Last year's Harcourts Dancing with the Stars was packed. Photo/File
Last year's Harcourts Dancing with the Stars was packed. Photo/File
Olympian Dame Valerie Adams is one of four celebrities taking on the difficult but fun job of judging local dancers' at this year's Harcourts Dancing with the Stars.
Rotorua Hospice's biggest fundraiser of the year is set to take place on Saturday, July 28 at the Rotorua Energy Events Centre.
Twenty local Rotorua identities are paired as dance partners and given 16 weeks to practice. They then perform for one night only to an audience of about 2000 people.
The event raised $150,000 for Rotorua Hospice last year.
This year, Tamati Coffey, who was the MC for the previous two events, has joined the judging panel.
Having won the Dancing with the Stars television programme in 2009 he is well qualified as a judge.
He said this was the first time he had been able to be a judge.
"In the previous years as the MC it's been a great event to be a part of, but as someone who has previously held the trophy in my hand I know what these people have gone through and I'm happy to be taking the next step up to judge - it's exciting."
Coffey said he wanted to see dancers display their technical know-how as well as show that they had learnt a few things, and also present an element of crowd-pleasing.
"It will be a fun night. It's been well received in the past and this year will be no exception."
He said Rotorua Hospice did brilliant work in the community, looking after the city's most vulnerable people.
"These are people that nurse others before death. It's a noble charity."
Dame Valerie Adams. Photo/File
Well-known local and Olympian Dame Valerie Adams is also joining the panel.
Suzanne Paul, who brought infomercials to New Zealand in the 1990s and who has gone on to become a best-selling author, motivational speaker and dancing queen, will be on the panel. She won Dancing with the Stars in 2007.
Completing the panel is returning judge d'Artagnan Kennedy.
Rotorua-born, he featured on the first series of the televised programme as a professional dancer.
Suzanne Paul. Photo/Supplied
Kennedy is qualified as a teacher, adjudicator and scrutineer and is a member of the New Zealand Federation of Dance Teachers.
He said he enjoyed watching how enthusiastically the dancers put themselves on the line to entertain and raise awareness for the hospice, and was inspired by the community support of the crowd too.
He said it was a fantastic event that showcased wonderful people in the community who were prepared to challenge themselves.
d'Artagnan Kennedy. Photo/Supplied
"Quietly, I am always impressed with how inventive some of the couples are, either with backing dancers, lifts or song choices, to get an edge on their competitors and be the crowd favourite.
"Being a part of an event that showcases Rotorua's business community, people and talent in such a great location is great fun and rewarding."
Rotorua Hospice fundraising and marketing manager Nicola Smallwood said she was thrilled to have such an incredible line-up of judges.
General admission tickets are available for $35 at www.ticketmaster.co.nz.
