Temepara George has always been a dynamo on the netball court. Her quick feet have now made her a hit on the dance floor after waltzing into the top three of hit TV show Dancing with the Stars.
Netball star Temepara George has always been a big fan of Dancing with the Stars. But when she agreed to appear on the show over a month ago, winning was never on her mind.
“I thought I would be voted out first,” she tells SPASIFIKmag.com. “I have to admit, a few days after I signed on, I said to myself ‘what have I done, I can’t even dance and I’m going to be doing it in front of the whole country.”
But now with two weeks left in the top ratings television show, she and dance partner Stefano Olivieri find themselves in the top three, and favourites to win. On Tuesday night (1 April), Temepara and Stefano top scored with 64 dancing the tango and rumba. The pair have developed into a slick combination with the Silver Fern international proving popular with the judges with her mix of sexiness and charm, her natural athleticism also playing a part.
With former New Zealand Ironman Cory Hutchings and partner Rebecca Nicholson voted out, that leaves Temepara (Maori/Samoan) with fellow celebrities Monty Betham (Samoan) and Miriama Smith (Maori). While it is hard to separate the winner at this stage, a Polynesian is a certainty to take out the 2008 title. Past winners include former All Black Norm Hewitt, former beauty queen and Miss Universe, Lorraine Downes and infomercial queen Suzanne Paul, who won last year.
On Tuesday night, Temepara sizzled while former Warriors league captain Monty Betham and his partner Nerida Jantti danced their way to second place with the waltz and the rumba. Actress Miriama Smith and partner Jonny Williams had the lowest score of the competition but still survived the cull. However, they went into the top four elimination with injuries suffered during rehearsals.
Despite having to juggle a busy schedule, which includes training with the Northern Mystics ahead of this weekend’s ANZ Championship opener, and raising her two children, she does not regret being part of DWTS.
“Putting different hats on everyday is challenging and I have to make sure I don’t do pirouettes on the netball court when I’m training,” she quips. “But it is fun and a good way of raising money for charities.”
Temepara’s choice of charity was Autism New Zealand. “I have a couple of friends who have autistic children so we’re trying to drum up more awareness. There are a lot people on the spectrum but don’t realise they are. 1 in 100 people are affected,” she remarks.
She says Stefano has been a huge help. “He’s everything that I’m doing out there. He’s helped me get to this position,” Temepara explains.
Temepara believes she has got better with every week, soaking in the judges advice and Stefano’s guidance.
“There are different moods for each dance you can’t be too overenthusiastic. You’ve got to tone that down – like in the ballroom dancing you have to look elegant and graceful,” she adds.
“I’ve never done ballroom dancing in my life, only the boogie with the girls or bopping to music in the car. Sometimes I’m afraid I’ll fall over and make a fool of myself, but lucky it’s not happened to me yet - touch wood!” she laughs.
Temepara also believes her netball background has been useful.
“Strangely it has, there’s some moves in the Latin dances such as the quick step which has similar moves to netball. The toughest part of learning the dances is letting the emotions come out and trying to feel the music and actually expressing it. Playing netball is what comes naturally for me but not dancing.”
But in terms of nerves, she admits DWTS gives her more shakes.
“It’s kind of different because in netball you have six other players around you and it’s not all about you, but in dancing it’s just you and your partner and you’ve got ten cameras focussed on you plus a live audience and thousands of eyes around New Zealand.”
