Nicki Minaj calls snake bite dancer 'trooper'

Rapper Nicki Minaj has praised the dancer who was bitten by a snake during rehearsals, revealing the brave stage star refused to let the injury stop her performing.

One of the hip-hop star's dancers was hurt by the reptile while practising a routine for Minaj's rendition of new single 'Anaconda', and she was hospitalised, reported MTV online.

The snake was subsequently removed from the stage show, and Minaj reveals the bitten dancer refused to axe her performance at the MTV VMAs on August 24.

"One of dancers got bitten by a snake, and she handled it like a trooper. She went to the doctor, she's fine, she actually still performed," Minaj said.