Party of the Century

Hallie Kuperman and Cathi Hatch

Tonight I went to DeLille Cellars to attend an event billed as the "Party of the Century" because it was a fundraiser to benefit Century Ballroom.  Century Ballroom owner Hallie Kuperman, was confronted with a huge tax bill of a quarter of a million dollars for a little known "tax on the opportunity to dance" which she was unaware of as were most establishments that also have a place to dance included.

Hallie is working to change the law since we are the only state where such a tax exists.  However, in the interim, she must pay the delinquent taxes.  She was ultimately able to get the State of

Hallie dances with Century Ballroom co-owner, Alison. 

Connie Blumenthal and Sheila Otter

Washington to settle for $92,000 and has raised $80,000 towards that bill to date.  Tonight's event was what she hoped would bring in the final $12,000 needed to fund the tax bill.

Hallie and several of her professional dancers did some exhibition dancing and it is always so much fun to see how accomplished they are!  Problems with the sound system at DeLille Cellars fazed Hallie not at all and she led everyone is clapping to the beat so the dancers could finish their dance.

I have a soft spot in my heart for Hallie and Century Ballroom because of my past experience in dancing in the Seattle Dances fundraiser to benefit Plymouth Housing Group a few years ago.  Hallie has been a sponsor of that event from the beginning which could not have happened without her involvement in using her teachers and dance associates to partner the local "celebrity dancers" and using her studios and ballroom as a place to learn and practice our dances.  Plus Hallie has served as the producer and co-emcee of each event too.

Ian MacNeil and Fredda Goldfarb

There were lots of friends and past Seattle Dances dancers on hand to support the cause.  Past "celebrity" dancers, Stacy Lill and Patti Savoy co-chaired the event and some of the other past dancers on hand included Ian MacNeil, Connie Blumenthal, Dean Jones and me.  Professional partners were also on hand and I was so pleased to see "my" partner, Marcelo Garces, who was there with his wife, Rachel.  We realized that each of the years that Marcelo has danced in the competition that his partners have won the "Peoples' Choice Award" for bringing in the most money.  Besides me, the Peoples' Choice winners have included Stacy Lill, Nancy Pellegrino and .

Rachel & Marcelo Garces

Connie Blumenthal

Other supporters attending the party included party co-host, Greg Lill, Fredda Goldfarb, Erik Anderson, Brad Vancour, Stacy Jones, Sheila Otter, Lorna Kneeland, Effie True Gleason and dozens of others.

Can't wait to hear the outcome of this evening's fundraising total which I will share with you soon!