Connell Cruise, Eden Classens, Zola Nombona and their dancing partners will battle it out in the Dancing With The Stars SA finale during this Sunday’s live broadcast on M-Net.  Team Connell and Team Zola both survived a Dance-Off throughout the season, with Team Eden being in that dull position more than once.

Judging by last Sunday’s surprising semi-final, viewers can expect nothing but fireworks this week when the King and Queen of the ballroom will be announced in the grand finale of the first season of M-Net’s Dancing With The Stars SA.

After occupying the top of the leader board for many weeks, and receiving the first 10 out of 10 score from tough judge Tebogo Kgobokoe, singer and songwriter Connell Cruise and his dancing partner Marcella Solimeo found themselves in the dreaded dance-off last week against netball goal shooter Vanes-Mari du Toit and Johannes Radebe, who sadly left the competition, making way for the final three.

The outcome of the competition is now completely in the hands of the voting public. And, to give viewers more time to have their say, M-Net has added an extra voting period leading up to the final show on Sunday 22, April.

Fans could have voted for their favourites during a special pre-finalé voting period which was opened on Sunday, 15 April, at 21:00. This voting period was open until 22:00 on Wednesday.  But fans who did not vote, will have their usual limit of 200 votes per again on Sunday.  100 Votes on the website, and another 100 on the Mobi-platform.

Live voting for the final show will reopen at 17:00 on Sunday, 22 April and will close (slightly earlier than usual) at 18:15 ahead of the winner announcement just before 19:00.  There will therefore not be a Results Show at 20:00, which means this season of Dancing with the Stars South Africa, will conclude during the two hour primetime broadcast on M-Net.

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.  Even though judges Debbie Turner, Bryan Watson, Tebogo Kgobokoe and Jason Gilkison will for the last time lift their scoring batons, their scores will not count in this week’s final.  The results will be made up out of the public votes during the early phase, which was from Sunday to Wednesday, combined with the public votes during the live show phase, which will be open for 75 minutes on Sunday during the live broadcast.

There will be no dance-off during the final, as the winner will be announced by hosts Christopher Jaftha and Tracey Lange, out of the three contesting pairs.

Dancing with the Stars SA is produced for M-Net by Rapid Blue and is sponsored by Lottostar. Join the conversation on the Dancing with the Stars SA Facebook page, or on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #DWTSSA.

The post Dancing with the Stars SA Final appeared first on Stage and Screen.

Pre-register NOW to vote for your favourite celebrities and their dancing partners!

For the first time in the history of M-Net 101, the channel will announce the voting results of a reality show on the same night of its live broadcast throughout the voting season. That’s why M-Net 101 is introducing an exciting – and controlled – new voting mechanism for Dancing With The Stars SA, the brand new reality show extravaganza that will add even more razzmatazz to the channel’s Sunday night schedule from 4 February 2018 at 17:00.

Viewers will be able to vote for their favourite dancing pairs – a celebrity partnered with a professional dancer – from the start of the live show at 17:00 until 19:15 on the same night.  But, in a very important twist, you will ONLY be able to cast your votes if you have registered at least thirty minutes before the live show commences. So, before 16:30 on Sunday evenings, to be exact. No new registrations will be accepted during the weekly Sunday night voting period.

The registration process is quick and easy.  You just have to go online on one of the two available voting platforms – website or your mobi device – provide your telephone number and add your own password.  And the good news is, once you’ve registered, you will be eligible to vote throughout the season. Then, you will also not have to wait for days to find out whether your darling dancers have made it to the next round. M-Net is adding a special Dancing With The Stars Live Results show to its Sunday night schedule, after Carte Blanche, from 20:00 to 20:30.

The Sunday night schedule change – with the live Dancing With The Stars SA extravaganza at 17:00, Carte Blanche at 19:00, the Dancing With The Stars Live Results Show at 20:00 and the Sunday night blockbuster at 20:30 – will only kick in with the third episode of the show from Sunday 18 February when the first couple will be sent

home.  During the first two live Sunday night broadcasts of Dancing With The Stars SA, viewers will be introduced to the dancing pairs who’re planning to set the floor alight with their swirls and twirls.

“We’re encouraging viewers not to wait until the last minute to register,” says M-Net’s Head of Publicity, Lani Lombard. “To make it easier for our viewers, pre-registration opened today (Monday 29 January) and if you get onto the all-important Dancing With The Stars SA voting roll before the first episode on Sunday 4 February at 16:30 , you stand a chance to win a fabulous VIP experience to the show’s finale. So, get those fingers tapping …”

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to pre-register:

• Go to mnet.tv/dwtssavote
• Click on Register and enter your cell phone number in the international format e.g. +27731234567
• Enter your preferred password
• You will then receive an OTP (One Time Pin) via SMS.
• Type in the OTP.
• Voila, you’re registered! Now you can vote throughout the season!

More information about voting, as well as the terms and conditions for voting is available on the mnet.tv website, under Dancing With The Stars SA.

