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Former Miss Universe Lorraine Downes proved that she was more than a pretty face when she won the 2006 Dancing With the Stars championship title. The elegant blonde partnered by an ebullient Aaron Gilmore had slowly improved her dancing skills throughout the eight-week series consistently winning the judges’ approval in 13 gracefully performed dances. Yet Downes admitted she thought she’d not even survive her first rehearsal and had dissolved into tears on returning home after the tough practise session. Lorraine Downes heaps praise on Aaron Gilmore whom she credits with getting her to the finals. However in the last week it was unlikely that Gilmore would even be able to dance as he had “hit the wall physically” but after some tender loving care he was able to partner Downes in her final three dances. Debate was heated again this year over ACT MP Rodney Hide’s campaigning efforts that saw the left-footed politician remaining in the competition while other more able couples were voted off the show. After seeing his yellow samba costume one wit compared him to a “dancing banana”. Hide’s dancing prowess was severely criticised by the judges who gave him an all time low mark of 4 after he managed to drop his partner Krystal Stuart in week 6. Beatrice Faumuina became the Norm Hewitt of series two and proved that size means nothing when it comes to dancing. Proving light on her feet and ever ready to boogie the discus athlete soon became hot favourite to win the series. Her partnership with follically challenged dancer Brian Jones became a friendship which she promises will last long after the DWTS disco ball is shut away for another year. Over 1.2 million viewers tuned into the finals to watch as Downes and Gilmore impressed in a waltz which acerbic judge Brendan Cole said was a “beautiful version”. Faumuina and Brian Jones continued their theme of the odd couple of the dance floor in a comic tango with Jones jumping into her arms at the end. In her second dance Downes chose to reprise a dramatic Pasa Doble that finished with Gilmore over enthusiastically throwing her so that she ended sprawled on her back on the floor laughing hysterically. Judge Carol-Ann Hickmore remarked that Downes “ended like an absolute professional. I am totally blown away with you”. Faumuina returned with the crowd-pleasing jive that saw her flip Jones at the end. Although technically it was not up to the standard of her rival’s dance Alison Leonard remarked “Beatrice put the phys in physical” The no-rules-apply freestyle saw both teams pull out all the stops to court the public vote. Faumuina and Jones jived to “Take My Breath Away” and the Whitney Houston hit “I Want to Dance With Somebody” garnering a score of 37. However it was Downes’ version of “A Little Bit of History Repeating” and “Satisfaction” with her stripping down to a skimpy white beaded confection that saw a salivating Paul Mercurio say “Wow wow wow. Saw a new side to you” and fetched a perfect score of 10 from all four judges. At the end of their three dances Downes/Gilmore had gained a respectable combined score of 115 and Faumuina/Jones 105. The sequined extravaganza also saw the return of the previous contestants who each reprised their best dance and saw Rodney Hide this time successfully repeat the move that had previously seen him drop his long suffering partner. Judge Brendan Cole and show co-host Candy Lane demonstrated a fiery Pasa Doble which, if they had danced it on the first episode, would have caused all the contestants to throw in their sequins in despair. Rubber-faced host Jason Gunn milked the last bit of suspense from the audience before Lorraine Downes was announced the winner of the 2006 series. The beauty queen whose glacial composure before the cameras has been the opposite of bubbly Beatrice finally broke down and emotionally stated that her win meant more to her than when she became Miss Universe in 1983. In a country where rugby, racing and beer are national obsessions the continued popularity of Dancing With The Stars is a mystery. Is it the desire to see well-known figures make fools of themselves that glues us to our TV screens each Sunday? Perhaps it is just the primal human urge that once saw us daubed in paint and feathers dancing round the fire. Whatever it is TVNZ has a ratings winner on its hands which just goes to prove that truth is stranger than fiction! Dances With the Stars Celebrity Couples in order of elimination:
©Jen Longshaw
2001-2006
Please do not copy in any manner, print or electronic,
without permission from the author.
Ex Shortland Street Star Steps Out With Dancing With The Stars Partner |
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If
a New Zealander asks if you're feeling crook should you be insulted
or touched at his consideration? And why is going to bed with a hottie
no reason to get excited in the Land of the Long White Cloud?
