First 6 dancing pairs dazzle the judges!
M-Net’s brand new Sunday night reality competition show Dancing With The Stars SA kicked off with a dazzle of sequins tonight, Sunday 4 February live from the top of Hyde Park Corner in Johannesburg. The first six couples doing battle for the glittering trophy showed their skills off to esteemed judging panel Bryan Watson, Debbie Turner, Tebogo Kgobokoe, and Jason Gilkison.
First up to strut their stuff with the Cha-Cha was radio host and former Miss SA Liesl Laurie and three-time British Show Dance champion Ryan Hammond. Liesl was speechless after her number but the judges weren’t – Jason Gilkison advised her to transfer more of her energy to her feet. “But what a way to start the season!” he praised. “The Technique Terrorist” Tebogo Kgobokoe agreed that Liesl had great energy, “and I’d like you to match that with your technique,” she said. Bryan Watson joked that this had been by far the best Cha-Cha he’d seen on Dancing With The Stars SA 2018 yet, and Debbie Turner said Liesl looked great out there. “As your confidence builds week after week, you’re going to be stunning,” she said.
Bryan and Debbie scored Liesl 5 points each, Jason 6 points, and technique stickler Tebogo only 4, for a total of 20. An emotional Liesl said she would work on her footwork, as soon as she gets used to those dance heels! “I’m coming back stronger next week!” she vowed.
The next couple to compete, doing the Quickstep, was retired Bafana Bafana winger Delron Buckley and his partner, former professional ballerina Angelique Allison.
“From a footballer I expect fast, flighty, intricate footwork and impeccable timing, and I don’t think you delivered on that,” Tebogo said in her judgment, and she advised Delron to focus on his natural power and energy. Bryan noted that there was a little but too much “gap” between the two dancers, “but I can see you have your eye on the ball,” he said. A smiling Debbie remarked that Delron was a very charismatic dancer, but advised him to work on posture. Jason remarked that he should really be Red Card-ing Delron because he saw quite a few moves that he’d never seen in a Quickstep before, “But I was entertained, somehow, which I loved!” he smiled. Like Debbie, he advised Delron to work on his framing.
Bryan scored Delron 4 points, Debbie scored a high 6, Jason 5 points, and Tebogo a skimpy 3, for a total of 18. “It’s something I can work on,” said a phlegmatic Delron.
South Africa’s beloved “Ouboet”, Frank Opperman, surprised the nation – and the judges – with his slick Tango skills with seven-time undefeated Amateur Latin American Champion Jeanné Swarts. “Ouboet, we are so pleased that you’re allowed to do a show like this!” Bryan joked. “I enjoyed that thoroughly,” he said. “There was a little bit more stomp than stealth, but great job.” Debbie noted that Frank had already won her heart with how invested he was in his every move. “I was not expecting that from you,” Jason admitted. “I’m really proud of you,” he told Frank. And even the Terrifying Tebogo admitted that she was surprised, but cautioned Frank to work on his agility.
Bryan scored Frank’s Tango 4 points, Debbie and Jason 6 each and even Tebogo a generous 4, for a total of 20.
“Jissie, dis ‘n 20 wat ek nog nooit gehad het nie!” Frank beamed.
Proving that speed and grace runs in the family, athletics coach Odessa Swarts – the mother of Olympian Wayde van Niekerk – was a picture of old-world elegance doing the Waltz with her partner, Latin American champion Dylon Daniels. The audience gave them a standing ovation. Jason pointed out how difficult the classic Waltz can be and he cautioned Odessa to use her legs just a little bit more. Tebogo said she found Odessa just a little timid – “Dance is liberating,” she said, “go for it!” Bryan complimented the choreography and he said Odessa handled it “with flair, finesse, and elegance,” while Debbie praised Odessa’s natural elegance and grace.
Bryan scored Odessa 6 points, Debbie and Jason 5 each and Tebogo 4, for another 20-point score.
Singer-songwriter Connell Cruise proved that he can move too, burning up the dancefloor with a fiery Cha-Cha with Latin champ Marcella Soliemo! Tebogo admitted that Connell’s lifts were impressive but they wouldn’t be anymore by Week 3, she cautioned, and she urged him to exercise a little more control. “You don’t have a confidence problem, clearly!” said Bryan. Debbie said it was a great first outing and cautioned Connell to work on his footwork, but Jason thought that Connell might be the one to watch in this competition.
Bryan’s score of 6 points, Debbie and Jason’s 7 each and Tebogo’s personal high of the evening of 5 points put Connell and Marcella in an early lead with 25 points. An excited Connell admitted that he was particularly pleased to get a high score from the formidable Tebogo.
Actress Zola Nombona and her partner, Dance SuperSeries winner Tebogo Mashilo, brought a spectacular evening of dance to a rip-roaring close with an energetic Jive. “Ayeye!” Bryan Watson exclaimed. “I think you locked down that jive!” “I loved your sass,” Debbie agreed, and Jason agreed that Zola had raised the bar in this competition. “You shouldn’t be able to do that in Week 1!” he marveled. Even Tebogo admitted that Zola “lit the floor”, but cautioned her to focus also on “neatness”.
Bryan and Debbie scored Zola an unprecedented 7 points and Jason went even higher with 8, and even Tebogo gave her highest score of the night, 5, bringing Zola’s total to a remarkable 27. Up in the tower with host Tracey Lange, a speechless Zola was reduced to tears.
Viewers were treated to a live performance by South African legend Zolani Mahola while the judges tallied up their scores one last time and at the end of the first episode of Dancing with the Stars SA, Zola Nombona was at the top of the leaderboard with her 27 points. Connell Cruise was in second place with 25 points and Liesl Laurie, Frank Opperman, and Odessa Swarts were in a third-place tie with 20 points each. That left soccer star Delron Buckley bringing up the rear in last place with his 18 points.
No-one was sent home tonight, but the judges’ scores for these first six couples will be carried through to the third episode on 18 February, when these scores will be combined with the viewers’ votes to determine which two couples with the lowest scores will have to dance again for their survival in the dreaded Dance-Off!
To vote for their favourite dancers, viewers have to pre-register at least thirty minutes before the start of the live show at mnet.tv/dwtssavote, and voting will be open from the start of the show from 17:00 to 19:15. And then, for the first time ever, M-Net will announce the results of each episode on the same night, in a special Dancing with the Stars SA Live Results show at 20:00 every Sunday after Carte Blanche.
But first, coming up next week, the judges will get their first look at the next six couples taking part in the competition, in Dancing with the Stars SA episode 2 on Sunday, 11 February, at 17:00 only on M-Net channel 101.
Dancing with the Stars SA is produced for M-Net by Rapid Blue and is sponsored by Lottostar. Join the conversation on the Dancing with the Stars SA Facebook page, or on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #DWTSSA.
For more information about M-Net’s impressive new local slate, visit www.mnet.tv
