Ten Fredericksburg-area community leaders will don dancing shoes on Saturday, August 17 to raise money for a performing arts scholarship at the University of Mary Washington. “Dancing with the Fredericksburg Stars” will begin at 7 p.m. in George Washington Hall’s Dodd Auditorium, followed by an outdoor reception.
“Dancing with the Fredericksburg Stars” is modeled after the popular ABC television series “Dancing with the Stars,” now in its 16th season. In the Fredericksburg version, the 10 regional “stars” will be paired with professional dancers from Strictly Ballroom Dance Studio in Fredericksburg to compete for the People’s Choice Award. The performance also will include two hosts and a panel of judges who will offer commentary following each dance.
Proceeds from the performance will be used to endow the UMW Performing Arts in the Community Scholarship for regional students who excel in music, theatre or dance.
Performers will include J. Martin Bass, retired lawyer and judge; Caressa Cameron-Jackson, Miss America 2010; Mary Katherine Greenlaw, mayor of the City of Fredericksburg; Richard V. Hurley, president of UMW; Ellen Killough, president and CEO of the Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center; Richmond McDaniel, senior vice president of CBRE; Fred M. Rankin III, president and CEO of Mary Washington Healthcare; Susan Garnett Spears, president of the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce; Deirdre Powell White, president and CEO of DPW Training & Associates, LLC; and Bill Young, CEO of Virginia Partners Bank.
“I firmly believe that the exposure to the arts is a hallmark of a liberal arts education,” Rankin said. “We are blessed in this community to have a myriad of choices to enjoy, from the downtown galleries to the performing arts available at the University of Mary Washington.”
Kevin Bartram, director of the UMW Philharmonic Orchestra, and Penny Wack, a disc jockey at country music radio station Thunder 104.5, will host the evening. Judges Dori Eglevsky, community volunteer, Patrick A’Hearn, associate artistic director of the Riverside Center and Corey Von Ginkel, member of the National Dance Council of America, will judge the performers and determine the “Best in Show.” Audience members will be provided ballots to cast their votes for the People’s Choice Award winner.
Tickets are on sale at http://fredericksburgstars.umw.edu for $75, plus a $5 processing fee, of which $65 is tax deductible. Seats are selected and reserved at the time of purchase. For more information, contact (540) 654-1065.
