The cast of 2012 - Seven West Media
The cast of 2012 - Seven West Media
The cast of 2012 - Seven West Media
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THE CAST OF <strong>2012</strong>
INTRODUCING THE<br />
DANCING WITH THE<br />
STARS CAST FOR <strong>2012</strong><br />
<strong>The</strong>re will be glitter and glamour when an exciting and diverse<br />
line-up <strong>of</strong> celebrities make their way down the staircase and<br />
onto the floor for Series 12 <strong>of</strong> the hugely popular DANCING<br />
WITH THE STARS.<br />
Casting their fears aside, eleven celebrities will take on the<br />
ultimate challenge in their quest to be the next DANCING WITH<br />
THE STARS champion. Among them is a record breaking sailor,<br />
international DJ, television icon, ironman and an AFL superstar.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y will strut their stuff under the scrutiny <strong>of</strong> the judges and<br />
Australian public in support <strong>of</strong> their favourite charity.<br />
<strong>The</strong> group will kick up their heels alongside host Daniel<br />
MacPherson and his new co-host, the sensational Mel B.<br />
Having made it to the Grand Final <strong>of</strong> the US DANCING WITH<br />
THE STARS, Mel knows what it takes to rumba to the top.<br />
Judges Helen Richey, Todd McKenney and Joshua Horner will<br />
return ready with a keen eye to watch our celebrities bedazzle<br />
them with their new moves.<br />
Each week during the live show, scores will be combined from<br />
the judges plus the all-important viewer vote to determine<br />
who will be top the dancing leaderboard and who will foxtrot<br />
out <strong>of</strong> the competition.<br />
Among the charities to receive support this season are<br />
Beyond Blue, the National Stroke Foundation, Father Chris<br />
Riley’s Youth <strong>of</strong>f the Street and the Jane McGrath Foundation.<br />
DANCING FOR THE COVETED MIRROR<br />
BALL TROPHY IN <strong>2012</strong> ARE:<br />
Kerri-Anne Kennerley, TV icon<br />
Brendan Fevola, AFL superstar<br />
Johnny Ruffo, X Factor singer<br />
Danielle Spencer, Singer/Songwriter<br />
Erin McNaught, Television presenter<br />
Jessica Watson, record breaking sailor<br />
Zoe Cramond, Actor, Packed to the Rafters<br />
Vogue Williams, International DJ<br />
Shannon Noll, Singer/Songwriter<br />
Brian Mannix, 80s Rock legend<br />
Caine Eckstein, Ironman
PAST DANCING<br />
WITH THE STARS<br />
CHAMPIONS:<br />
SERIES 1 (2004)<br />
Bec Cartwright (Hewitt) and Michael Miziner<br />
Runner up: Pauline Hanson and Salvatore Vecchio<br />
SERIES 2 (2005)<br />
Tom Williams and Kym Johnson<br />
Runner up: Ian Roberts and Natalie Lowe<br />
SERIES 3 (2005)<br />
Ada Nicodemou and Aric Yegudkin<br />
Runner up: Chris Bath and Trenton Shipley<br />
SERIES 4 (2006)<br />
Grant Denyer and Amanda Garner<br />
Runner up: Kostya Tszyu and Luda Kroitor<br />
SERIES 5 (2006)<br />
Anthony Koutoufides and Natalie Lowe<br />
Runner up: Arianne Caoili and Carmelo Pizzino<br />
SERIES 6 (2007)<br />
Kate Ceberano and John-Paul Collins<br />
Runner up: Fifi Box and Paul Green<br />
SERIES 7 (2007)<br />
Bridie Carter and Craig Monley<br />
Runner up: Anh Do and Luda Kroitor<br />
SERIES 8 (2008)<br />
Luke Jacobz and Luda Kroitor<br />
Runners up: Danny Green and Natalie Lowe / Paul Licuria and<br />
Eliza Campagna<br />
SERIES 9 (2009)<br />
Adam Brand and Jade Hatcher<br />
Runners up: Kylie Gillies and Carmelo Pizzino / Matt White and<br />
Ash-Leigh Hunter<br />
SERIES 10 (2010)<br />
Rob Palmer and Alana Patience<br />
Runners up: Tamara Jaber and Carmelo Pizzino / Alex Fevola<br />
and Arsen Kishishian<br />
SERIES 11 (2011)<br />
Manu Feildel and Alana Patience<br />
Runners up: Haley Bracken and Aric Yegudkin / Damien Leith<br />
and Melanie Hooper
HOST<br />
DANIEL MACPHERSON<br />
Whether it is acting, hosting DANCING WITH THE STARS or competing in<br />
triathlons, Daniel masters his performance and does it seemingly with ease.<br />
Last year while hosting DANCING WITH THE STARS, Daniel appeared<br />
in Wild Boys, a period piece set in the 1800s about a group <strong>of</strong> Aussie<br />
bushrangers. His role as Jack Keenan earnt Daniel a TV Week Silver<br />
Logie nomination for Most Popular Actor.<br />
In 2010 Daniel extended his hosting duties for the Channel <strong>Seven</strong><br />
game show Beat the Star and he filmed the Melbourne Cup movie<br />
<strong>The</strong> Cup, starring alongside Stephen Curry and Tom Burlinson.<br />
Growing up in the Sydney beachside suburb <strong>of</strong> Cronulla, Daniel<br />
was discovered while competing in the Kurnell triathlon and was<br />
subsequently <strong>of</strong>fered the role <strong>of</strong> Joel Samuels in Neighbours. After<br />
making his mark on Neighbours, he received a Logie award for Most<br />
Popular New Male Talent in 1999.<br />
In 2002, Daniel moved to the UK to star in the musical ‘Godspell’,<br />
alternating the lead role. Upon completion <strong>of</strong> the show, he was<br />
<strong>of</strong>fered the role <strong>of</strong> PC Cameron Tait in the long-running iconic<br />
British TV series, <strong>The</strong> Bill. Within a year, Daniel was nominated for the<br />
British National Television Award for Best Newcomer. He also starred<br />
opposite legendary actor Edward Woodward on the stage in “<strong>The</strong><br />
Mysteries” in London’s Canterbury Cathedral, to rave reviews.<br />
Daniel’s career has continued to traverse the globe and several<br />
genres, with leading roles on Tripping Over, Blackjack, <strong>Seven</strong>’s hit<br />
crime drama City Homicide, as well as hosting <strong>The</strong> X Factor in 2005.<br />
In 2008, Daniel was named GQ Magazine’s ‘Television Personality<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Year’ after his stellar debut as the new host <strong>of</strong> DANCING WITH<br />
THE STARS.<br />
Throughout this time, Daniel has upheld a demanding and gruelling<br />
fitness routine and continued to compete in elite-level triathlons.<br />
A dedicated and talented athlete, in May 2009 he competed in<br />
the China Ironman event, finishing first in his age group, earning<br />
his place in the pinnacle <strong>of</strong> triathlons, Hawaii Ironman. Later that<br />
year, following his second season <strong>of</strong> DANCING WITH THE STARS, he<br />
successfully completed the event, finishing in a respectable 541st<br />
place from a field <strong>of</strong> 1700.