The celebrities who will cha-cha-cha, tango, waltz and samba their way into viewers’ hearts are Mzansi’s Best TV Presenter Thembisa Mdoda, acting icon Frank Opperman, agile young actress Juanita De Villiers, former Miss SA and radio presenter Liesl Laurie, Wayde van Niekerk’s super-fit mom Odessa Swarts, nimble film and TV starlet Zola Nombona, singer-songwriter Connell Cruise, former Bafana Bafana soccer star Delron Buckley, former Springbok Thando Manana, popular actor and model Eden Classens, comedian Ebenhaezer Dibakwane and South African Netball star Vanes-Mari du Toit.

Dancing With The Stars SA, where 12 untrained local celebrities put their best foot forward with the help of highly skilled professional Latin and Ballroom dancers, will start on M-Net channel 101 on Sunday 4 February 2018 at 17:00. The series is produced for M-Net by multi-award winning Rapid Blue and is sponsored by Lottostar.

For more information about M-Net’s impressive new local slate, visit:

www.mnet.tv

Facebook: M-Net

Twitter: @MNet

The post How To Vote in M-Net's Dancing With The Stars appeared first on Stage and Screen.

Popular local television channels M-Net, Mzansi Magic, Mzansi Bioskop, Mzansi Wethu, kykNET and kykNET & kie have two things in common; They all belong to the proudly South African M-Net stable of channels on DStv and in 2018, and they will all debut a slate of hot new original television productions. Capitalizing on the abundance of talent and stories available across the country, M-Net’s local content investment is set to increase.

First up, M-Net is creating South African editions of not one, but three, blockbuster global television formats. The gritty reality series Survivor, the culinary-themed My Kitchen Rules SA’s 2nd Season and the glamorous Dancing With The Stars. All these shows will keep the family entertained with local versions of some of the biggest formats in the world. Make sure you tune in as contestants play, cook and dance their way to the big prizes.

M-Net channels’ local is lekker flavour is kykNET. The fresh new series Oppi Kassie, is an intriguing new documentary series looking at the history of South African television. Plus, look out for Skelmpie, Op Die Spel, Knapsekerels, Flieknet Foendies and Elders de Camino to name a few of the new Afrikaans titles on offer over the next few months.

Due to its popularity, Suidooster, kykNET & kie’s soapie for the family viewer has increased its frequency to five episodes a week this year. The channel is also doubling its comedy offering over the next year and the popular reality show Boer Soek ‘n Vrou will be unveiling the new presenter in the upcoming 13^th season.

Not to be outdone, and specifically for Compact customers, Mzansi Magic is also rolling out the red carpet for DStv customers. The recently launched drama Nkululeko, is a coming-of-age story set in the windswept streets of Khayelitsha. Also premiering in January, is iKhaya, set against the backdrop of Daveyton. Plus, the new reality show, Yim’lo, that tackles the difficult topics that pull friends and family apart. Mzansi Wethu viewers will be in for a treat as brand-new shows are being produced for the Access market.

Rounding off this Spotlight, is the new on the horizon channel upgrade of Vuzu Amp. An exciting content offering 1Magic, makes its first appearance on January 29. Top of the line-up is the original telenovela The River which will premiere on launch day. The storyline combines the allure and ruthlessness of the business world, with the raw essence of township struggles, making for the type of storylines our viewers love. The telenovela will be helmed by Sindi Dlathu who left Muvhango to star in this show. Rounding off the stellar cast are Hlomla Dandala, Don Mlangeni, Moshidi Motshegwa, newcomer Larona Moagi. There will be other new local dramas and reality shows to bolster the channel offering with the focus day being Friday.

Commenting on the local content explosion, CEO General Entertainment for Video Entertainment, Yolisa Phahle said: “We remain committed to telling local stories in local languages, this is what viewers want. This year Mzansi Magic, Mzansi Wethu, Mzansi Bioskop, kykNET & kie, as well as M-Net will all increase their investment in local productions. We are working with new and established industry professionals to ensure that all our customers from DStv Access customers all the way to Premium customers, regardless of how they access or experience an M-Net channel, are kept engaged and excited.”

So, with this much confidence in the South African TV industry, it’s clear that this will be a bumper, and yes magical, year for even the most avid of South African television lover! Stage and Screen will attempt to feature more information on these local shows, which are applicable to our loyal target market.  One thing is clear though, with all these quality local shows, the little repeats still happening on DStv, is totally worth it.

If you don’t now already, here are the channel numbers on DStv:

M-Net:  101

1Magic:  103

kykNET:  144

kykNET & kie:  145

Mzansi Magic:  161

Mzansi Wethu:  163

Mzansi Bioskop:  164

M-Net +1:  901

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Early in 2018, M-Net 101 will be adding yet another spectacular show to its sizzling Sunday night line-up. Late in 2017, the channel confirmed that, with the help of highly skilled professional Latin and Ballroom dancers, 12 untrained local celebrities will be putting their best foot forward to compete in a proudly South African version of the BBC Worldwide format Dancing With The Stars.  Sunday, 4 February 2018, will see the inaugural episode taking to the satellites.

