I would like to provide some feedback as an audience participant at last night's live taping of "Dancing with the Stars" (2nd August 2009).

As an avid watcher & supporter of the show since its inception to say I was bitterly disappointed was an understatement. When my sister got the call on Friday we could not have been any more excited in anticipation of a fabulous opportunity to experience the wonderful dancing live. We received a conclusive list of instructions for the night including the dress code which asked us to dress for a "night at the theatre".

We made a very big effort to glam up in pretty frocks & were rewarded with seating in the "blue" section of the studio. On walking into the studio we were then relegated to the "red" section seated behind rather large people 3 rows back. Being petite girls of 5 feet tall this was most disappointing & between the heads & 3 large cameras I was lucky to see a quarter of the dancing.

What was even more disappointing was to see people walk on to set well after us & be seated in the "blue" section, dressed in jeans, logo'd t-shirts & runners. We also noted "standby" guests (who we met pre show) come onto the set rather late & also given these premium seats.

I find it rather disheartening that the dress code was not adhered to by many, some who looked like they just fell out of bed or spent a Sunday session at the pub and then given prime seating when we'd gone to a lot of trouble to dress up to show our appreciation of the wonderful work the dancers do.

I understand its hard to meet everyone's expectations & I was very fortunate to get an opportunity to experience "Dancing with the Stars" live however I would have enjoyed it far more from the comfort of my lounge room.

Leaving the evening feeling empty & underwhelmed was certainly not what I expected I would have felt, however unfortunately the experience, glitz & glamour definitely did not live up to expectation.

I watched the beginning of the "Dance" show this year for the first time.

Firslty to applaude the Paraolympian and to see how he moved and danced. I am a teacher in Special Needs working with students who have a disability. I was not only disgusted with the comments by the judges last Sunday but also about the way this show has been set up.

I will continue in dot point.

* The show has "used" a vision impared person to be a vehicle to promote ratings.
* The show has consistently used promos about the "blind" person.
* The show has set up the disabled to fail. AND with this I also feel the way it is being managed has biased the outcomes. This man with visual impairment is doing a fantastic job. He is being used in the worst possible way - what will be next, a show with a Cerebral Palsy person.....or a Parkinsons patient? This is appauling.

If you had "blindfolded" ALL the celebrities and had them work with the same impairment it would have been fair.

It is certainly a show I will not watch again. It is too distressing to see Channel 7 stooping to such lows to gain ratings. Never again for me.

* In saying that, it has probably biased the scores that Gerard will win! I am not against it, but this show has failed, the sighted and the disabled.

After this week's episode of Dancing With The Stars, I will no longer watch in and have changed channels.

Who do those "judges" think they are.

Todd is just rude and totally bias with his judging giving Kylie a 9 when she's average to say the least and the singer 2.

Then Helen who only one week out of the whole series has her cleavage and shoulders covered (does she think she's still 18) how dare she speak to the girl out of The Rafters in the way she did. The "contestants" are there for fun and to make money for a charity not to win a sheepstation. Her "judge" status has gone to her very old and out of date head.

That girl has a right to speak to her teacher and ask if she can do something "pretty" she is not a female from the middle east and cant be heard. Helen is the one needing to apologise, how dare she speak to anyone like she did. I will not be viewing that show ever again.

And as for Gerrard I want to see the other contestants and judges go out there blind and see how they go. If they supposedly judge him as they do everyone else then why make a fool out of him with the dispicable scores. He should never have been put on the show as of course he cant do as the others nor as well so why put him down in the way Helen and Todd do. He deserves at least 7's ...put blindfolds on them all and be fair.

I used to enjoy watching dancing with the stars but last night's show was a blatant attempt to get rid of those that 7 does not want.

I for the life of me cannot understand why those three old farts make gooses out of themselves to expect the participants to be expert ball room dancers in that short time when they are there to entertain us with their attempts and to gather votes for charity.

Lighten up 7 and give us something to laugh at,and not at the narrowmindness of Helen Ritchie,she was determined to get rid of Luda reason being Luda is too smart for the hasbeen.

The three judges if thats what you can call them were so rude to Luda and to Gerrard, how insensitive are they,the morans.As for the big Kruger she has to go,she reminds me of a camel in fancy dress,No 7 I for one have finished with the stars as those that win are 7 stars so whats the betting poor old Adam doesn.t stand a dogs chance in hell of getting over the line next week.As far as I am concerned it.s rigged from the start. I'd rather watch idol and even thats a pain but so much better than lemon suckers[judges]

Re: Channel 7 and the Dancing with the Stars, Sunday 11/7/2010.

