Rodney Hide about to show his dancing talents to the nation

Rodney Hide

Act MP Rodney Hide has slipped into different shoes, dancing shoes, for this year's TV show Dancing with the Stars, beginning early next month.

The Epsom MP has been confirmed today as one of the stars of the reality dancing show.

Mr Hide said he is terrified of dancing in a dark room on his own, so the nerves will be fierce.

"Dancing with the Stars rang and asked if I was interested and I said in principle I was, but actually I knew I was going to do it -- I knew I had to because it's the scariest challenge I've ever been given," he said during a spell from yesterday's afternoon dance practice.

He has been practising 2-3 hours a day for the past four weeks.

"I had dancing lessons in 1965 -- folk dancing in standard two class."

He said he has never been able to get up at a party and dance , but if he didn't do this he would be a wuss.

Other competitors officially announced today include world champion discus thrower Beatrice Faumuina and Olympic gold medallist swimmer Danyon Loader.

Mr Hide said he hadn't spoken to Norm Hewitt, last year's winner of the show, but that Labour MP Georgina Beyer has been very encouraging when down at Parliament.

"She's been giving me some dancing lessons on the side in the lobby in Parliament -- it's controversial enough a Labour MP coming across to the opposition lobbies, but it's pretty controversial when we're going down the lobby doing a waltz."

Mr Hide and his partner will compete to stay in the eight-week competition, and the first show on May 7 will see all couples dance the waltz.

He said the second week they perform a rumba, and then the eliminations begin.

"It's quite tough for the partners -- suddenly they're presented with a klutz -- it's hard work, but enormous fun," he said.

"I'm just concentrating on doing the best training I can do, because if I think about dancing on the night I just freak out."

- NZPA