Dancing with the Stars Meet the Dancers Week 2
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.
Each week until the big night, we will introduce two couples in the News and Press.
This week’s couples are:
Couples: Devin Jennings (Professional) & Carl Hunsucker (Celebrity) – Dance Style: Waltz; Broadway Show: Les Miserables (Choreographer: Devin Jennings)
Kendall Chapman (Pro) & Tre Gammage (Celebrity) – Dance Style: Hip Hop; Broadway Show: Wicked (Choreographer: Kendall Chapman)
Celebrity Dancer Carl Hunsucker was born and raised in Marion, SC. He is a graduate of Marion High School and Coastal Carolina College. Carl received his M.Div. from Duke University School of Divinity. After graduating, he began his 30-year service as a United Methodist Pastor in the South Carolina Conference. Carl has lived in several places throughout South Carolina including Marion County, Dillon County, Horry County, York County, Marlboro County, and now Darlington County. Hunting, fishing, playing golf, and reading are a few of Carl’s favorite hobbies. He has been married for 34 years to his wife, Fran. They have two boys and three grandchildren. Carl’s favorite Bible verse is 2 Corinthians 5:17: “If anyone is in a relationship with Jesus, they are a new creation – old things pass away. Behold! All things become new.”
Professional Dancer Devin Jennings is a native of Richmond, VA where she began her dance training in her early childhood. Her passion led her to pursue a BA degree from Coker College in Dance. After graduating from Coker, she went on to receive her MA from New York University in Dance Education with an emphasis on ballet pedagogy. She received her certification through American Ballet Theatre in the National Training Curriculum. Currently, she is an associate for Advancement and Alumni Engagement at Coker College and an adjunct professor in the dance department. She is the ballet mistress at Brenda Cranford School of Dance and continues to choreograph and perform for Theatre of the Republic in Conway, SC and Florence Little Theatre. She is honored to be a participant in this event to support the Pee Dee Coalition for their critical work against domestic violence and providing services to care for those victims. Having known both women and children who have suffered from domestic abuse, it is vital to have a support system and safe space for those who feel they don’t have a voice.
Celebrity Dancer Tre Gammage wakes up every day to facilitate purpose and to make one’s reason for doing easier. Being raised by a family that believes in hard work and service, made it hard for Tre to leave home in South Bend, Indiana. After playing football at Miami (OH) University and spending his final semester in Luxembourg (their sister campus), it was important to Tre to keep chasing his purpose. Tre’s found his purpose in being his best self every day and choosing service above self. In South Carolina, he’s had the opportunity to speak at over 75 different engagements including the 2016 World Championship of Public Speaking, Clemson, Johns Hopkins, Sonoco, and Duke Energy. He has also worked with the Department of Education at SC GSSM, non-profit organizations, and represents District 1 in Hartsville’s City Council. Tre is excited to call South Carolina home. In January 2017, Gammage Enterprize LLC formed providing organizational consulting service to managers, education leaders, and teams. Tre believes that making it easier to do what you love with their data, means real results. Domestic violence has impacted generations in his family and with an opportunity to help someone how could he say no? Dancing with the Stars is an exciting way to tackle a horrific problem and this is his way of giving back.
Professional Dancer Kendall Chapman is a native of Hartsville, SC. After graduating from Clemson University in 2015, she returned home. She is employed with Recruiting Solutions of Florence as a Staffing Coordinator with their light industrial division. In this role, Kendall serves clients all throughout the Pee Dee, including Hartsville. Kendall grew up dancing at a recreational and competitive level with a local studio. Dancing with the Stars will provide her with an opportunity to give back to her beloved community through her love of dance.
Photos by Steve Roos