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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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.