Audience will help select the winner
Tickets are still available to watch six local armature dancers take the stage with their professional partners this weekend to help raise money for the Raven Performing Arts Theater.
‘Dancing with the Stars’ is in its third year offering audiences two nights of dance performances including Tango, Bachata, Cabaret, Salsa, Swing and more. Guest performances by local dance troops will also be performed in between sets.
Unlike the popular reality show that culminates over several weeks, Healdsburg’s version of Dancing with the Stars will name a winner in just one short weekend. Audience members, along with three appointed judges, will choose the best dances based on how well the amateur has learned to dance with the professional.
“There is a whole list of criteria including the three T’s: timing, technique and teamwork. They look at lead or follow, technique of the dance steps and the rules,” said Joe Gellura, creator of the competition and artistic director at the Raven Performing Arts Theater.
The show has been in the works since the summer months when ‘local stars’ are chosen to compete. This year, nine teams will compete for the win after practicing their routines with their professional partners.
“It’s a big commitment of time, I have been taking lessons since June. I am at the dance center three to four times a week, it’s a lot of work for four minutes but it has been the most wonderful experience for me,” said Lucy Lewand, competitor and owner of the Camellia Inn.
Lewand had no past experience as a dancer but agreed to be a part of the show to help raise money for the theater. She said the music and costumes she choose will remain a secret until the night of the show although she revealed her instruction has been in American Rumba and the Cha Cha.
“I said to my teacher, ‘I have looked up these dances online and they are very sexy and romantic and you are a lot younger than me, and I will do anything but I don’t want it to be creepy,’” Lewand laughed, noting that she feels lucky to have been partnered with the new Arthur Murray Dance Center where she has made many new friends and plans to continue dancing after the competition.
“I think Will Seppi and Neil Cronin from the last year’s are a total inspiration to me and I hope I can still win even though I am a woman,” Lewand joked again, although she said she thinks the men have an advantage because the audience finds it “amazing” that they are out there dancing.
The competition is one of three major fundraisers that the Raven puts together each year to support the theater. Residents that can’t attend the show can still donate to the event by voting for their favorite team online, but organizers said it is one of those events that really shouldn’t be missed.
“In addition to being a fundraiser, this is a legitimate dance contest. We have three professional judges unlike other competitions that are strictly audience vote, which is a popularity contest, our judges teach dance and judge other dance competitions professionally,” Gellura said.
Tickets are still available for the Friday show of ‘Dancing with the Stars.’ Saturday’s show is sold out. Winners will receive a trophy to take home and their name will be engraved on the large trophy with past winners displayed at the Raven.
To purchase tickets or to vote, visit www.raventheather.org.