CO-HOST<br />
MEL B<br />
Mel B knows a thing or two about the entertainment industry.<br />
Mel B was a judge on last year’s hit series the X Factor, and is<br />
excited to be in Australia for a permanent role alongside host<br />
Daniel Macpherson.<br />
As part <strong>of</strong> the all-conquering Spice Girls, Mel B has sold<br />
over 55 million records worldwide. <strong>The</strong> Spice Girls became<br />
the fastest selling British band since <strong>The</strong> Beatles when they<br />
released their debut album Spice - which remains the bestselling<br />
album by a female group in history.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Spice Girl’s global success saw them rack up worldwide<br />
record sales <strong>of</strong> $55 million, a Guinness Book <strong>of</strong> World<br />
Records status for “Most No. 1 Entries in the UK Charts”<br />
and “Most Consecutive No. 1’s for a New Act.” <strong>The</strong> group’s<br />
enduring popularity brought about one <strong>of</strong> the most<br />
successful concert tours <strong>of</strong> 2007-08 with the reunion trek<br />
grossing more than $70 million.<br />
Since then, Mel B has had a successful solo career releasing<br />
three albums, and has moved into the television world,<br />
appearing on the US DANCING WITH THE STARS. Mel joined<br />
the fifth season <strong>of</strong> the hit series, dancing up a storm with<br />
her partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Despite a perfect score<br />
on their final dance in the season finale, they took second<br />
place in the show.<br />
Mel has also launched her own reality show, Mel B: It’s A Scary<br />
World and appeared on Broadway, starred as Mimi in a major<br />
production <strong>of</strong> Rent and appeared in a presentation <strong>of</strong> <strong>The</strong><br />
Vagina Monologues.
TV ICON, AGE 58<br />
KERRI-ANNE KENNERLEY<br />
PARTNER: CARMELO PIZZINO<br />
DANCING FOR: LOOK GOOD, FEEL GOOD<br />
“Half the time in my live television career you’d beg for something to<br />
go wrong just so you could make it fun and capitalize on it. With this<br />
I’m begging for nothing to go wrong.”<br />
Television veteran Kerri-Anne Kennerley has interviewed world<br />
leaders, sporting icons, leaders <strong>of</strong> business and superstars as a<br />
highly respected national television presenter. But this time the<br />
dancing shoe is on the other foot – as she takes her turn vying for<br />
the coveted mirror ball trophy. “I think people know me for survival<br />
and longevity,” she says, “I’ve probably raised a big chunk <strong>of</strong> the<br />
population as a babysitter on breakfast television.”<br />
Kerri-Anne says her dance strengths start and end with the boogie.<br />
“Never have I ever stepped into Latin or ballroom dancing. Boogie<br />
has been the sum total <strong>of</strong> my career, and best done at midnight.<br />
“Tenacity and stamina are really the only things I have going for<br />
me. I have tenacity and stamina and I’ve always enjoyed trying to<br />
get things right and I’m prepared to do whatever has to be done to<br />
make sure it’s right.”<br />
And is Kerri-Anne concerned about a harsh word from the judges?<br />
Not in the slightest. “I have been criticized by the best so I don’t<br />
even think they’ll stack up. What I’ve heard about myself over the<br />
years… the best have had a go and I’ve survived, so that part<br />
doesn’t phase me at all!”<br />
This season Kerri-Anne is dancing for Look Good Feel Good, for<br />
which she is patron. <strong>The</strong> charity conducts workshops for women<br />
suffering from cancer, helping disguise some <strong>of</strong> the ill effects <strong>of</strong><br />
treatment. “I think for a very long time people have accepted the<br />
correlation between feeling better and looking better, and there’s<br />
no question, especially with women, losing hair, losing skin tone,<br />
all <strong>of</strong> a sudden if you look better you feel better – it’s part <strong>of</strong> the<br />
healing process.”<br />
Taking to the floor this season, she says she has no expectations.<br />
“I’d just like to smoothly be able to get through and do the proper<br />
thing – I don’t want to embarrass Carmelo, I don’t want to end his<br />
career!”<br />
CARMELO PIZZINO<br />
Carmelo made his DANCING WITH THE STARS debut in series four<br />
and this will be his fifth season with the show. In 2009 he made the<br />
finals with Kylie Gillies and in 2010 came runner-up with partner<br />
Tamara Jaber.<br />
Carmelo was born in Perth and won his first dancing award<br />
at just five years <strong>of</strong> age. Moving to Sydney at a young age,<br />
Carmelo then moved to London to further his dance career and<br />
represent Australia on the international circuit. He has since won<br />
many Australian and World titles, including the most sought after<br />
prestigious British Latin Championship, <strong>The</strong> International Latin<br />
Championship, the Australian Open, South Pacific, Australasian,<br />
Singapore’s Lion City Championship and the Rumba in the Jungle<br />
Latin Championship in South Africa and many other titles. For the<br />
past three years Carmelo has been performing in ‘Burn <strong>The</strong> Floor’s<br />
Floorplay’, touring Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Japan, Europe,<br />
Canada and the US.
