Candy Lane takes centre stage as head judge, alongside Stefano Olivieri and Hayley Holt.
Candy Lane takes centre stage as head judge, alongside Stefano Olivieri and Hayley Holt.
Over the past seven weeks, Candy Lane has regally ruled the dance floor from her centre spot on the judging panel of Dancing with The Stars.
The iconic Auckland dancer, with numerous international and national dance titles, has loved being in the spotlight and takes pride in adding sparkle and glamour to the lives of ordinary Kiwis.
Four days out from the series finale, Lane is staying mum on who should take out the title. But she didn't hold back from revealing her most cringe-worthy moment of the show thus far: Dominic Harvey.
"Having our faces stuck on Dom Harvey's undies was when we all cringed."
Jay Jay Harvey's Dancing With the Stars performance featuring Dom Harvey.
However, it seems the show has been the perfect tonic for Lane who broke up from husband Chris Jones earlier this year, ending a 20-year relationship.
Spy asked Lane how her love life is faring now she's back on prime time television.
"Ha ha, I barely have time to eat, when my love life improves you will be the second to know!"
This Sunday might bring that improvement, Lane is looking forward to hitting the dance floor and getting hot and steamy in the finale with all the "hot professional boys".
Lane is loving her new role as head judge on the show but still has fond memories of her time hosting alongside Jason Gunn.
"The only down side is as host I got to stick up for all the dancers so I was the good guy, but now, no matter how fair or honest I try to be, I will always upset someone (celebs, dancers and fans!). I don't like to do that but I accept that that comes with the job.
When asked if Dominic Bowden and Sharyn Casey have successfully filled their shoes, Lane is somewhat reserved.
Jason Gunn and Candy Lane in 2005. Photo / Chris Skelton
"Hosting with Jason Gunn was the most wonderful experience ever. We had a great chemistry and friendship together and his shoes can't be filled as they only ever made one pair.
"Dom and Sharyn bring their own uniqueness to the show and I enjoy working with them, they are good people."
Not quite five-star praise.
Bowden, now a permanent member of the MediaWorks family, is a close friend of Gunn's and treated him as a mentor in his early days. The last few weeks of the show has seen Casey settle her speed bumps and awkward innuendo to form a great DWTS duo.
As for Lane's performance as head judge, she has owned the podium, serving up searing one liners, even though some have been scripted.
While Lane never discloses her age, she has shared the frame with a co-judge quite a bit younger than herself. 34-year-old Hayley Holt has been lauded by the press for her new look and upgraded style. Lane has played Queen with aplomb to Holt's emerging Princess.
The Dancing With the Stars judging panel
Lane says she's used to playing "mother hen" to her dancers and has mentored many of New Zealand's professionals.
"I am very proud of them and love them having this opportunity to shine in front of the nation. I have known Brendan Cole, (the UK-based former DWTS NZ star and ex-flame of Nicola Robinson) and brother and sister Scott and Vanessa Cole, since they were young amateur dancers and was matchmaker to Jonny Williams and Kristie Boyd.
"Matt Tatton Brown has been in my dance company since he was 17 years old. Enrique Johns and Caryn Lim also work at my studio, Hayley and Stefano too. We are a big dance family, I could tell you stories like this about them all."
As for what will happen when the show ends on Sunday, Lane says they will just "keep dancing".
"My studio reopens for Term 3 classes the day after the final show, so it's business as usual for most of us."
With the show proving a ratings winner this season, and Julie Christie being a great friend of Lane's, Spy thinks Dancing with the Stars will be back for a second season on TV3. But don't expect Lane will rest on her laurels.
"I don't really get down time until Christmas holidays! My typical day is, I open my studio around 9am and get busy with admin and the business-side of the studio, then classes start around 2.30pm. I teach at the studio, I also teach at Dio Junior school and I leave the studio around 9pm unless I have rehearsals with my dance company, which would be from 9pm till whenever."
