Final duo selected for dance spectacular

Rodney Conrad.

Judi Anne Geenty.

The Smiths City couple for a dancing fundrasing event have been chosen, completing the line-up for the Hospice money-maker.

Rodney Conrad and Judi Anne Geenty are the lucky pair. Both have dance backgrounds and are eager to put on their dancing shoes for the Harcourts Dancing With Rotorua Stars event.

Rotorua Community Hospice Trust funding manager Jan Morgan said she was very pleased she didn't have to make the decision: "It was really very difficult for the judges, but they came to an agreement in the end.

"The other difficult thing was to communicate with the unsuccessful contestants, because they all gave it their all.

"There's some wonderful people out there who wanted to do this, not only to raise money for Hospice, but they wanted to be part of something big and exciting.

"I'm just really grateful for all of their effort," she said.

Rodney Conrad said he originally decided to enter because he thought dance was fun.

"Dance is awesome. Thirteen years ago I was into dance and I thought this would not only be a good chance to dance but to support a bloody good cause as well. I'm really looking forward to it."

He said he did a bit of ceroc dance back in the day.

"I still get involved with Rotorua musical theatre, it's a lot of fun.

"I'm looking forward to meeting other people. It will be fun as well as competitive. I'm going to go out there to try and win the bloody thing.

"It was interesting when I got the call, I was stoked. I was sitting around eating dinner and out came a bottle of Steiny Classic. I was really pleased about it."

Judi Anne Geenty said she had been dancing since she was 4 years old.

"I continued dancing when we moved to Auckland and found the musical theatre bug in my older life. I've often fantasised about Dancing with the Stars, so when I heard about the wildcard auditions for Dancing With Rotorua Stars I decided I needed to take the chance and put myself out there.

"It was so scary and it's been such a long time since I last did something outside my norm, but I'm so glad I did.

"I feel extremely excited and privileged to be part of this fundraiser for Rotorua Hospice who have such a valuable service and are so important for our community," she said.

Money raised will go towards filling the $900,000 funding gap the hospice needs to operate.

Jackie Clarke and Tamati Coffey will MC the event at the Rotorua Energy Events Centre on Saturday, August 13. It will include silent and live auctions.