Dancing with the Stars of Darlington County: Meet the Dancers
It’s almost time again to hit the dance floor. Dancing With the Stars of Darlington County, an annual charity event benefiting the Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Assault, will be staged once again at the Center Theater in Hartsville. The event will take place January 25, 2018.
To follow along with the training and get updates on the event, visit them on Facebook and on their website at www.darlingtoncountydancingwiththestars.com. The community can also vote for their favorite couple to win the People’s Choice Award. General Admission tickets are now available on the website for $45.
Each week until the big night, we will introduce two couples in the News and Press.
This week’s couples are:
• Blade Boulware (Pro) & Madge Zemp (Celebrity)
– Dance Style: Waltz; Broadway Show: Beauty and the Beast (Choreographer: Heather Norment)
• Hunter Jordan (Pro) & Sarah Floyd (Celebrity)
– Dance Style: Jive; Broadway Show: Mary Poppins (Choreographer: Brenda Cranford)
Celebrity Dancer Madge Zemp is a native of Hartsville. She believes her upbringing in her parents’ popular restaurant helped inspire her love and commitment to the public that has continued her involvement as an active community member for many years. She has been married to Sid Zemp for 35 years and is the proud mother of four grown sons and 10 grandchildren. Madge has been teaching at her alma mater, Hartsville High School, for the past 31 years. She has a BA in History Education from Coker College, a Masters of Educational Psychology from Clemson University, and is a National Board Certified Teacher. She teaches by the philosophy best expressed in a quote by Jason Dorcey that says, “Students don’t care what you know until they know that you care.” Her enthusiasm for the Red Foxes and her compassion for the students make her well known throughout the community as a leader at Hartsville High School. She is a beloved representative of the Red Fox Nation serving students, parents, faculty, and staff, and she is delighted to be representing them tonight.
Professional Dancer Blade Boulware, a native of Columbia, SC, is currently finishing up his senior year at Coker College as a music major. Although Blade studies piano at Coker, he also plays the organ and is the organist at First Baptist Church of Hartsville. In addition to having a passion for music, Blade also has a deep appreciation for dance and all other arts, believing that they are an extension and expression of the soul. Blade is honored to be invited as a professional dancer for this event. He chose to support this event because he believes that victims of sexual assault need help and support and that the Pee Dee Coalition is doing the best they can for such people.
Choreographer Heather Norment is the Assistant Director of Admissions at Coker College where her primary focuses are recruitment for the arts, working with international students and the Pee Dee Region. She serves as an Associate Lecturer for the Dance Program where she commits herself to educating students to be versed in theory as well as technical ability. She earned her M.F.A. at Sarah Lawrence College under the direction of Sara Rudner. Heather has worked with non-profit organizations as the Artistic Director of a community fundraiser to promote awareness for domestic and sexual assault, as the Arts Education Coordinator for Black Creek Arts Council, and as a Program Coordinator to enhance arts education for the Darlington County community. Heather has been a guest artist at Broward College, Coker College and Northwest School of the Arts. Her work was adjudicated at the American College Dance Festival in 2007 and she received a full tuition scholarship to the Dance Professionals Workshop at the American Dance Festival in 2015.
Celebrity Dancer Sarah Floyd is a senior, music major at Coker College. She is the daughter of Tony and Terry Floyd. After graduating Coker, she plans to pursue her Masters in Opera Performance. Sarah is also the reigning Miss Darlington and will compete for Miss South Carolina this summer. Sarah is excited to be involved in this event to raise money for this cause and to raise awareness in Darlington County.
Professional Dancer Hunter Jordan was born and raised in Florence. He is a graduate of Clemson University and currently the Pastor at St. Matthew’s Church in Darlington, SC. Hunter is married to Walker, and they have three children.
Choreographer Brenda Cranford is the owner and artistic director of Brenda Cranford School of Dance in Hartsville. She opened BCSD in 1981 and takes much pride in the reputation and quality the dance studio has secured in the community over the years. Brenda has trained all her life in all areas of dance and has been very involved in her community providing entertainment and guest choreography for numerous events and charities. The studio was named in 1987 by Dance Spirit Magazine as one of the top 50 studios in America and competes regionally and nationally for several major dance competitions. Brenda’s passion is teaching dance and inspiring others through the art of dance regardless of age or level. Brenda is the proud mother of two girls, Whitney and Jaimie, and wife to her husband of 40 years, Kim. She wishes all the dancers the best of luck and would like to personally thank each of them for their time and effort to make this event possible.