AFL SUPERSTAR, AGE 31<br />
BRENDAN FEVOLA<br />
PARTNER: JESSICA RAFFA<br />
DANCING FOR: LIFE EDUCATION<br />
“I’m not sure what people think <strong>of</strong> me – you either love me or<br />
hate me, so hopefully this is a good opportunity to show people<br />
what I’m really like.”<br />
Brendan Fevola knows where the line is drawn with his children.<br />
“<strong>The</strong>y’re all voting for Johnny Ruffo,” he laughs. A proud father <strong>of</strong><br />
three girls, he says he’s excited to get onto the dance floor. “<strong>The</strong><br />
girls are rapt, they’ve made banners and they’re really excited<br />
to come to the show. I’m looking forward to getting out there<br />
and showing them what Dad can do.”<br />
Regarded as one <strong>of</strong> the great full-forwards in recent AFL history,<br />
‘Fev’ finished his career with 623 Goals from 204 games. He<br />
twice won the Coleman Medal for the AFL’s leading goal kicker<br />
and was named as an all-Australian Selection in 2006, 2008 &<br />
2009. But he says competing for the mirror ball trophy may be<br />
his biggest hurdle. “I’ve got sore muscles where I never thought<br />
I had muscles. It’s very hard doing something that you’re not<br />
used to. You know, it’s like trying to ride a bike – I feel like a kid,<br />
like we’ve got training wheels at the moment. I don’t know when<br />
they’re going to come <strong>of</strong>f.”<br />
Battling old football injuries – operations on his shoulders, groin<br />
and knee – he says his posture is big issue. “And my feet don’t<br />
move, I’ve got two left feet so that’s going to be a problem.”<br />
No stranger to controversy, Fev knows there are divided<br />
opinions. “You get perceived a lot from the indiscretions that<br />
happened when I played football, and I’ve made a few<br />
mistakes, and a lot <strong>of</strong> people write stuff which isn’t true. But<br />
you’ve got no real right <strong>of</strong> reply so you just cop it. That’s not the<br />
real me so I think this show’s a great opportunity to come out<br />
and be yourself. That’s what people will either be drawn to or<br />
they won’t like, and I’ll find out pretty quick.” Fev is currently<br />
playing VFL footy for the Yarrawonga Pigeons.<br />
He says at the end <strong>of</strong> the day, anything he can do for his charity<br />
Life Education, is worth it. “I’ve got a history with it, and it relates.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y create an awareness <strong>of</strong> the problems <strong>of</strong> indulging in too<br />
much alcohol and drugs, and go out to schools and try and<br />
plant that in the kid’s heads. <strong>The</strong>y don’t get much, so hopefully<br />
we can make them more well-known and raise more money.”<br />
JESSICA RAFFA<br />
This will be Jessica’s fourth appearance on DANCING WITH THE<br />
STARS. In 2009 she made her brave debut with blind adventurer<br />
Gerard Gossens. In 2010 she partnered Blair McDonough<br />
from Winners and Losers and in 2011 took Nick Bracks to the<br />
floor. Jessica has been dancing since the age <strong>of</strong> three. She<br />
started her dancing career with the Junior Australian Ballet,<br />
then ventured into Ballroom. This led her to compete on both<br />
a national and international level for over 10 years. She was<br />
trained in London by World Champion Latin dancers such as<br />
Brian Watson and John Eftidal. At 15, Jessica competed at the<br />
prestigious Blackpool Ballroom Dancing Competition in 1999.<br />
Nine years ago, Jessica joined the <strong>cast</strong> <strong>of</strong> Burn <strong>The</strong> Floor. She<br />
started teaching dance to blind and vision impaired people<br />
after performing a blindfolded dance in the show. Jessica has<br />
taught throughout Australia and the US, working closely with<br />
Vision Australia.<br />
Together with producer Harley Medcalf, Jessica created the<br />
non-pr<strong>of</strong>it organisation Blindfold, raising money for deaf and<br />
blind children in Australia.<br />
Jessica was the head spokesperson for ‘Burn <strong>The</strong> Floor<br />
presents Floorplay’, representing the company at promotional<br />
events in Australia, China, Japan, Europe and North<br />
America. Two documentaries have been aired in Japan<br />
focusing solely on Jessica’s life and role in ‘Floorplay’.
X FACTOR SENSATION, AGE 24<br />
JOHNNY RUFFO<br />
PARTNER: LUDA KROITOR<br />
DANCING FOR: FATHER CHRIS RILEY’S YOUTH OFF THE STREET<br />
“Not in a million years did I think I’d be doing this. Basically I’m just<br />
living my dream and having the time <strong>of</strong> my life.”<br />
According to his fellow dancing contestants, Johnny Ruffo is the<br />
man to watch on the floor this season. Bursting onto the stage<br />
on Channel <strong>Seven</strong>’s X Factor in 2011, Johnny quickly became a<br />
household name. “A year ago I was still doing music, working<br />
really hard at it in the studio, but obviously to fund that I was<br />
doing concreting and working construction,’’ he says. Since<br />
becoming a top 3 finalist in the show, Johnny has left his boots<br />
and safety jacket behind, signing a recording contract with Sony<br />
Music Australia.<br />
And now he’s taking to the dance floor with hopes <strong>of</strong> claiming<br />
the mirror ball trophy.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> strengths I have are that I can probably pick the<br />
choreography up quite easily, but it’s the technique that I’m really<br />
struggling with. Because I’ve taught myself to dance for so long,<br />
my mind is set in bad habits, they’re just really hard to shake.”<br />
Johnny says he had no hesitation when being asked to take part<br />
in the show this season. “I thought it was a great opportunity,<br />
I love being out there on stage doing what I do best which is<br />
entertaining and I jumped at it straight away.”<br />
And he’s quick to stress his signature freestyle and hip hop dance<br />
moves are all his own. “I have never in my life had a dance lesson.<br />
Ever. Everything that I know is just from teaching myself.”<br />
This season Johnny will dance for Father Chris Riley’s Youth<br />
Off <strong>The</strong> Street. “It’s great, it’s all about helping kids and I<br />
specifically wanted to help kids out because in my eyes,<br />
kids have a lot less <strong>of</strong> a choice, they really don’t. It’s not their<br />
choice that they’re living on the streets, they don’t choose to<br />
not have a ro<strong>of</strong> over their heads or not have shoes or clothes<br />
to wear and not have an education – it’s not their choice. So I<br />
really wanted to donate the funding to a charity that supports<br />
all <strong>of</strong> that.”<br />
LUDA KROITOR<br />
This is Luda’s sixth appearance on DANCING WITH THE STARS,<br />
winning Series 8 with Luke Jacobz and runner up in Series 4 and<br />
7. Of Russian origin, Luda came to Australia at the age <strong>of</strong> 10. Her<br />
passion for dance and choreography was clear at 11, when she<br />
started training in all styles <strong>of</strong> Latin America, Ballroom, Brazilian<br />
and Salsa. By the time she was 18, Luda already had become the<br />
Australian Youth Latin Champion.<br />
Luda’s passion for dance was further rewarded at 19 when<br />
she achieved her dream <strong>of</strong> becoming World Salsa Champion<br />
through the IDO World Dance Federation. It was the first time that<br />
Australia was represented at the World Championships and Luda<br />
took out the title with every judge giving her first place.<br />
Luda’s hard work, determination and dedication drove her to<br />
fulfil her ultimate goal as five-time World Salsa Champion. She still<br />
holds the title and a place in world dance history.
