Yesterday, I had the opportunity to see the rest of the competitors who will be dancing in the Seattle Dances dance competition on Saturday evening. I was impressed with what each of the non-professional dancers has accomplished in getting ready for this big first-year fundraiser to benefit Plymouth Housing Group.
Beautiful blonde Michelle Foreman Barnet, who is opening her new hotel, the The Maxwell Hotel within a week after the completion is dancing the tango with partner Greg Rolnick. Steve Goldfarb, who has been working out twice a day since he agreed to participate and is looking extremely buff in his see-through black shirt, is dancing the salsa with partner Alison Cockrill. Food and cocktail diva, Kathy Casey is dancing a fun and high-energy Charleston in a bright pink and black dress with her partner, Josh Welter. KING-5 TV news anchor, Joyce Taylor has been practicing for a year working on the Lindy Hop and will dance with partner, Mark Kihara. Their dance includes some fun choreography that ends with them in a heap on the floor. Plymouth Housing Group Executive Director, Paul Lambros looks completely at ease dancing the West Coast Swing with his partner Deron Hayes. Paul is such a good dancer that I wonder if this whole dance competition with him competing was his idea!? (Actually, I know the truth is that it was Board President, Lynn Beck’s idea.) Showing a little skin and going after the “sexiest costume vote” is Colette Courtion who is dancing a sizzling Beyonce’s Single Ladies Video dance with dance partners, Ricki Mason and Tanya Harris. See photo of Colette, dance partners and celebrity judge Marco above. My dance partner, Marcelo Garces, and I are dancing the Bachata, a Dominican salsa-style dance with lots of hip movement. I am currently wearing a knee brace as a result of all our rehearsals and the leg and knee action needed to make the hip movements. Our big trick is the “neck drop” that includes my head sliding down his leg to his ankle and then him throwing me back upright by kicking his leg. I have to close my eyes each time because it is so scary!
It has taken a cadre of staff, volunteers and professionals to produce this event. Hallie Kuperman, pictured above with her video camera, owner of Century Ballroom, is one of the primary sponsors of the event supplying dance rehearsal space for the dancers and providing the dance partners and 10 lessons for each selected dancer. Tamara Wilson (pictured with me above) of Wilson Public Relations has provided all the promotion support for the big event and has already said that she will dance next year in the competition. Marco, who owns the successful and popular hair salon Marco's Hair Salon, is not only serving as a celebrity judge along with Peter Boal, Artistic Director of Pacific Northwest Ballet and Nicole Vogel, publisher of Seattle Metropolitan magazine, he is also providing the hair and make-up support for the dancers. All of the costume design has been provided by Giuseppe Graziola shown in the bottom photo with my royal blue and turquoise costume on which he has worked long and hard. In his final version of my costume, he actually draped the fabric directly on my body so he could fit it perfectly. The Guest Emcee is Patti Payne and the 20 item live auction will be handled by Sharon Friel.
Leading up to the actual event, people have been able to go online and “vote” for their favorite dancer with all funds going to Plymouth Housing Group. Plymouth Housing Group Board President Lynn Beck and Barb Nystrom, serving as event co-chairs have been happily surprised with the response to this pre-event fundraising opportunity with the total raised to date in online voting at $23,000.
Tomorrow is the big day! I will be busy with hair, make-up and rehearsals until the big event begins at 5:30 pm.
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