Plans have begun for this year’s Dancing with the Vernon Stars, and that means organizers Dean Cebuliak of Digital Dean Photography and Lorna Robb of Cheek to Cheek Dance Studio are looking for celebrities to dance in the fifth annual fundraiser.
Previous dancers have included Wayne and Carol Lippert, Brenda Thorlakson, Sareena Nickoli, Earl Shipmaker, David and Carol MacBain, Melina Moore and Gord and Christine Molendyk.
“Last year, Klaus Tribes of KT’s Heritage Restaurant walked away with two trophies for most votes and highest score for his enchanting Viennese Waltz,” said Robb.
Each dancer is paired with an instructor who choreographs and teaches them one dance to be performed at the event on Sept. 28 at the Vernon Recreation Centre auditorium.
Dancing celebrities are asked to promote the event through ticket sales and voting online and in person. Last year’s sold out event raised $18,322 for the North Okanagan Hospice Society.
The current nomination list is comprised of many personalities well-known in the North Okanagan: Ruth Hoyte, AE Berry Insurance and Downtown Vernon Association; George Duffy, Vernon Chamber of Commerce; Deb Leroux, Harris Flowers; Galina Labun, Vantage One; Tom Christiansen, Nixon Wenger; Robert Sawatzky, Mayor of Vernon; Ken MacLeod, MacLeod Consulting; Jim Garlick, Mayor of Coldstream; Brian Quiring (MQN Architects, City of Vernon councillor; Richard Finn, Wayside Printing; Ed Nowek, Planet Bee; Rob Abramenko, Kiss FM; and musician extraordaire Henry Piovesan.
Participants can learn and perform by themselves or with their spouses.
“These are the people that the community is interested in watching dance. Not all of them have been contacted and we are still looking,” said Robb.
If you would like to encourage these people to participate or have other suggestions for dancers, please send nominations to lorna@dancecheektocheek.com and mark Sept. 28 on your calendar for a night of entertainment and community support.
