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Friday April 4, 2008 |
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By KATHRYN JACEWICZ, Staff writer
Brunswick County stars are gearing up to take center stage and show off their dancing skills.
Dancing with the Brunswick County Stars will take center stage Aug. 1.
Like
the ABC version, 22 Brunswick County locals paired with local
professionals will perform a choreographed ballroom routine, and only
one couple will be crowned as the dancing king and queen.
Clarice Holden, of the Brunswick Community College Foundation, said a friend shared how she had a dance with stars event that raised more than $250,000. Holden said she knew a similar event would be a change of pace from the ordinary galas and fundraisers, and thought it would go over well in Brunswick County.
was thinking, we've got to come up with something creative, and her event was such a success. All the bells and whistles went off and I thought, this is it, Holden said.
Holden said the foundation members got on board right away and the idea took
off. The foundation asked everyone they knew if they would volunteer to be a
dancer, and ended up with 21 willing participants. To get professional partners
for the dancers, we just begged, Holden said.
The
nine local female stars are: Dinah Gore, socialite and resident of
Brunswick County; Martha Lee, owner of Martha Lee realty; Judge Ola
Lewis, Superior Court Judge District 13; Katie McGee, superintendent of
Brunswick County Schools; Denise Mihal, president of Brunswick
Community Hospital; Monique Stenquist, socialite and model; Bidgie Sue,
philanthropist and Brunswick County resident; Cynthia Tart, director of
Communities in Schools; and Pam Yount of Associated Insurers.
The 13
local male stars are: Dr. Alan Brown, Family Practice &
Ophthalmology; Wade Coleman, Brunswick County developer; Roger Cox,
ATMC chief financial officer; Ed Gore, developer; Rex Gore, Brunswick
County District Attorney; David Gooden, CEO A1 Wireless; Edgar Haywood,
CEO Dosher Memorial Hospital; Robert Robinson, register of deeds; Joe
Stanley, owner of Joe's & Moe's Auto; Baxter Stirling, senior vice
president BB&T, Southport; Clyde Sullivan, president and CEO
PennyMaid, Inc.; Dr. Aaron Wilharm, Michelakis & Wiharm Dentistry;
and Rev. Rich Vaughan, Rev. Camp Methodist Church.
Both the stars
and the professionals come from all areas of the county and some from
neighboring communities. The dance pairs are allowed to set their own
practice schedule and have free reign to choose their dance style and
music.
Denise Mihal said she has absolutely no dance experience but couldn't be more excited to dance for the cause.
This
is for an exceptional cause, she said. Anything for scholarships and
youth. It's a way of giving back to the community and have fun doing
it, too.
Mihal's partner, Ted Roupas, calls himself a professional
amateur. He dances for the enjoyment. He and his wife have been
dancing for about 10 years.
We dance at every opportunity we can find, Roupas said. I'm so glad this came up.
Although
the pair has not yet had their first practice, they see themselves as a
good match. Mihal said she feels lucky to have Roupas as a partner.
Roupas said he feels Mihal will be an apt pupil.
Do they think they can win? Absolutely, Mihal said with confidence.
Cynthia
Tart, director of Communities in Schools, said it was important to her
to participate, as helping students is the focus of her career. This is all to help students and raise money for the college,
she said. There's no way I couldn't be involved.
Tart said her dance experience is limited to the goofy dances she performs for her granddaughter.
'The Funky Chicken' and the 'Hokey Pokey' are my best dances, Tart said. Performing in front of an audience will be a challenge for Tart, as stage fright is already setting in. I'm a behind the scenes kind of girl,
she said. I don't want to embarrass my partner. Her
partner, Jim Sterner, teaches ballroom, country western and shag in
Myrtle Beach. Many of his first-time students want to jump into dancing
head first, but he said starting out slowly makes all the difference.
They need a good, solid foundation first,
he said. Speed comes with practice. Sterner said he is most looking forward to watching Tart's dance skills develop.
Tart said for that to happen, it'll take a miracle. By the time this is over, I'm going to be on medication and in therapy, she said.
Dancing
with the Brunswick County Stars will take place Aug. 1 in the ballroom
of the Sea Trail Conference Center. The event is black-tie optional,
and tickets will cost around $100 and will go on sale soon. The
audience has the task of voting for their favorite dancing pair. Each
vote will cost $10, and there is no limit on how many times or for how
many dancers one can vote.
Yes, you can be bought, Holden joked, but we just want this to be a great event.
All the money raised will go directly to benefit future BCC students.
Holden
said scholarships are so important in today's society, and she does not
want to see one student who wants to attend college not be able to do
so due to financial reasons.
We are building scholarships and
wanting to send as many kids to college as possible so they can make a
differkjacewicz@brunswickbeacon.coment,
Holden said. I just think this is going to be
unbelievable. We're going to have a great time and raise a lot of money
for individual scholarships.
Kathryn Jacewicz is a staff writer at the Beacon. Reach her at 754-6890 or at
kjacewicz@brunswickbeacon.com