Season 6
Popular international dance show Strictly Come Dancing, which partners South African celebrities with professional Latin and Ballroom dancers, returned for a sixth season to run for 10 weeks.
The show broadcast weekly from the Renaissance Centre at 20h00 to 22h00 with a break in between as the dance couples competed against each other to impress a panel of judges and the viewing public in order to survive potential elimination.
Each week during the live show viewers were asked to vote for their favourite couple, and one couple (with the least votes) was eliminated.
Previous celebrity winners of Strictly Come Dancing include Rob van Vuuren, Emmanuel Castis, HHP, Zuraida Jardine and Riaan Venter.
The 10 celebrity couples lining up for the 6th season of Strictly Come Dancing were announced on Sunday 30 June, 2013.
They were:
Connie Ferguson
Actress and model, best known for starring on Generations
Damon Kalvari
5fm breakfast radio producer
Graeme Richards
Television presenter best known for anchoring the breakfast shows Sunrise and Expresso
Jay Anstey
Actress, best known for starring on Isidingo
Kuli Roberts
Tabloid journalist and television presenter best known for hosting Headline and The Real Goboza
L'vovo Derrango
Durban-based kwaito musician
Lalla Hirayama
TV presenter best known for hosting the Vuzu shows Masters of Rhythm and V-Entertainment
Mpho Popps
Comedian who first rose to fame on So You Think You're Funny
Thapelo Mokoena
Actor and presenter who hosted the first season of Fear Factor South Africa
Zakeeya Patel
Actress best known for her roles on The Wild and High Rollers
Putting the celebrities through their paces were a talented team of professional dancers that consisted of Hayley Hammond, Hayley Bennett, Nombulelo Hlathi, Mary Martin, Lindsey Muckle, Sylvester Sefotlhelo, Grant Esterhuizen, Brandon Eilers, Ryan Hammond and Tsholo Mohohlwane.
Hayley Hammond, Mary Martin, Ryan Hammond, Brandon Eilers and Hayley Bennett were part of previous seasons of Strictly Come Dancing and shared four victories amongst themselves. They returned to hunt for more accolades alongside very capable newcomers Nombulelo Hlathi, Sylvester Sefotlhelo, Grant Esterhuizen and Tsholo Mohohlwane.
Pairings for the celebrity contestants and their dance partners were:
Connie Ferguson and Brandon Eilers
Damon Kalvari and Hayley Hammond
Graeme Richards and Lindsey Muckle
Kuli Roberts and Sylvester Sefotlhelo
L'ovo Derrango and Mary Martin
Lalla Hirayama and Grant Esterhuizen
Mpho Popps and Nombulelo Hlathi
Jay Antsey and Tsholo Mohohlwane
Thapelo Mokoena and Hayley Bennett
Zakeeya Patel and Ryan Hammond
In June 2013 the new hosts of the show were announced as comedian Marc Lottering and television presenter and radio DJ Pabi Moloi. Joining the new hosts for Season 6 was a brand new judging panel of Michael Wentink, Tebogo Kgobokoe and Samantha Peo.
Michael Wentink: world renowned international adjudicator, lecturer, instructor and Strictly Come Dancing first season winner. Michael is also the undefeated World Latin American Dance Champion.
Tebogo Kgobokoe: has extensive dance experience having been a finalist in the World Latin Professional show dance competition. She has also choreographed for some of the biggest television shows in South Africa, including So You Think You Can Dance and Superdance South Africa amongst others.
Samantha Peo: dancer, singer, actress and performer, Peo has worked with some of the best directors and choreographers both locally and internationally, including the Broadway choreographers for West Side Story and Chicago. She won both the Naledi Award and the Fleur Du Cap awards for her performance in Cabaret.