What a disgrace.
What are you as a Channel trying to do.
Its about time that you sorted your panel out once and for all. What i saw tonight was worthy of a complaint to the media complaints department.

I thought your show was suppose to be a light hearted program with teachers training amateurs and then a panel judging them for the performance, taking into account they are amateurs and perhaps get viewers involved in dance.

What we have seen over the last couple of shows is a judge by the name of Todd rip the hell out of Michael the teacher because he didnt dance the way Todd would like. Why as a viewer have we had to endure an obvious personal onslaught that Todd has with Michael on air?? I say personal as we again had to listen to another round of insults tongiht, calling the Teacher Michael's personality Boring and this all PRIOR to poor Rachelle Finch even starting her dance routine If we need to get personal do we start remembering Todd in the media headline not so long ago over incidents that are personal that we found v BORING.

It seems to me Todd is using his power of being on a panel and on air for the whole world to hear him give insults out to whom ever he decides. Why as a Channel are you letting the Director of this show let him carry on with these pathetic comments.

You as a Channel should be ashamed of yourselves if this is what you do to get ratings. I know there are alot of young viewers who watch this program interested in learning how to dance, but after looking at the program seeing a bunch of old has been panel members rip the hell out of the dancers, would definitely make them change their minds.

Well done Channel seven. You have definitely lost 1 viewer and you may laugh at that, but 1 + 1 =2 and so on...

I am writing to complain strongly about the appalling way that the presenter, Daniel, on Dancing with the Stars, seemed to get great pleasure and UNNECESSARY mileage over the dispute from last week's DWTS episode where Tod McKenney came down heavily on Michael Miziner!!!!

This was SO unnecessary and totally BORING for we viewers, as I am quite sure others will have felt the same.

To me it seemed a deliberate attempt by ???? director/producer? of this show, to try to create DRAMA....especially considering so much was said about this just before those contestants were about to perform their dance.

Dancing with the Stars is one of my FAVOURITE shows but I would hope that this sort of behaviour is STOPPED for future episodes....all I could see was that whoever decided to 'go for the jugular' showed TOTAL disrespect and caring for Rachael Finch by continued attacking of her professional partner.

PLEASE do not go down the path of so many other tv shows where you think that CAUSING controversy is a good thing! it is NOT.

I would like to make a complaint regarding Sonia Kruger's comment on Sunday night re. "as popular as a red headed stepson".

Does she ever consider the impact of her comments on young boys sense of self-worth or self esteem? It was neither funny nor witty. Just an irrelevant, personally attacking and derogatory statement. While she may be used to dumb blond jokes, attacking the self esteem and worth/value of young boys is no joke.

Please pass on my complaint to Sonia.

After her comment, I will not be watching Dancing with the Stars anymore (nor will anyone in my family, or friends who heard the comment).

A complaint will also be made to other businesses that Sonia receives her income from. I will definately not be buying any products that she is associated with after her comment.

Dancing with the Stars is a joke. I have never been so disgusted with a show in all my life as I was tonight with the elimination show.

A couple went out when there are 2 men - one a footballer (and especially this dancer) and one a handyman who really can't dance and are still there when a very professional couple who can dance are eliminated.

It really is embarrassing Australian TV and to be on prime time TV WHAT A JOKE!

The voting is ridiculous when people have to vote from the week before and then make them dance on the currant night.

I have been a rigid viewer of the show but not anymore, and if anyone else have some sort of common sense they too won't be tuning in either.

I bet the way the show is going (down) there won't be another year.

DANCING WITH THE STARS is one of my favourite programs. I can count on one hand the number of progranms I have missed in the 10 series. I am writing to complain about a new time saving decision which I find totally unacceptable and an insult to your esteemed judges. The new idea of only allowing two judges to comment after some of the dances is a very bad decision and illogical. The judge's assessments are a key element of the concept. The goals and improvements of each couple are determined by the judge's criticisms and encouragement. There are three judges for a very good reason and all must be heard after each dance.

They are costing you a lot of money and are crucial to the format. I am amazed that they are even accepting this bad judgement from the Producers. I know how tight the program timing is. Every week you are approx 15 minutes overtime so why aren't the scheduled times adjusted instead of leaving it at 2 hours?

If you need to cut time I suggest you get Dan to shorten and tighten his chat after each dance and reduce the extra time that Sonja is now adding with her comedian act !

But, PLEASE let all the judges have their comment times for every dance and don't underestimate their importance.

Regards, and keep up the great work