Nicki Minaj gives out $500 prize in racy dance contest

Nicki Minaj staged a steamy dance contest at a New York gig and gave $500 to the winner.

The Anaconda rapper, 33, was performing at cable television network Adult Swim's Upfronts party at the city's Terminal 5 venue on Wednesday (18May16).

According to Variety magazine, during her set she requested audience members to choose female fans to join her on stage, saying, "We're gonna have a dance contest and I'm going to give away money."

Several nominated ladies joined her for the competition, with Nicki promising that the woman whose racy dance moves elicited the loudest cheer from the crowd would receive a cash prize.

After watching the women show off their moves in turn, she went backstage and grabbed $500 in cash, handing the money to the winner and performing a hip thrusting 'twerk' dance move with her.

The Upfront event is put on by bosses at the cable network to woo prospective advertisers, and the audience was mainly composed of workers from the advertising industry.

After the dance contest for the ladies, she was also joined by a male fan on stage and declared, "I love you" after watching him show off his dancing skills.

Nicki's gig saw her play a set including some her most popular hits such as Anaconda, Starships and Feeling Myself.