SINGER/SONGWRITER, AGE 42<br />
DANIELLE SPENCER<br />
PARTNER: DAMIAN WHITEWOOD<br />
DANCING FOR: THE AUSTRALIAN CHILDREN’S MUSIC FOUNDATION<br />
“I will work as hard as I can work to stay in and I would love to stay in<br />
for as long as possible. I don’t know that I’m confident, but I’m hopeful.”<br />
Danielle’s musical career was destined from an early age. “It<br />
was a very musical household growing up so I guess that was<br />
kind <strong>of</strong> always in my childhood.” <strong>The</strong> daughter <strong>of</strong> Don Spencer –<br />
a respected musician and renowned TV presenter in Britain and<br />
Australia – Danielle first started to sing and learn the piano from<br />
her father at the age <strong>of</strong> four.<br />
“I released an album in 2001 (White Monkey) and then I got<br />
married <strong>of</strong>f the back <strong>of</strong> touring and had two children so I had a<br />
break from music. <strong>The</strong>n I got back to it and released an album<br />
(Calling All Magicians) in 2010.”<br />
With her sons with actor Russell Crowe now aged 5 and 8,<br />
Danielle says she felt ready to make music again. “<strong>The</strong>y’re a bit<br />
older so it’s easier for me to work now and be away from home.”<br />
But she says her musical ability doesn’t extend to the dance<br />
floor. “I stand up for a few songs, but I’m a piano playing<br />
songwriter so I’m not really breaking out the moves. It’s all<br />
the technique - it looks so beautiful and effortless when you<br />
see people doing it and doing it well. I guess that’s the big<br />
challenge, trying to make it look effortless and graceful while<br />
remember all <strong>of</strong> these things.”<br />
Danielle says she first rejected the idea <strong>of</strong> competing for the<br />
coveted mirror ball trophy. “I think initially I kind <strong>of</strong> shied away<br />
from it, probably just out <strong>of</strong> fear. But I thought it would be fun.<br />
Everything I do is very internal - I sit in my room writing songs and<br />
you live in your little internal world so I thought it would be nice<br />
to do something that’s external and physical and give myself a<br />
challenge like that.”<br />
She says being criticised by the judges could be tough. “You<br />
really are putting yourself out there. You’re putting yourself<br />
out to be judged, and that’s not a comfortable thing to<br />
do. But the overriding thing was I thought it would be fun to<br />
just have a new challenge. I would just like to engage with<br />
dancing and get to a point where I’m really enjoying it.”<br />
DAMIAN WHITEWOOD<br />
In 2010 Damian made a guest appearance on DANCING WITH<br />
THE STARS with Pamela Anderson who he partnered in the US<br />
version.<br />
For the past 11 years, Damian has performed his passion in life<br />
to millions <strong>of</strong> people around the world and has taken what was<br />
once a hobby and made it his career. In 2001 he joined the <strong>cast</strong><br />
<strong>of</strong> Burn <strong>The</strong> Floor, which has sold in excess <strong>of</strong> 4 million tickets in<br />
over 30 countries and 160 cities worldwide.<br />
He achieved one <strong>of</strong> his lifelong goals with the company in 2009<br />
making his Broadway Debut as a lead dancer, which opened<br />
to rave reviews and sold out performances. Damian made the<br />
move to primetime television in the US as one <strong>of</strong> the pr<strong>of</strong>essional<br />
dancers on ABC’s top rated program, DANCING WITH THE STARS.<br />
Partnering Pamela Anderson who he has since been working with<br />
all around the world, Damian has guest appeared on the Israeli,<br />
Argentinean and Mexican versions <strong>of</strong> DANCING WITH THE STARS.
TELEVISION PRESENTER, AGE 29<br />
ERIN MCNAUGHT<br />
PARTNER: GLEB SAVCHENKO<br />
DANCING FOR: THE MCGRATH FOUNDATION<br />
“I’m pretty clumsy. I sliced my toe open in the first 30 seconds <strong>of</strong> dancing.”<br />
Since representing Australia in the 2006 Miss Universe pageant,<br />
Erin McNaught has rarely stepped from the spotlight. <strong>The</strong><br />
Canberra-born stunner can add actor and television presenter to<br />
her resume, her latest gig as MTV VJ.<br />
As a six-year-old, Erin took up ballet in pursuit <strong>of</strong> every little girl’s<br />
dream, a tutu. Now the prospect <strong>of</strong> wearing skimpy sequined<br />
fashions is proving a touch more challenging. “Its going to be<br />
all out there for everybody to see so I’ve made a decision to not<br />
worry about my body and not have any insecurities because it’s<br />
about dancing and not about my body.”<br />
A former athlete, Erin sees dancing as another life skill to conquer<br />
and says while she is fit and strong, she does carry the legacy <strong>of</strong><br />
competitive high school javelin. “I’ve got really bad shoulders,<br />
lots <strong>of</strong> scar tissue inside, so I have no flexibility.”<br />
Erin, who sees Kerri-Anne as the competition threat, is under no<br />
illusion the dancing experience will be a difficult challenge. “<strong>The</strong><br />
only way is up for me because I’ve never done anything like this<br />
before.” But she is being realistic. “I’m not thinking that I’m going<br />
to be amazing, but I’ve never tried it so you never know.”<br />
She’s hoping the judges, who <strong>of</strong>ten tell it like they say it, have<br />
some kind words too. “I’m so sensitive, I’m such a crier, it’s really<br />
embarrassing. Honestly, my one goal on this show is to not cry too<br />
<strong>of</strong>ten. I hate conflict.”<br />
Dancing for the McGrath Foundation, she says she hopes one<br />
day it’s a disease no-one has to battle. “My family has not been<br />
affected by breast cancer and that’s a really fortunate and a really<br />
rare thing. So ideally down the track there’ll be more and more<br />
people like me who don’t know people affected by breast cancer.”<br />
And while she may not have carved up a dance floor since<br />
a failed ballet attempt at six, she says the fight is on. “I’m<br />
competitive, I’m really competitive. I want to win.”<br />
GLEB SAVCHENKO<br />
This year Gleb makes his DANCING WITH THE STARS debut. Gleb<br />
studied drama and theatre arts at the Moscow <strong>The</strong>atre Arts<br />
University, graduating from the Russian <strong>The</strong>atre Arts University with<br />
Masters in Choreography. Pr<strong>of</strong>icient in ballet and contemporary<br />
dance and a specialist in International Latin, Gleb studied under<br />
Bob Luyck in New York and Kate Sullivan in Hong Kong.<br />
He has appeared in film and television roles, and since 2007, has<br />
won six Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Latin Dance Championships - Australasian<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Latin Championship, Australian South Pacific<br />
Championship, Canberra Open Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Championship,<br />
Closed Hong Kong Championship, Open Asia Tour<br />
Championship and the United Kingdom Championship. Fluent in<br />
English and Russian, Gleb is married to pr<strong>of</strong>essional dancer Elena<br />
Samodanova who is partnered with Shannon Noll.
