PRINTStepping out with the stars
Contestants boogie for a cause
John Hook
Frank Sovich, co-owner of Columbia's Marathon Office Interiors, dips his Twilight Dance Studio instructor, Ashley Mayer.
May 1, 2008 | 12:00 a.m. CST
Gliding under the chandeliers and across the spacious practice room at Twilight Dance Studio, Ashley Mayer guides Frank Sovich. Sovich, co-owner of Marathon Office Interiors, is one of 10 Dancing with Missouri Stars contestants. As Mayer observes her student, she patiently articulates every movement while watching the dance in the mirror-covered wall. “Quick, quick, slow, slow,” she says in a flowing sequence of spins, dips and footwork. Every step mastered brings the students a step closer to their final performance as they salsa their way to this year’s competition.
The event is modeled after ABC’s hit TV show Dancing with the Stars. The Missouri Contemporary Ballet fundraiser pairs nine of Columbia’s and one of Mexico, Mo.’s favorite locals with ballroom dance instructors. The dancers compete in a May 8 dance-off at the Hearnes Center. Money raised goes directly to the Missouri Contemporary Ballet to pay for the company’s dancers salaries.
Related Multimedia Related LinksKaren Grundy, Missouri Contemporary Ballet artistic and executive director, and her husband are both fans of Dancing with the Stars. They were brainstorming for fundraiser ideas when they came up with the concept in October 2006. Last year the event made $24,000, and this year Grundy hopes to make at least $40,000. Similar fundraisers, such as Dancing with Sandoway Stars in Florida, have raised more than $50,000.
Helping shed light on Columbia and raise money for the arts are local spotlight seekers whose ages and professions vary. Participants include former Miss Missouri Sarah French to Super Bowl champion and West Junior High School assistant principal Jerome Sally as well as local business owners and community mentors. Steve Hagan, president of the Presser Performing Arts Center in Mexico, Mo., will also participate.
“Some of the contestants volunteered, and some of them we twisted their arms a little bit,” says Grundy. “But for the most part, we didn’t twist arms too hard; it’s always scary going into something that you know absolutely nothing about.”
In preparation for the competition, 16 to 20 hours of dance instruction from Twilight Dance Studio is required. Six instructors from the studio will double as partners for the 10 contestants. Because the stars outnumber the teachers, one male instructor and all female instructors will perform with two contestants. Since February, most participants have been practicing two to three times per week, which, though difficult, seems like no time at all compared to the six-hour practices that Dancing with the Stars contestants sometimes put in.
“When they asked me to be a contestant, I had never danced before in my life,” says Scott Croom, contestant and personal trainer at Wilson’s Total Fitness. “I don’t think I’ll ever stop dancing now.”
Some friendly rivalry has been generated among the stars. “I try to keep to myself and not bother anybody during practices,” says Richard King, participant and owner of The Blue Note. “I know one other gentleman dancing is Scott Croom, and I was told by my instructor that he was going to rig my dance; he just needs to watch out. I’m going to get him for that.”
The contestant’s performances will be judged by Columbia’s very own Dancing with Missouri Stars judges. They include professional ballroom dancing judge and coach John Swick; publisher of Inside Columbia magazine, Fred Parry; and last year’s winner and owner of Downtown Alterations, Lorianne Gaddy. “I don’t feel like I know enough about ballroom dancing to say something about their toe-heel lead,” says Gaddy. “For me it’ll depend on how much I enjoy watching the contestants dance.”
Between the contestants’ salsas and rumbas, dancers from the Twilight Dance Studio will show off their professional ballroom dancing skills and the Missouri Contemporary Ballet will perform parts of its show Rock — a modern ballet with excerpts of rock music from the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. Like the show, the audience will choose a winner with votes that cost $1.
Think the competition sounds easy? Think again. Glory comes after hours of hard work and determination. Dancers and contestants on the hit TV show make ballroom dancing look simple. Despite the tough workout, the contestants say the hard work is well worth it. King says it’s a deserving cause that improves the arts in Columbia. “I don’t think there’s any question that the arts in Columbia needs all the help it can get,” says King. “I wouldn’t do this for any other reason."
