Season 1 Plot
Local celebrities in New Zealand try out their dancing shoes in this Kiwi version of the popular show Strictly Come Dancing, that pairs celebrities with professional dancers. They have to complete different types of dancing such as Foxtrot, Quickstep, Tango, Waltz, Cha Cha Cha, Jive, Paso Doble, Rumba and Samba. The judges and the audience vote on the couples performances and then the team with the least number of scores is eliminated until only two couples remain. The final two will then have to compete against each other in order to win Dancing with the Stars.
Dancing with the Stars Season 1 aired on May 1st, 2005.
Season 1 Episodes
1. Episode 1
The New Zealand edition of Dancing with the Stars premiered with eight celebrities and their professional partners ballroom dancers who each week compete against each other in a competition to impress judges as well as the viewing public in order to avoid elimination. After performing the Cha-cha-cha and the Waltz, Norm and Carol-Ann managed to gain the highest score for this round by performing best. Unfortunately for couple Ewan and Lauren, they scored the least number of points and were automatically last. However, they were delighted to learn that this was the first and only non-elimination round of the competition so they're safe. They now have another chance to try to impress the audience along with the judges.
2. Episode 2
The couples continued through the competition in round two of Dancing with the Stars. On tonights episode, after performing two new types of dancing, the judges voted and so did the audience and home viewers. By the end of the episode, the couples that scored the highest were the ones that one participated in the same particular dance rather than the other. Sadly, Nicky and Kiel dropped from third to last and became the first team to be eliminated from the New Zealand edition of Dancing with the Stars.
3. Episode 3
The seven remaining couples performed in their third dance while still trying to impress the judges and the audience long enough to gain their votes. The couples were given the choice of Jive or Tango. After dancing, the judges and the home viewers voted and the outcome resulted with Shane and Nerida as first place. Unfortunately for Ewan and Lauren, they scored the lowest and this cost them the competition. They became the second couple to be eliminated from Dancing with the Stars.
4. Episode 4
The six couples started off this round desperately awaiting to hear what they would have to perform on tonights episode. As the six couples danced to gain the highest votes from both the judges and the audience, some struggled and wished that they had chosen to do the other possible choice. After the votes were counted and tallied, the host warned the couples that last place would become the third couple to be eliminated from Dancing with the Stars. During the nervous moment of truth, one couple was eliminated with a total score of nine points lower than sixth place. Upon getting eliminated, they're words were situated on how they enjoyed dancing and making it this far in the competition. The viewers were sad to see them go.
5. Episode 5
The remaining five celebrities and their professional partners perform the Samba to impress the judges and the viewes in order to continue in the competition.
6. Episode 6
In this quarter-finals the four remaining couples must perform a Latin and a Ballroom dance they have not previously performed in the past five weeks. Shane & Nerida chose to dance the Waltz and the Paso Doble; Norm & Carol-Ann, the Quickstep and the Cha Cha Cha; Bernice & d'Artagnan choose the Quickstep and the Paso Doble while Tim & Rebecca will perform the Foxtrot and the Jive.
7. Episode 7
The semi-finalists had to perform two dances they have not yet danced on the show. This week, Norm & Carol-Ann are performing the Foxtrot and the Jive, Shane & Nerida are dancing the Rumba and the Tango and Tim & Rebeca are doing the Quickstep and the Cha Cha Cha, plus the last elimination takes place.
8. Episode 8
In the final round of Dancing with the Stars, the two couples perform many different types of dancing in order to win the competition.