Dancing With The Stars SA was a glitzy, glamorous affair in which all 11 competing couples brought their A-game, and were rewarded with unusually generous scores from the “Fearsome Foursome” of judges.
After the viewers’ votes were reconciled with the judges’ scores, “The Teddybear Team” of Blue Bulls rugby player Thando Manana and his partner Michelle Oppenshaw faced off in the Dance-Off against popular television presenter and 1Magic actress Thembisa Mdoda and her partner, Devon Snell.
READ: Comedian Ebenhaezer Dibakwane, partner first couple to leave #DWTSSA
The vote count and ranking of contestants is done according to the international format rules and was independently computed by Deloitte and Touche and confirmed against the vote results determined by M-Net.
There was tension, jubilation, and disappointment when DWTSSA host Chris Jaftha readout which couples would return to dance again next week.
Judge Debbie Turner expressed her shock that Thembisa Mdoda and Devon were in the firing line. Bryan Watson told Thando he was very surprised to see him in the Bottom 2, but “if anyone can handle the pressure in extra time, you can”, he encouraged him.
Then “Gentle Giant” Thando and Michelle took to the floor with a repeat of the “American Smooth” that brought them a standing ovation in the competition, followed by Thembisa and Devon’s Cha-Cha-Cha.
Finally, it was up to judges Bryan Watson, Debbie Turner, Tebogo Kgobokoe, and Jason Gilikson to decide which of these two couples they wanted to give another chance next week.
Bryan and Debbie saved Thando, Tebogo thought both couples deserved to stay but she also saved Thando, based on technique, she said. And Jason made it a clean sweep when he also voted to save Thando and Michelle.
Thembisa thanked the judges and said every part of this experience was great for her, but fitting rehearsals in between all her other projects “took its toll”. “It is time,” she admitted graciously.
Dancing again will be:
Radio host and former Miss SA Liesl Laurie and her partner, Ryan Hammond
Retired Bafana Bafana winger Delron Buckley and his partner, Angelique Allison
Screen and stage personality Frank Opperman and his partner, Jeanné Swarts
Athletics coach Odessa Swarts and her partner, Dylon Daniels
Singer and songwriter Connell Cruise and his partner, Marcello Soliemo
Television actress Zola Nombona and her partner, Tebogo Mashilo
Actor and model Eden Classens and his partner, Ash-leigh Hunter
Former Blue Bulls rugby player Thando Manana and his partner, Michelle Oppenshaw
Protea Netball Goal Shooter Vanes-Mari Du Toit and her partner, Johannes Radebe
Silver screen actress Juanita De Villers and her partner, Johan Dippenaar
Viewers have to register at mnet.tv/dwtssavote to participate in the live Dancing With The Stars SA voting.
Voting registration opened again at 20:30 tonight and will close at 16:30 on Sunday, 4 March, ahead of the next live episode.
Viewers only need to register once to be able to vote in every episode of the season.