The South African version of the hit series, which has been licensed to over 50 countries around the world, will be co-hosted by bubbly radio and television presenter Tracey Lange and suave musical theatre actor and six-pack model, Chris Jaftha.

Internationally acclaimed choreographer and creative director Jason Gilkison will bring his expertise to the Dancing With The Stars SA Season 1 judging panel. Apart from sharing his opinion about the competing couples’ interpretation of different dancing styles, he will also function as creative director, overseeing the couples and group choreography and the creative execution thereof.

Jason will be joined by legends of the local dance fraternity and the two divas of the dance floor, ‘SA’s Queen of Dance’, Tebogo Kgobokoe and teacher extraordinaire Debbie Turner, who will bring their years of experience, unique style and sharp comments to the show.

And the contestants are…

Frank Opperman:

In Frank’s signature, witty style, he said of joining this star-studded show: “Some people climb Everest for fun. Some walk to the South Pole for kicks, some people swim the seven oceans for pleasure and some people dance with the stars because they have gone insane! In my case, it feels like all of the above in one go,” he nervously admitted.

Thembisa Mdoda

“I have always wanted to be part of Dancing With The Stars,” an excited Thembisa – who clinched the coveted title of Best TV Presenter at the 2017 DStv Mzansi Viewers’ Choice Awards – gushed when she heard the news.

Juanita de Villiers

Juanita is well known for her theatre work and acting roles in movies such as Knysna, Somer Son, Die Pro, Willie Esterhuizen’s Droomdagand Gys De Villers’, Die Ontwaking. Most recently, she played a nurse in kykNET’s new movie, Hartsorg.

Liesl Laurie

After growing up in Eldorado Park and completing a B.Com degree at the University of Johannesburg, Liesl won the Miss South Africa pageant in 2015. During her reign she stole the hearts of South Africans from all walks of life as she impressed everyone with her humility, boundless energy and striking sense of style. These days, she is also a presenter on popular independent radio station Jacaranda FM, and is the international brand ambassador of L’Oreal – Vichy Laboratoires in SA, USA and Brazil.

Odessa Swarts

Odessa, who originally hails from Cape Town, is best known because of her track star son Wayde van Niekerk’s fame as a World Record holding – and breaking – athlete. However, long before Wayde was on the scene, Odessa was also lauded for lighting up the South African athletics world, having competed provincially as a track-and-field athlete in the late 1980s and early 1990s. She too broke a number of sporting records, and will no doubt be determined to light up the gleaming dance floor in 2018.

Zola Nombona

Zola, who won the 2016 Golden Horn Award for best lead actress for her work in the movie Ingoma, says that she’s thrilled to be a part of Dancing With The Stars SA. “I’m excited to push myself and see how I can morph into a dancer. It is my first time ever taking part in a competition like this, and to be a part of one of this magnitude, feels amazing. It’s totally out of my comfort zone and I’m ready for the challenge!”

Connel Cruise

Connell made headline news when he clinched a significant record deal from New York City’s Island records after being spotted by L.A Reid, the music industry titan who played a massive role in catapulting the likes of Kanye West, Rihanna, Bon Jovi and Justin Bieber to superstardom.

Delron Buckley

At the young age of 20, Delron Buckley was signed to Bafana Bafana, playing in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups as well as representing SA in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. He successfully pursued his dream of playing football overseas, having earned a professional contract in the premier German Bundesliga with VFL Bochum, and resided in Germany for many years.

Thando Manana

Thando Manana is best known for being the third black South African player to don a Springbok jersey. Having only started playing at age sixteen, Thando’s rise through the rugby ranks was astoundingly fast. Within two years of playing rugby, Manana represented Eastern Province at Craven Week, and by 2000 he was a Springbok.

Eden Classens

Eden, a model and popular actor, plays the role of Justin in the hit Afrikaans soap Suidooster on kykNET. Born and bred in Johannesburg, Eden moved to New York City to study Musical Theatre and Acting at the prestigious New York Film Academy where he trained under acclaimed Broadway Casting Director VP Boyle, before returning to local shores.

Ebenhaezer Dibakwane

Ebenhaezer is best known for lighting up the local comedy scene, with his highlights being opening for Dillan Oliphant, being part of the Stand Up 4 Comedy ensemble alongside Mo Mathebe and Virgil Prins and being billed on the line up for Blacks Only and the Comedy Central International Comedy Festival alongside Trevor Noah and other South African household names.

Vanes-Mari du Toit

Vanes-Mari is a player on the South African National Netball team and has an impressive 38 caps for South Africa under her belt, playing in positions such as Goal Shooter, Goal Keeper and Goal Attack. In October 2012, she travelled with the Proteas to Australia & New Zealand to participate in the Quad Series tournament, where she became a household name with an impressive performance against the Silver Ferns.

Dancing With The Stars SA is produced for M-Net by the multi-award winning Rapid Blue and will be broadcast live on M-Net channel 101 from 4 February 2018. The series is produced by multi-award winning Rapid Blue and sponsored by Lottostar.

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