RECORD BREAKING SAILOR, AGED 18<br />
JESSICA WATSON<br />
PARTNER: DAMIEN SAMUEL<br />
DANCING FOR: THE UNITED NATIONS WORLD FOOD PROGRAM<br />
“My past experience has showed me that if I really want something, if<br />
I really want to put the hard work in, then I’ll be able to get there.”<br />
Jessica Watson was just three days shy <strong>of</strong> her 17th birthday<br />
when she sailed into the record books, becoming the<br />
youngest person ever to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted<br />
around the world. With the culmination <strong>of</strong> her feat broad<strong>cast</strong><br />
live across Australia, Jessica became a household name and<br />
ambassador for Australian youth. Since then, she hasn’t put a<br />
step wrong on dry land.<br />
Last year she was named Young Australian <strong>of</strong> the Year, and<br />
this year was awarded a Medal <strong>of</strong> the Order <strong>of</strong> Australia. “It’s<br />
been the most incredible two years, I’ve crammed so much<br />
in,” she says.<br />
But she says dancing will test her. “I have absolutely zilch<br />
dancing experience. I think I’m reasonably flexible and<br />
general fitness is good, so I suppose that’s helping me a little<br />
bit, but I think I don’t really have a lot going for me dancing<br />
wise. Everything is difficult, there’s so much to remember and<br />
there’s a whole other language.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> youngest dancer in this year’s competition, Jessica says<br />
her commitment will take her far. “I think the biggest thing for<br />
me is that I’m just totally determined to give it everything and if<br />
you commit yourself to something you just have to give it your<br />
all. And if you work hard enough I’ll be able to do well.”<br />
Currently studying Sociology at university, Jessica says she<br />
had to throw herself into a fresh challenge. “It’s so totally<br />
different for me, it’s another world. I think everyone knows me<br />
as this sailor in overalls and sea boots, and I wanted to show<br />
everyone that there is a different side to me.”<br />
But she says there is no doubt tissues will need to be on hand if<br />
the judges get too feisty.<br />
“I’ll cry at some point. Everyone thinks I’m a big tough sailor<br />
but I’m actually a massive cry-baby. So that’ll definitely<br />
happen, that’s just a given. All my friends know that, so they’re<br />
going to be embarrassed on my behalf.”<br />
Dancing for the United Nations World Food Program, Jessica<br />
says she will take the skills learnt from sailing onto the dance<br />
floor. “I’m very confident because I know if I put the hard work<br />
in, I can do as well as I want. It’s all going to be a mind game,<br />
like everything else.”<br />
DAMIEN SAMUEL<br />
This year Damien makes his DANCING WITH THE STARS debut.<br />
Damien has competed and won the Championships in<br />
the NSW Open Junior Latin and Ballroom Tournament and<br />
Australia Open Junior Latin and Ballroom Tournament.<br />
Blacktown City’s National Youth Ambassador for 2006 and<br />
2007, he was also an assistant Choreographer for DANCING<br />
WITH THE STARS Grand Final Opening in America.<br />
Damien featured lead in Burn <strong>The</strong> Floor at Jupiter’s Casino in<br />
QLD and was the Lead in Burn <strong>The</strong> Floor World Tour through<br />
the United States, Australia and South Africa.
PACKED TO THE RAFTERS ACTOR, AGE 27<br />
ZOE CRAMOND<br />
PARTNER: ARIC YEGUDKIN<br />
DANCING FOR: THE SPINAL CORD INJURY NETWORK<br />
“For me it’s going to be about enjoying the sexuality <strong>of</strong> the dances and the<br />
sensual movements. Because I did ballet everything was so rigid so the<br />
sexy style I find quite intimidating and it’s going to be a challenge for me.”<br />
On screen Zoe plays Emma Mackey, one the newest faces to<br />
the Packed to the Rafters family. Off screen this New Zealand<br />
native, who moved to Sydney last year, says she is hoping to<br />
cha cha her way into the finals.<br />
“I’d rather not focus on my competition and just focus on what I<br />
can do to my best ability and just not care about anything else.<br />
Otherwise you get too inside your head and too stressed out.”<br />
Citing discipline as her main strength and bad dance habits<br />
as her weakness, Zoe says she’s prepared to cop the criticism<br />
that comes with former dance experience. “I did a tiny bit<br />
<strong>of</strong> contemporary but I did ballet when I was younger until<br />
about 16. I think it really helps with getting choreography, like<br />
understanding steps and performance.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> youngest <strong>of</strong> three children, Zoe says it was her Packed<br />
to the Rafters co-star and former DANCING WITH THE STARS<br />
contestant George Houvardas who convinced her to sign<br />
on. “He was an ambassador for the show, I totally wracked<br />
his brain and he’s part <strong>of</strong> the reason I chose to do it as well<br />
because he said, ‘it’s so much fun and you’re going to have<br />
the time <strong>of</strong> your life’.”<br />
And she says the first training sessions with Aric didn’t disappoint.<br />
“It’s been amazing, as soon we met we got along so I was so<br />
lucky. We click. It was so full on, by the afternoons I was losing it. It<br />
was mental exhaustion that was the hardest part.”<br />
Through it all she has the unwavering support <strong>of</strong> her Dad who<br />
convinced her to dance, and it was his severe injury that led<br />
Zoe to her chosen charity. “I chose that one because my Dad<br />
broke his neck in two places when he was 28. He’s disabled<br />
but was told he was never going to walk or have kids because<br />
<strong>of</strong> his injury.” Her father’s insistence to one day complete both<br />
has been her biggest inspiration. “That’s why my name’s Zoe<br />
because it means life, and when I started to walk when I was<br />
a kid, he was learning to walk again, so we’re very close. I’m<br />
doing it for him.”<br />
ARIC YEGUDKIN<br />
In 2011 Aric was runner-up in DANCING WITH THE STARS<br />
alongside Haley Bracken and in season three, he took home<br />
the coveted trophy with Home and Away’s Ada Nicodemou.<br />
After ongoing impersonations <strong>of</strong> Michael Jackson’s Billie<br />
Jean routine at the birthdays <strong>of</strong> friends and relatives, Aric<br />
Yegudkin’s mother finally took him to a teenage dance class.<br />
At age eight, Aric had to choose between his two great<br />
passions – dancing and tennis. He chose Dancesport and<br />
after just two years became the national juvenile champion.<br />
Aric teamed with two partners in the junior section, before<br />
being paired in the youth section with Masha Belash in<br />
July 2001. Since then, they have won many titles together,<br />
including the National Youth Latin American Championship<br />
three years running, the Australian - and the South Pacific -<br />
Youth Under 19 Latin American Championships, and the World<br />
Super Stars Adult Latin American championship. <strong>The</strong>y were<br />
also Australia’s representative to the World Ballroom and Latin<br />
Championships in 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2009.<br />
Aric has toured with theatrical production ‘Burn <strong>The</strong> Floor’ and<br />
is one <strong>of</strong> the principal dancers and choreographers for stage<br />
show Dance Dance Dance, performing across Australia for a<br />
number <strong>of</strong> years. Aric holds a Bachelor <strong>of</strong> Commerce from the<br />
University <strong>of</strong> New South Wales and is an accredited instructor<br />
with Dancesport Australia, holding a Level 1 teaching license.
