Dancing with the Stars of Darlington County shines light for sexual assault awareness
The Dancing with the Stars of Darlington County Planning Committee, along with many volunteers, have been meeting since July preparing for their big event to benefit the Pee Dee Coalition against Domestic and Sexual Assault to be held on January 25 at the Hartsville Center Theatre at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets for General Admission can be purchased online now at www.darlingtoncountydancingwiththestars.com. Tickets are $45 each. The doors will be open for General Admission beginning at 6:30pm. This year’s event theme will be “City Lights, Broadway Nights” which will include music from Broadway favorites.
The Planning Committee members are Pat Segars, Pat West, Mary Wood Beasley, Jennifer Boyles, Alma Harris, Eric Thompsen, Ellen Bethea, Eliza Truett, Judy Jacobs, Tamara Weatherford, Lukas Glenn, Greg Goode, Ben Gore and Rita Daniel.
Under leadership of Rita Daniel, students from local high schools and many other adult volunteers in the community will be assisting with ballot sales, handing out programs, decorating, serving as ushers and will also be volunteering in the Coat Check Room. There has been tremendous support for the event from many businesses and citizens in Darlington County.
Twelve dance teams will be competing for the titles of the 2018 People’s Choice Award and the 2018 Dancing with the Stars of Darlington County Dance Award.
The dance teams and dance styles are:
- Celebrity, Trish DeHond, and Professional, Marlin Ketter, performing the Rhumba to songs from Chicago
- Celebrity, Madge Zemp, and Professional, Blade Boulware, performing the Waltz to songs from Beauty and the Beast
- Celebrity, Curtis Boyd, and Professional, Logan Suggs, performing Hip Hop to songs from Wicked
- Celebrity, Becky Askins-Weaver, and Professional, Brian Forte, performing the Quickstep to songs from Jersey Boys
- Celebrity, Noah Stanley, and Professional, Caroline Williams, performing the Shag to songs from Mamma Mia
- Celebrity, Roxie Gardner, and Professional, Joseph McPherson, performing the Tango to songs from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
- Celebrity, Carl Hunsucker, and Professional, Devin Jennings, performing the Waltz to songs from Les Miserables
- Celebrity, Craig Morris, and Professional, Maria Jones, performing the Quickstep to songs from Grease
- Celebrity, Cody Mitchell, and Professional, Vera DuBose, performing the Cha Cha to songs from Hairspray
- Celebrity, Tre Gammage, and Professional, Kendall Chapman, performing Hip Hop to songs from Hamilton
- Celebrity, Cliff Jones, and Professional, Shantella Harris, performing the Rhumba to songs from West Side Story
- Celebrity, Sarah Floyd, and Professional, Hunter Jordan, performing the Jive to songs from Mary Poppins
Being a dancer for Dancing with the Stars of Darlington County requires many hours of dedicated practice. Brenda Cranford School of Dance, KFA, Coker College, and Driven by Dance Studio all graciously provided their studios for the dance teams to practice. Local choreographers for this year’s dances include Tracee Auman, Heather Norment, Brenda Cranford, Burnadene Kelley-Newman, Sheila Schmotzer, Devin Jennings, Vera DuBose, Kendall Chapman, and Shantella Harris.
The dance team that receives the most votes will be named the 2018 People’s Choice Award winner. Ballots to enter a vote will be sold for $10 by dancers, Pee Dee Coalition members, the DWTS website, and ballot assistants the evening of the performances.
A distinguished group of judges will rate each dance couple on their technical level, creativity of integrating their assigned Broadway show, and overall entertainment. The Dancing with the Stars of Darlington County 2018 trophy will go to the team with the highest overall total score.
Andy Locklair will be the Master of Ceremonies again this year. He is a multi-talented comedian, singer, songwriter, and TV personality from the area. The Dancing with the Stars of Darlington County Planning Committee have been diligently working to provide a fun and entertaining evening while increasing awareness about domestic and sexual assault. Their hope is that their work will translate into more money to be available to help provide the services needed by victims in Darlington County who receive services from the Pee Dee Coalition against Domestic and Sexual Assault.
More information for Dancing with the Stars of Darlington County can be found on their Facebook page, Instagram, and their website: www.darlingtoncountydancingwiththestars.com.
