Some people have literally grooved and moved onstage and elsewhere since childhood. And others hardly have danced since senior prom.
But both types of participants will take center stage for two shows of the 11th Annual Dancing With the Stars Columbus Style fundraiser Jan. 26 at The Commons. The event, inspired by the popular television show “Dancing With the Stars,” has clearly been in sizzling step with generosity, raising more than $750,000 in a decade for two local nonprofits, Family School Partners and Children Inc.
“We have a community that loves supporting music and dance,” said Arriann Custer, director of Family School Partners, providing free home-based education to parents with at-risk children.
Plus, the community clearly loves supporting agencies helping youngsters, including Children Inc.’s work to provide licensed child care for toddlers and preschool-aged children.
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Several years worth of past shows have sold out. This year, the 8 p.m. show already is sold out, but tickets remain for the 1 p.m. presentation.
The event’s set-up is simple: Eight local couples — often one “star” or notable paired with an experienced professional dancer — compete with one dance to raise the most money through monetary votes and also the most votes, both from the crowd present and the public voting online before, during and after the event. Then winners are declared in each of those two categories.
Cummins employees and dance partners Patrick Andrews and Ginger Lirette figure on plenty of coworkers’ support when they hit the dance floor, said Andrews, who has danced in Mill Race Theatre Company shows and, for the past five years, through lessons with wife Sharon and choreographer Ronda Byers. Byers is choreographing Andrews and Lirette’s performance.
“I think I know maybe a little bit about what I’m doing,” Andrews said with a chuckle of his experience. “But we will see.”
He and Lirette are keeping most of their routine secret, though their publicity shot includes her wearing what looks like Minnie Mouse ears and him holding what appears to be Aladdin’s lamp, which would suggest Disney tunes. But Andrews will acknowledge only a mixture of swing and soft shoe amid some of what he called “flips and tricks.”
Matt Lee of the area act Night Owl Country Band wrote on his event information sheet that the only dance experience he had before beginning rehearsals with partner and professional Sonya Denney amounted to “the jigs that I do in a Night Owl Country Band show.”
Denney, who first performed in the second year of Dancing With the Stars Columbus Style, but also has taught dance for years, still is learning. For example, she never has done line dancing until now, and the style will be at least a part of the couple’s country effort.
“I love the choreography behind the scenes even more than the dancing,” Denney said.
At some of the past events, crowds have been loud, screaming and raucous.
Exhibition acts interspersed between competitors this year will include ensembles such as youth from Sonya’s Dance Zone, Bollywood Unlimited and Ballet Folklorico de Columbus. In the evening show, Labraun Kaleo-okalani Hampton also will entertain.
At the end, while organizers count money and votes, crowd members converge on the stage and show their own moves.
“That’s one of the favorite parts of the event (for many),” Custer said.
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What: 11th Annual Dancing With the Stars Columbus Style, a fundraiser for Family School Partners and Children Inc., two United Way of Bartholomew County agencies.
When: Two shows, 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. Jan. 26., though 8 p.m. presentation already is sold out.
Where: The Commons.
Tickets: 1 p.m. matinee — General admission, $30; those 55 and older, $20; children 12 and younger, $10. Evening show — $55 per ticket.
Information: dwtscolumbus.com
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- Julie Orben and Matt Nieman
- Wendy Boulware and Donnie Ritzline (choreography by Katrina Hardwick)
- Jason Major and Devika Pande
- Scott Ballard and Katrina Hardwick
- Ginger Lirette and Patrick Andrews (choreography by Ronda Byers ofDance Street)
- Kirk and Linda Thomas (choreography by Jessica Bradley)
- Matt Lee and Sonya Denney
- Sean McAuliffe and Jenny Walters (choreography by Sarah McFarland of Sonya’s Dance Zone)
- Wayne Britton and Tiffany Sparks
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