Last night's third episode (16 October) of the SABC2 reality competition series
Strictly Come Dancing 5 saw its first celebrity couple leave the show.
Despite adding more spice to his performance, rapper
Lebo "Shugamakx" Mothibe had to pack his dancing shoes, based on the judges' scores and viewer votes. Viewer votes account for 50% of the final scores.
When judges' scores and viewer votes were tallied in the final half-hour of the show, Shugasmakx and his partner
Seipati Nthoesane and
Judith Sephuma and her partner
Eksteen Traut achieved the lowest scores, and had to perform their routines again during the dance-off.
Judges then had the final say on axing the first celebrity/professional dancer couple from the show.
Despite the fact that
Garth Collins and
Hayley Bennett achieved the lowest score from judges, viewer votes saved them from the dreaded dance-off.
The judges' scores, before viewer votes were added, were as follows:
Tessa van Duuren and Grant Esterhuizen: 32
Rob van Vuuren and Mary Martin: 32
Gugu Zulu and Sarah Cooper: 27
Hlubi Mboya and Khutso Khunou: 25
Adil More and Robynn Soules: 24
Anele Mdoda and Brandon Eilers Le Riche: 24
Cindy Nell and Johnathan Broadway: 23
Judith Sephuma and Eksteen Traut: 20
Shugasmakx and Seipati Nthoesane: 20
Garth Collins and Hayley Bennett: 17
Where judges last week focussed their fierce tongues on the professionals, this week saw them giving some low, demoralising scores.
During this third episode couples performed either the Rumba or the Quickstep. The Rumba is characterised by very specific body shapes, controlled hip action and no heels ever allowed forward. The Quickstep is a light, bright and energetic dance, with couples moving in absolute unison.
The first to endeavour the Quickstep was radio jock
Anele Mdoda and she entertained with Liza Minelli's "Cabaret". Apart from charming the audience, the judges thought the couple utilised the whole dance floor, and complimented them on their light, convincing footwork.
Lillian Phororo suggested work on Anele's shoulder line and for her to finish her arm lines.
Next up was "the fastest brother in Africa",
Gugu Zulu, with a well-rehearsed Rumba. Despite the fact that the couple was worried about his timing during rehearsals, the judges were pleased with their performance and
Tyrone Watkins could bring himself to call it "awesome for a beginner".
The top scoring couple for a second week in a row,
Tessa van Duuren and
Grant Esterhuizen, were up next with a graceful, confident Quickstep to the tune of "The lady is a tramp".
Dave Campbell loved it – "You were not on a trot... that was a gallop!" He was particularly impressed with their combination of intricate and basic choreography.
Salome Sechele called Tessa "a floating butterfly – certainly no tramp".
Judith Sephuma entered the dance floor next in a short gold number for a Rumba and determined to impress the judges, who failed to succumb to her charms during the first two episodes.
Lilian and Tyrone agreed that she should apply the same precision we're used to when she sings to her dancing. Her timing also deserves attention.
Shugasmakx confessed that he had put his whole life on hold for this project, and the Quickstep with feisty partner Seipati almost managed to redeem them. However – the rapper was still much too stressed and obviously didn't take kindly enough to all the good advice from his trainer.
Adil More's Rumba managed to capture the love/hate relationship the dance is supposed to portray, but the judges thought there was too little attention paid to the technical aspects of the style.
Tyrone surprisingly thought he showed a lot of potential, but warned him to not be so afraid of social comedowns, as opposed to focussing on what the competition requires.
Beleaguered ex-Gladiator,
Garth Collins, experienced a nightmare performance, with everything going wrong that possibly could. He has lost 15kg since the start of rehearsals - an indication of his hard work and persistence.
Salome, however, called it "on the brink of chaos" and his stiffness was once again a thorn in the judges' sides.
Hlubi Mboya admitted to being disappointed and nervous after failing to impress during the first two episodes, and once again her spirited performance left the judges lukewarm.
After her Rumba to Celine Dion's "My heart will go on", Dave thought that although she was "sultry, sexy and silky", her footwork was largely unsuccessful. Tyrone thought the couple went down with the Titanic.
Consistent performer
Rob van Vuuren once again impressed judges with a well-rehearsed routine, this time a Quickstep of which nothing bad could be said, except for the fact that Ballroom requires more flowing and less staccato movements.
The last to perform was ex-Miss South Africa and
Pasella presenter,
Cindy Nell. Her Rumba was sassy and scintillating, but as with her other performances, her timing was an issue for the panel.
When both viewer votes and judges' score were tallied, Judith and Shugasmakx came head-to-head in the dance-off that saw Tyrone, Salome and Dave voting to keep Judith in the competition.
Next week the couples will be performing either a Tango or a Jive.
If you haven't yet, check out what the celebs had to say after the first episode in their TVSA blogs (or use the banner at the top of the page to access all the celeb blogs at once):
AdilAneleCindyGarthGuguHlubiJudithShugasmakxRobTessaOther SCD 5 links:Strictly Come Dancing 5 Mini-SiteinTOXICated (a blog by TVSA blogger Toxic, featuring SCD articles)
SCD Episode 3 Live Blog (a live blog of Episode 3, by Brown Shuga)
Official Site
| STRICTLY COME DANCING 5: EPISODE 3 |
Shugasmakx shaking it
Shugasmakx and Seipati Nthoesane
Shugasmakx and Seipati Nthoesane
Shugasmakx and Seipati Nthoesane
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