INTERNATIONAL DJ, AGE 25<br />
VOGUE WILLIAMS<br />
PARTNER: CHRISTOPHER PAGE<br />
DANCING FOR: THE NATIONAL STROKE COUNCIL<br />
“I think if you just stick with being yourself and don’t try and be<br />
somebody you’re not, then I think you’ll do well.”<br />
Since landing in Australia last year, Irish beauty Vogue Williams<br />
has fast made a name for herself as a model, ambassador and<br />
in-demand DJ.<br />
Engaged to fellow Irish singer and judge on Australia’s Got Talent,<br />
Brian McFadden, Vogue now lives in Australia. “Right now I can’t<br />
imagine ever going home. If I could have my way I’d drag Ireland<br />
down here so I could have all my family and friends here, but I just<br />
wouldn’t go home, I just love it here, it’s such a laid back, cool life.”<br />
And she’s ready to throw herself literally into the dancing arena,<br />
“I’m not really scared <strong>of</strong> trying anything, I’m not really scared to<br />
be thrown around the room,” but says she will struggle with fast<br />
choreography and having do perform “sexy dance moves.”<br />
But she’s not worried about the dancing outfits. “I love the<br />
costumes, I want to go around in this all day, I want to wear it to<br />
Coles, I want to do my shopping and stuff, I love them.”<br />
In addition to Brian, Vogue has more Irish support Down Under<br />
with two siblings living in Melbourne, and she hopes to be able<br />
build on her confidence during the show. “I hope I can learn to<br />
just not be so nervous all the time. Even when I DJ I still get a tiny<br />
bit nervous, just like butterflies.”<br />
And when it comes to tough criticism from the judges, Vogue’s<br />
only concern is a fit <strong>of</strong> the giggles. “If they called me something<br />
like a bedazzled sack <strong>of</strong> potatoes, I think I’d find it really funny. If<br />
it’s true it’s even funnier, so I’m well able to take an insult.”<br />
With her support fully behind the National Stroke Council, Vogue<br />
says it was an easy choice following the death <strong>of</strong> her father in<br />
November 2010. “It’s good to be able to do something for him”.<br />
Vogue says her only competition is herself. “I think I just want<br />
to do well for myself. I just want to work as hard as I can and not<br />
turn around if I get kicked out and be like, ‘I could have worked<br />
harder’. I don’t want to regret what I should have done.”<br />
CHRISTOPHER PAGE<br />
This year Christopher makes his DANCING WITH THE STARS debut.<br />
Christopher has been dancing for 19 years, starting his dance<br />
career in Canberra and with his partner <strong>of</strong> 14 years he went on<br />
to achieve success both nationally and internationally, winning<br />
the ANDA Australian National Championships. Christopher then<br />
pared up with an Icelandic partner where together they were<br />
the Icelandic National Champions, representing Iceland at the<br />
World Latin Championships. Together they relocated to London<br />
to spend more time training and working with the top teachers<br />
in the world. In 2010 Christopher Joined the world famous stage<br />
show Burn the Floor for twelve months where he performed in both<br />
Australia and the US.
SINGER/SONGWRITER, AGE 36<br />
SHANNON NOLL<br />
PARTNER: ELENA SAMODANOVA<br />
DANCING FOR: BEYOND BLUE<br />
“Because Johnny Ruffo is fresh out <strong>of</strong> X Factor he’s going to have a lot<br />
<strong>of</strong> support with all the young ones. But hopefully I’ve got their mums.<br />
And Brian Mannix has got the mum’s mums.”<br />
Shannon Noll burst onto the music scene in 2003 with a hit cover,<br />
‘What About Me’ which went to the top <strong>of</strong> the ARIA charts. His<br />
debut album, ‘That’s What I’m Talking About’ went five times<br />
platinum, and since then the self-described “first loser on Australian<br />
Idol” has released five hit albums and is the only male artist to have<br />
ten consecutive top 10 ARIA chart singles.<br />
<strong>The</strong> father-<strong>of</strong>-three says his decision to take to the dance stage this<br />
season was not taken lightly. “I wanted to give this 100 per cent so<br />
we postponed about 40 shows. <strong>The</strong>re’s no point doing this if you’re<br />
not going to give it everything so I want to focus on it and do it to<br />
the best <strong>of</strong> my ability.”<br />
No stranger to being judged on live television, Shannon said the<br />
judges will still need to be careful when <strong>of</strong>fering up helpful tips. “I’m<br />
a bit fiery, I’m going to have to bite my tongue. If it’s constructive it’s<br />
all good, if they’re downright nasty then I’ll be hopefully biting my<br />
lip, otherwise I’ll be giving them the spray.” In addition to battling<br />
the judges, Shannon may have to battle through the pain <strong>of</strong> a<br />
bad back. “I’ve got a bulged disc, I’ve got four slight bulges and<br />
one’s actually split the membrane <strong>of</strong> the disc itself so I’m going to<br />
have to watch that I’d say. Anything for the cause! I might get some<br />
sympathy votes for that.”<br />
Throwing his weight behind Beyond Blue this season, Shannon says<br />
the key messages are close to his heart as a former farmer. “Beyond<br />
Blue do a lot <strong>of</strong> work for farmers and suicide. Blokes don’t know<br />
how to talk to anyone or anything like that and its not just people<br />
losing the business that people talk about, it’s more than that. It’s<br />
losing their family heritage, and the pressure on them to not be the<br />
one that lost it, when the problem is, it’s not because they’re a bad<br />
farmer or anything, it’s because <strong>of</strong> the elements.” After Shannon’s<br />
father died in a farming accident in 2000, his own family farm which<br />
had been in the family for 98 years succumbed to drought.<br />
Shannon says his biggest competition is himself. “I sort<br />
<strong>of</strong> push myself hard and so at the end <strong>of</strong> the day you<br />
look back at it and you know you did everything you<br />
possibly could. I think that’s how I’ve always looked at<br />
everything. I just want to do the best I know I can do. At<br />
least I can say that instead <strong>of</strong> going, ‘damn it, if I had only’.<br />
I don’t want to have any ‘if I had only’s…’”<br />
ELENA SAMODANOVA<br />
This year Elena makes her DANCING WITH THE STARS debut.<br />
A graduate <strong>of</strong> the Art and Culture <strong>The</strong>atre University in Moscow,<br />
Elena has a masters in choreography. She has also studied Drama<br />
and <strong>The</strong>atre Arts at Moscow <strong>The</strong>atre Arts University is internationally<br />
certified as a Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Latin and Ballroom teacher in England.<br />
She has won championships for the Australian Pr<strong>of</strong>essional<br />
Championship, Australian South Pacific Championship,<br />
Canberra Open Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Championship, Closed Hong Kong<br />
Championship, Open Asian Tour Championship and United<br />
Kingdom Championship. Elena is married to pr<strong>of</strong>essional dancer<br />
Gleb Savchenko who is partnered with Erin McNaught.
