kuli Roberts, Lalla Hirayama and Graeme Richards.
All 10 have been paired with professional ballroom dancers since training started on June 10. Derango has been partnered with Masterchef South Africa contestant and dancer Mary Martin.
Patel, the 25-year-old High Rollers actress, said she could only dance “in front of my mirror with a hairbrush”.
“I did ballet when I was four and at 12, if that counts for anything, but I am really trying my best with this kind of dancing,” she said.
Japanese-born Hirayama, who in 2001 spent time in Kagoshima, Japan, as a teacher of hip-hop, tap and modern dancing, said she did not have an advantage because hiphop and contemporary dancing are totally different. “I am having a hard time adjusting and getting rid of my bad habits due to being a hip-hop dancer,” she said.
Derango is the biggest of the contestants at 150kg, but the radio presenter said he was “not scared of the challenge”. “I am on a healthy eating plan that has cut out caffeine, salt and red meat, so I definitely will be losing weight,” he said.
The show will be hosted by comedian Marc Lottering and radio personality Pabi Moloi. The Latin American dancing champions Michael Wentink and Tebogo Kgobokoe and musical theatre performer Samantha Peo will be the judges.
Strictly Come Dancing starts on SABC 3 on July 10 at 8pm