The cast of 2012 - Seven West Media

TV ICON, AGE 58
KERRI-ANNE KENNERLEY
PARTNER: CARMELO PIZZINO
DANCING FOR: LOOK GOOD, FEEL GOOD
“Half the time in my live television career you’d beg for something to
go wrong just so you could make it fun and capitalize on it. With this
I’m begging for nothing to go wrong.”
Television veteran Kerri-Anne Kennerley has interviewed world
leaders, sporting icons, leaders of business and superstars as a
highly respected national television presenter. But this time the
dancing shoe is on the other foot – as she takes her turn vying for
the coveted mirror ball trophy. “I think people know me for survival
and longevity,” she says, “I’ve probably raised a big chunk of the
population as a babysitter on breakfast television.”
Kerri-Anne says her dance strengths start and end with the boogie.
“Never have I ever stepped into Latin or ballroom dancing. Boogie
has been the sum total of my career, and best done at midnight.
“Tenacity and stamina are really the only things I have going for
me. I have tenacity and stamina and I’ve always enjoyed trying to
get things right and I’m prepared to do whatever has to be done to
make sure it’s right.”
And is Kerri-Anne concerned about a harsh word from the judges?
Not in the slightest. “I have been criticized by the best so I don’t
even think they’ll stack up. What I’ve heard about myself over the
years… the best have had a go and I’ve survived, so that part
doesn’t phase me at all!”
This season Kerri-Anne is dancing for Look Good Feel Good, for
which she is patron. The charity conducts workshops for women
suffering from cancer, helping disguise some of the ill effects of
treatment. “I think for a very long time people have accepted the
correlation between feeling better and looking better, and there’s
no question, especially with women, losing hair, losing skin tone,
all of a sudden if you look better you feel better – it’s part of the
healing process.”
Taking to the floor this season, she says she has no expectations.
“I’d just like to smoothly be able to get through and do the proper
thing – I don’t want to embarrass Carmelo, I don’t want to end his
career!”
CARMELO PIZZINO
Carmelo made his DANCING WITH THE STARS debut in series four
and this will be his fifth season with the show. In 2009 he made the
finals with Kylie Gillies and in 2010 came runner-up with partner
Tamara Jaber.
Carmelo was born in Perth and won his first dancing award
at just five years of age. Moving to Sydney at a young age,
Carmelo then moved to London to further his dance career and
represent Australia on the international circuit. He has since won
many Australian and World titles, including the most sought after
prestigious British Latin Championship, The International Latin
Championship, the Australian Open, South Pacific, Australasian,
Singapore’s Lion City Championship and the Rumba in the Jungle
Latin Championship in South Africa and many other titles. For the
past three years Carmelo has been performing in ‘Burn The Floor’s
Floorplay’, touring Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Japan, Europe,
Canada and the US.