By AMY ADAMS
news@readthereporter.com
Local community members will once again be dancing their way into hearts while raising money for Meals on Wheels of Hamilton County. Dancing With Our Stars returns for its ninth year from 6 to 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 7 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in Noblesville.
The business-casual event will feature local professional dancers paired with some of Hamilton County’s most-recognizable “stars” competing in ballroom dances to be named “Dancing With Our Stars Champions 2023.”
Last year’s event raised more than $35,000 toward helping bring meals to elderly, disabled, chronically ill, and home-bound individuals throughout Hamilton County. This year, Meals on Wheels is hoping to raise close to $50,000.
Community members can play a part in raising funds as well as voting for dancers. Not only will audience members be able to vote for their favorite performance, but online voting is already open, and anyone can vote up until around 9 p.m. Thursday evening. Each dollar donated counts as a vote toward bringing dancers closer to winning the coveted People’s Choice Award and ensuring that the real winners are the community recipients of Meals on Wheels of Hamilton County.
“Every year just keeps getting better and better,” said Beth Gehlhausen, executive director of Meals on Wheels of Hamilton County. “The variety of music and dance is, again, beyond expectation, and the professional dancers are working hard to bring out the very best in each of our celebrity dancers.”
Competitor Dr. Mimi Huang, an ophthalmologist at 20/20 Eye Physicians, is the sister of last year’s champion, Dr. Philip Huang. Will Mimi and her professional partner Adam Trogdlen follow in her brother’s dance steps as this year’s champion?
Or could the new champion be professional dancer Xavier Medina’s partner Deb Kurtock, senior clinical research advisor at Pearl Pathways, who has been taking lessons at Five Star Dance Studio for the last couple of years?
And how will Jody Adams fare with his professional partner Natasha Cox? The Indy regional platform manager for Napleton Auto Group claims that the extent of his dancing career is doing the Macarena once at the age of 18.
In the words of Debby Pileri, competitive amateur tennis player and USTA umpire who is dancing with professional Scott Shook, all the competitors are “jumping in with both feet.”
Other pairs include:
- Andrew Bradford, vice president and chief advancement officer at Conner Prairie Museum, dancing with Olga Cansino
- Steven DeLee, physician at Riverview Health, dancing with Yulia Shook
- Sherese Martin, HR manager at Rolls-Royce, part-time HR director at Conduct Curb Autism Behavior Center, and associate faculty member at IUPUI, dancing with Ed Godby-Schwab
- Lindsey McVey, owner of Just Lagom in Downtown Noblesville, dancing with Rob Jenkins
- Kyle Moser, co-owner of Dance Innovations Performing Arts Center in Westfield, dancing with Diana Miller
- Alec Wolf, executive area director of Wolfpack Restaurant Group, dancing with Kristen Mott
“The level of commitment along with the ‘wow factor’ demonstrated by our dancing couples is always ‘off the charts’ and will completely mesmerize the crowd,” Gehlhausen said. “This is an experience you will not want to miss!”
To purchase tickets, donate, or register to vote visit mealsonwheelshc.org/dancing-with-our-stars. For more information, call Meals on Wheels at (317) 776-7159.
About Meals on Wheels of Hamilton County
Established in 1975, Meals on Wheels of Hamilton County supports individuals who are elderly, disabled and homebound by delivering nutritious meals, reducing hunger, improving health, and promoting independence. Meals are prepared in state-approved healthcare facilities and designed by a certified registered dietitian under a physician’s prescribed supervision according to the client’s specific dietary needs. Nearly 200 meals are delivered daily by volunteers to enable clients to remain independently living within the community in their own homes for as long as possible.