‘80S ROCK LEGEND, AGE 50<br />
BRIAN MANNIX<br />
PARTNER: MELANIE HOOPER<br />
DANCING FOR: PROSTATE CANCER FOUNDATION OF AUSTRALIA<br />
“I’m miles behind everybody. I can’t see anybody that I’m going to<br />
beat. But I’m going to give it a damn good try.”<br />
Australian rocker Brian Mannix hit the stage as lead singer<br />
and songwriter with his band, <strong>The</strong> Uncanny X-Men. Hit singles<br />
‘Everybody Wants to Work,’ ‘Party,’ and ‘Fifty Years’ saw the band<br />
achieve gold and platinum sales as one <strong>of</strong> the most popular<br />
bands <strong>of</strong> the 1980s.<br />
Now he’s vying for a different prize, and Brian says training has<br />
been like nothing before. “On the second night I sat at home and<br />
thought ‘Oh my God, what have I done?’ It seemed like a very<br />
dark place. Hopefully I’ll just keep improving and getting better.”<br />
Brian says his only hope for victory is getting down with some old<br />
school moves. “<strong>The</strong> skinhead dance is one <strong>of</strong> my strengths. I can<br />
do Axle Rose and Mick Jagger pretty well but that’s about it.”<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are more weaknesses. “Posture is really bad. Remembering<br />
it all is not that good. Actually performing it and looking like a<br />
dancer is really bad. I can’t really see any strengths!”<br />
Like many in the competition, Brian says last year’s X Factor hit<br />
Johnny Ruffo is the one to beat. “He dances like Michael Jackson!<br />
And he’s got Luda’s whose a really good dancer too so you’d<br />
have to pencil him in as the favourite.”<br />
With his children backing Brendan Fevola, Brian says he can only<br />
hope to impress his wife. “I can’t even waltz so I don’t even dance<br />
with my wife at a wedding. It will be good after this when I can<br />
get her out on the floor and give her a dance.”<br />
Dancing for the Prostate Cancer Foundation <strong>of</strong> Australia, Brian<br />
says he can only hope to do his best. “My old man died <strong>of</strong><br />
prostate cancer about 12 years ago. Watching him die from it – if<br />
you can stop that from happening to anybody else that would<br />
be good. It’s a good motivation to try and do your best, and it’s<br />
good that something good can come out <strong>of</strong> it.”<br />
And he knows partner Melanie is the key to his success. “I’m<br />
going to fang it and do the very best I can not just for my<br />
sake but for Mel’s as well. I want to do the right thing by her<br />
because she’s so talented, she deserves to go all the way, I<br />
just don’t want to let her down.”<br />
MELANIE HOOPER<br />
In 2011 Melanie made her DANCING WITH THE STARS debut,<br />
coming runner-up with partner Damien Leith.<br />
Born in Townsville, North Queensland, Melanie moved to Brisbane<br />
at the age <strong>of</strong> 21 where she went on to compete throughout<br />
Australia in all three styles – Ballroom, Latin and New Vogue.<br />
Melanie later moved to England to further her dancing career.<br />
Specialising in Latin American, she enjoyed much success on the<br />
International dance circuit dancing in championships throughout<br />
the UK & Europe for approximately five years.<br />
In 2008, Melanie joined the <strong>cast</strong> <strong>of</strong> ‘Burn <strong>The</strong> Floor’ performing on<br />
Broadway for seven months, before continuing on the successful<br />
world tour. Melanie’s dance career has taken her all over the<br />
world with her biggest achievements including UK Rising Star<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Latin Champion, British Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Rising Star Latin<br />
runner-up, German Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Rising Star Latin Champion,<br />
Australian Open Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Latin Champion, Moscow World<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Latin.
IRONMAN, AGE 26<br />
CAINE ECKSTEIN<br />
PARTNER: JESSICA PRINCE<br />
DANCING FOR: THE JOHN MACLEAN FOUNDATION<br />
“I don’t think anyone’s really got too much <strong>of</strong> an advantage, it’s just how you<br />
train and how hard you go up to it because we’re all starting from scratch.”<br />
Caine Eckstein rises before dawn each day for his first bout <strong>of</strong><br />
exercise. Twice more during the day he’ll hit the water or gym,<br />
<strong>of</strong>ten completing five hours <strong>of</strong> weights and cardio every day.<br />
For this pr<strong>of</strong>essional competitor, it’s all about being the best.<br />
At just 26, Caine is the best endurance ironman Australia has<br />
ever seen. <strong>The</strong> Coolangatta Gold Champion took his wins to a<br />
new record this year by becoming the only person in history to<br />
win the iconic event five times.<br />
Firmly committed and dedicated to his sport, as a teenager<br />
Caine <strong>of</strong>ten avoided partying with friends, instead focusing<br />
on training. “When I dedicated myself to train I wouldn’t go<br />
out for three or four months before big races.”<br />
It’s a winning formula he hopes will move from the beach to<br />
the dance floor. “I’ve got a good work ethic and I try really<br />
hard, and I like to achieve my goals, and this is the same sort<br />
<strong>of</strong> thing.”<br />
He says he had no reservations when being asked to compete<br />
for the coveted mirror ball trophy. “It’s a challenge, and you<br />
only live once - it’ll be a bit <strong>of</strong> a rush.”<br />
Hoping to work on his posture and not aggravate a<br />
recently injured hip, Caine says he’s mentally prepared for<br />
the competition. “I don’t think my physique’s going to be<br />
too helpful, I’m very top heavy and for something like the<br />
Viennese Waltz it’s not the best thing. It’s physically hard but<br />
mentally there’s a lot you’re trying to absorb and you really<br />
have to think about it, so I suppose it’s whoever puts in the<br />
hard work.”<br />
Caine says he hopes to stay composed in the face <strong>of</strong> criticism<br />
from the judges. “<strong>The</strong>y’re pr<strong>of</strong>essionals and I don’t know<br />
anything about dancing, but I am sort <strong>of</strong> known as the more<br />
fiery sort <strong>of</strong> person. But if they’re bagging me then I probably<br />
deserve to be bagged.”<br />
Dancing for the John Maclean Foundation which raises<br />
money to support paraplegic children, Caine says he just<br />
wants to be moving forward. “I’m pretty competitive and<br />
I don’t want to get to a point where I’m not competitive<br />
because then I’m probably not going too well.”<br />
JESSICA PRINCE<br />
This is Jessica’s DANCING WITH THE STARS debut.<br />
Trained in Ballroom, Latin American, Classical Ballet,<br />
Contemporary, Lyrical, Jazz, Broadway, Tap and Funk styles<br />
<strong>of</strong> dance, Jessica is ready to showcase her talents on the<br />
dance floor.<br />
Jessica was a soloist dancer in the American Broadway<br />
production <strong>of</strong> Burn <strong>The</strong> Floor, as well as teaching the Burn <strong>The</strong><br />
Floor Bootcamp in Florida during the production.
