Local dance competition to benefit Care Lodge

Published 5:00 am Thursday, December 4, 2014

    After months of intense rehearsals, the defining moment has arrived for nine local ballroom dance couples.

    Their hard work and dedication will be showcased during Friday’s Dancing Like the Stars: An Evening With Elegance. In addition to the chance to win the coveted overall title, the competition offers participants an even greater incentive.

    “Each of them will walk away with the warm and fuzzy feeling of knowing that they have given back to the community,” said Leslie Lauderdale, event coordinator and owner of Elegance Ballroom Dance and Fitness Studio.

    Proceeds from the dance competition will go     to Care Lodge Domestic Violence Shelter. The shelter provides a safe haven for victims of domestic violence in Clarke, Kemper, Lauderdale, Leake, Newton, Neshoba, Noxubee, Scott and Winston counties.

    “Our goal is to raise $10,000 for Care Lodge. We’ve already sold 500 tickets, so that should put us pretty close,” Lauderdale said.

    Rehearsals for the dance competition started in August, shortly after the participants agreed.

    “They were all happy to do it, which made it such an enjoyable experience,” said Lauderdale, who choreographed the couples’ routines according to their music tastes and dance skills. The average routine lasts 90- to 2 1/2 minutes.

    “That seems short, but it’s not when you’re performing,” she said. “I really challenged the dancers and pushed them to the limit. Several couples are acrobatic, so that offers a little extra to their routines.”

    The dance competition’s couples are: Meridian Police Chief Benny Dubose and Kendra Blakely; WTOK’s Ashley ShahAhmadi and Steve Carson; Fredie Carmichael and Tammy Davidson; Dr. Ben Rush and Cat Owen; Dr. Virginia Nelson, Dr. Chip Carney and Chuck Enderlin; Scott McQuaig and Kelly McQuaig; Stacey Thompson and Miguel Jordan; Nykolas Alford and Daphne Bridges; and Stephen Thomas and Shelby Ellis.

    Judges will be Fannie Johnson, executive director of LOVE’s Kitchen; Meridian City Council President Dustin Markham; and professional dancer Caleb Thaggard. In addition to the mirror ball trophy awarded to the winning couple, prizes will be awarded to the first, second and third place winners.

    While the dance competition is the highlight of the event, there also will be entertainment. Music for the evening will be provided by Carey Smith. Additional entertainment will be provided by the Sisters of Phoenix Belly Dancers and hip hop dancer Mark Cherry.

    Tickets are $50 and will include dinner catered by Jo Jo Sherman. General admission, which is $30, will include hors d’oeuvres only.    

    • Sponsors for Dancing Like the Stars: An Evening of Elegance are The Nelson Center for Women, The Vein Center a Rush, Rush Foundation Hospital and The Meridian Star.