Fayette Celebrity Dancers
“Love Makes the World Go ‘Round”
By: Laura Soper
You may have seen “Dancing with the Stars” on television, but have you seen the Fayette Celebrity Dancers? The fourth annual event put on by the Fayette County Board of Realtors features local “celebrities” and dance instructors who come together to raise money for local charities. Last year a whopping $40,000 was raised at this spectacular event. Event organizer, Deborah Bishop hopes this year will be even more successful. For twenty years prior, the Board of Realtors sponsored a fundraiser called Noel November, but four years ago, the Board decided to try something new and exciting. The popularity of the television show, Dancing with the Stars, led the Board to create Fayette Celebrity Dancers which is loosely based on the show’s concept. Ten well-known Fayette County residents are chosen as the “Stars,” and Rachel’s Dance Connection provides the “Pros” that teach the “Stars” to dance. Starting back in January, each celebrity began working with his or her Pro once a week for two hours of dance instruction. Each pair (Star and Pro) will perform a different type of dance so a total of ten different dances will be showcased including the rhumba, waltz, and salsa. The 4th annual Fayette Celebrity Dancers fundraising event will be held at Starr’s Mill High School on May 14, 2016. Doors open at 6:30 with the event starting at 7:00PM.
The dancers for this year’s event can be found on the event website: http://fayettecelebritydancers.com including complete bios on both the celebrities and the pros. This year’s celebrities are:
Doug Bates with Pro Julie Couch
Bryan Foerster with Pro Teresa Richter
Michelle Humes with Pro Kevin Couch
Greg Detwiler with Pro Lois Kroll
Nancy Price with Pro Wayne Wilson
David Morris with Pro Carrolyn Wendt
Jonathan Goolsbee with Pro Beverly Ferguson
Sheila Studdard with Pro Mercer Hill
Ria Story with Pro Bill O’Keefe
Jill Prouty with Pro Guy Garrison
Both Celebrities and their Pros sell tickets in advance to the event in order to obtain “votes.” Each dollar raised by the duo is a vote for them. Advance tickets are $15 each, and tickets at the door are $20. There will also be an opportunity to “vote” for your favorite couple at the event through donations. The theme for this year’s event is “Love Makes the World Go ‘Round.” You can help spread the love to the dancers and to the charities supported by this fundraiser by purchasing tickets and enjoying a night out at this exciting and entertaining event.
Each year the Fayette County Board of Realtors places an ad in local newspapers for charities to apply to be beneficiaries of this fundraiser. This year about 15 charities filled out a lengthy application, and four were chosen: Bloom for our Youth, Inc., Armed Forces Mission, The Real Life Center, and Clearwater Academy, special needs school.
If you have any questions about the event, you may call Deborah Bishop at 770-486-1220.
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