JUDGE<br />
HELEN RICHEY<br />
Known for her snappy wit and stylish good looks, DANCING<br />
WITH THE STARS judge Helen Richey was born and raised in<br />
Melbourne. At a very early age she started dancing, studying<br />
Ballet and Tap. At 15, Helen won the coveted Lily Ellison Award.<br />
Two years later she met her future husband, Robert and took<br />
up Ballroom and Latin dancing. After winning the Australian<br />
Rising Stars Ballroom Championship, they travelled to the<br />
United Kingdom to further their dancing careers. Originally<br />
planning to visit for six months, they stayed for 27 years.<br />
Helen’s competitive career included becoming undefeated<br />
All England Latin Champion as well as the South <strong>of</strong> England<br />
Latin Champion and the Imperial Latin Champion. In the<br />
major international events, Helen was placed third in the<br />
World Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Latin Championship, equal 3rd in the British<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Latin Championship, runner-up in the United<br />
Kingdom Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Latin and was twice placed third in the<br />
International Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Latin Championship. Helen was a<br />
Grand Finalist in the British Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Championship, one<br />
<strong>of</strong> the most prestigious events, for seven consecutive years.<br />
She was also Australia’s <strong>of</strong>ficial representative in the World’s<br />
Championships in both the Ballroom and Latin Styles for over<br />
ten years and was a regular semi-finalist in the Ballroom Style.<br />
After retiring from competitive dancing, Helen has become<br />
one <strong>of</strong> the world’s leading coaches and most soughtafter<br />
adjudicators. She has judged the national dance<br />
championships <strong>of</strong> almost every country in the world. Helen<br />
has coached World Champions, British Champions and<br />
Australian Champions. Many <strong>of</strong> the pr<strong>of</strong>essional dancers in all<br />
<strong>of</strong> the series <strong>of</strong> DANCING WITH THE STARS have been trained<br />
wholly or in part by Helen.<br />
An accomplished and skilled dressmaker, she makes the<br />
beautiful gowns that she wears on the show.<br />
Undoubtedly Australia’s most successful Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Latin<br />
dancer, Helen has been referred to as an icon <strong>of</strong> Dancesport<br />
and certainly deserves the title, “Australia’s First Lady <strong>of</strong> Latin.”
JUDGE<br />
TODD MCKENNEY<br />
Currently touring with Annie <strong>The</strong> Musical, Todd McKenney has<br />
barely taken a break since picking up the maracas again in<br />
2011 to star as Peter Allen in <strong>The</strong> Boy from Oz.<br />
A former champion in Ballroom and Latin, singer/dancer Todd<br />
McKenney competed internationally for more than 10 years<br />
before breaking into theatre. Todd began dancing at three<br />
at his mother’s dancing school in Perth, training in Jazz, Tap,<br />
acrobatics and Ballroom.<br />
He was <strong>cast</strong> in his first pr<strong>of</strong>essional musical, Andrew Lloyd<br />
Webber’s ‘Song and Dance’ in 1983. Many stage shows<br />
followed including; ‘Cats’, ‘42nd Street’, ‘<strong>West</strong> Side Story’<br />
and ‘Crazy For You’. He was <strong>cast</strong> as Nathan Starkey in Baz<br />
Luhrmann’s 1992 internationally acclaimed film Strictly<br />
Ballroom, alongside Sonia Kruger.<br />
A career highlight, Todd did 766 performances as Peter Allen<br />
in ‘<strong>The</strong> Boy From Oz’, winning two Mo Awards, the Variety<br />
Club Heart Award, the Glugg Award, the Green Room Award,<br />
the Australian Dance Award and the Helpmann Award. He<br />
recreated Gene Kelley’s original famous tap dance on stage<br />
in ‘Singin’ In <strong>The</strong> Rain’ - a performance that won him another<br />
Australian Dance Award.<br />
In 2002, Todd performed his one-man show around Australia<br />
and in 2003 he had sell out performances <strong>of</strong> his show at<br />
Taronga Zoo, then went home to Perth to appear in ‘Cabaret’.<br />
In March 2004, Todd starred in his own production, ‘Todd<br />
McKenney LIVE’, at Sydney’s Star City for a week <strong>of</strong> sell-out<br />
shows. In August 2004, he and Rachael Beck performed with<br />
the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra under the direction <strong>of</strong><br />
Tommy Tycho. <strong>The</strong> same month, he sang with the <strong>West</strong>ern<br />
Australia Symphony Orchestra and, in September 2005,<br />
presented his ‘Todd McKenney Song And Dance Spectacular’<br />
on the Gold Coast. In 2005, Todd released his debut CD “Just<br />
a Gigolo”, and toured Sydney, the Gold Coast and Melbourne<br />
in his own stage show.<br />
In 2006 and 2007 he toured Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne<br />
in Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks with Nancye Hayes. Also in<br />
2007 Todd was nominated for a Sydney <strong>The</strong>atre Critics Circle<br />
Award for ‘Priscilla’ in his roles as Tick and Mitzi.
JUDGE<br />
JOSHUA HORNER<br />
Joshua Horner leapt onto the DANCING WITH THE STARS<br />
judging panel last year, causing controversy and mayhem<br />
in his first week when he referred to Brynne Edelsten as a<br />
“bedazzled sack <strong>of</strong> potatoes”. Our newest dancers to the floor<br />
can expect the same outspoken manner.<br />
Joshua grew up in the town <strong>of</strong> Wyong on the New South<br />
Wales, Central Coast and began dancing at the age <strong>of</strong> 6 as a<br />
way <strong>of</strong> improving his asthma. He hasn’t stopped moving since.<br />
At 16, Joshua was accepted into <strong>The</strong> Australian Ballet School<br />
in Melbourne under the direction <strong>of</strong> Gailene Stock and<br />
after three intensive years, graduated with Honours with<br />
an Advanced Diploma in Dance. Joshua spent five and a<br />
half years with the Australian Ballet and was nominated for<br />
a Helpmann Award in 2002 for Best Male Dancer, and in<br />
2003 won an Australian Dance Award for Most Outstanding<br />
Performance in a Stage Musical for his performance in Tivoli.<br />
In January 2006 Joshua moved to London’s <strong>West</strong> End after he was<br />
sourced for a leading role in Twyla Tharp and Billy Joel’s Broadway<br />
Smash Hit Movin’ Out, where he played the role <strong>of</strong> Tony.<br />
Joshua then Featured as the Havana Boy and Featured<br />
Crapshooter in the Donmar’s UK Touring Production <strong>of</strong> ‘Guys<br />
and Dolls’ directed by Michael Grandage and Jamie Lloyd<br />
and choreographed by Rob Ashford.<br />
Returning to Australia mid 2007, Joshua was <strong>cast</strong> in the first<br />
<strong>of</strong>fshore production <strong>of</strong> Billy Elliot the Musical in Sydney playing<br />
the role <strong>of</strong> ‘Older Billy’.<br />
This year Joshua has been kicking up his heels as talent scout<br />
Zach on the Broadway production <strong>of</strong> A Chorus Line in Australia.
MELBOURNE / FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT ROBYN SMITH<br />
T: 03 9697 7765 / M: 0400 189 197 / E: ROBYN.SMITH@SEVEN.COM.AU