It’s back, with the loosest definition of “celebrity” ever. Dancing With The Stars 2011 will strike a combination of fear, dread, joy and confusion into PRs, TV reviewers and viewers alike. Who is that? Why are they famous? She’s been a dancer for years – how is that fair? So many questions, so few answers, so many puzzled faces as to why they are now dancing a salsa. From the press release:

Channel Seven announced today the glamorous series line-up for Series 11 of DANCING WITH THE STARS.

This season promises glitz, glamour and a touch of unpredictability with a cast including a cheeky celebrity chef, a golfing sensation, high profile celebrity models, a cricket superstar as well a world champion surfer all hitting the dance floor.

Plus in an Australian DANCING WITH THE STARS first, a husband goes head to head against his wife for ballroom glory. The quest for the mirror ball trophy has never been more personal.

Dancing for the coveted mirror ball trophy this year are:

Lara Bingle, model
Manu Feildel, My Kitchen Rules judge
Brynne Edelsten, social superstar
Damien Leith, singer/songwriter
Nick Bracks, model
Nathan Bracken, cricket star
Haley Bracken, red carpet sensation
Dan Ewing, Home and Away actor
Samantha Armytage, news presenter
Mark Occhilupo, world champion surfer
Jan Stephenson, golfing legend

Each week during the live show scores will be combined from the judges plus the all important viewer vote to determine who will be at the top of the dancing leader board and who will be sent waltzing home.

Celebrities will be dancing to raise funds for their favourite charity.

Dancing duos for 2011 season are:

Lara Bingle – dancing with Carmelo Pizzino
With a natural beauty and modern style, Lara Bingle is undoubtedly one of Australia’s best known models.
In 2006, she shot to fame after being chosen as the face of Tourism Australia’s “Where The Bloody Hell Are You?” international advertising campaign. At only 23 years of age, the “Cronulla beach babe” has had an amazing career to date.

Manu Feildel – dancing with Alana Patience
Manu has become one of the most popular new personalities on Australian television as co-host and judge on Channel Seven’s hit series My Kitchen Rules. As a child, he saw his future on the stage rather than in the kitchen and joined a circus school to become a professional clown. However, at 15 he decided that the circus was not for him and became an apprentice chef in his father’s restaurant. He’s gone on to become a successful three-hatted chef and this year released his first cook book.

Brynne Edelsten – dancing with Arsen Kishishian
Social superstar Brynne grew up in Arizona. She was an advanced student and attended a school for gifted children. Brynne left college to pursue a modeling career in Los Angeles. In 2008 she met flamboyant Australian Professor Geoffrey Edelsten. After a whirlwind romance, they married in an extravagant wedding in November 2009.

Damien Leith – dancing with Melanie Hooper
Irish Australian singer-songwriter Damien Leith was the winner of Australian Idol in 2006. He secured a record deal with Sony Music Autralia and to date has released four albums. His fifth album ‘Roy’, a tribute to the late Roy Orbison, is due for release shortly.

Nick Bracks – dancing with Jessica Raffa
Model Nick most recently hit the runway at the 2011 L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival. His modeling career started in 2009. Since then Nick has worked for an impressive list of clients in Australia and overseas. His father, who he idolises, is Victoria’s longest serving Premier Steve Bracks.

Nathan Bracken – dancing with Masha Belash
Former Australian cricketer Nathan Bracken announced his retirement in January of this year because of a chronic knee injury. As a left arm fast-medium bowler, he is capable of swinging the ball both ways. Nathan has taken the most One Day International wickets by an Australian left-arm pace bowler, making him the second fastest Australian to reach this milestone equal with Shane Warne and Dennis Lillee.

Haley Bracken – dancing with Aric Yegudkin
Wife of Australian cricketer Nathan Bracken and red carpet sensation Haley stole the show at the 2010 Allan Border Medal awards night when she wore a see-through mesh bodice dress that she designed herself. Hayley regularly graces the covers of lads magazines and is currently completing a Bachelor of Law.

Dan Ewing – dancing with Luda Kroitor
Dan plays Heath Braxton – one of ‘The River Boys’ – on Seven’s Home and Away. Dan has two tattoos on his right arm. The first is a Southern Cross as a mark of respect to his ancestors who fought in two World Wars. The second says Carpe Diem, which directly translates as “Seize the Day”. He is currently a finalist in Cleo’s Bachelor of the Year competition.

Samantha Armytage – dancing with Brendon Midson
Newsreader Samantha regularly travels on the road as a journalist as well as presenting the very successful Weekend Sunrise with Andrew O’Keefe. Samantha joined the Seven Network in 2003. She also presents Today Tonight’s summer series.

Mark Occhilupo – dancing with Jade Brand
“Occy” began his professional surfing career on the World Championship Tour (WCT) at the age of 17. In the mid 90s after a long hiatus he made a comeback determined to be a champion. He won the world title in 1999. Although retired from surfing, he still lives, breathes and promotes surfing full-time and competes as a wildcard in various Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) events.

Jan Stephenson – dancing with Mark Hodge
An Australian professional golfer since 1973, Jan Stephenson was one of the first LPGA stars to openly embrace and champion a sex-sells approach to marketing. Even though she has won many international titles and was number one in the world she is still known for bringing glamour to the golfing world. These days she owns a Golf Course Design and Management Company.

Dancing with the Stars – TBA, Ch7.