Last night on TV One's Dancing with the Stars, Stefano Olivieri shimmied to victory for the second year running - and now the Sydney-based gay professional dancer says he plans to stay and work in New Zealand.

Dancing joy: Temepara George & Stefano Olivieri (photo: TVNZ)

Speaking to GayNZ.com this afternoon, Olivieri says he's "running on adrenaline" without much rest after his winning moves with his dancing partner, netballer Temepara George. "We had an after-party at the studio with media and a lot of special guests, and then we all went off to a bar in Wellington's city centre.

"It was a fun night, and we didn't get much sleep before we had to be up and ready to appear on TV's Breakfast news and Good Morning shows.

Olivieri says he planned every detail of the couple's performances - from the music, right down to the costume and makeup. "And we have fantastic people in the wardrobe department, who can always accommodate my ideas of outfits to wear."

The soundtrack to last night's dances included gay anthem I am What I am, with a slight variation on the regular lyrics. "They sang: 'I am what I am, I am Stefano's creation,'" he smiles.

The dancing star will return to Sydney in two weeks, but only briefly. "I have a function to attend; otherwise I would be staying here. I'm going to try to make Auckland my base, and see what that brings."

Will he enter Dancing with the Stars again next year? "I definitely want to. It's an amazing journey, an amazing ride, a fantastic experience.

"But I think they've got other things in store for me."