By AMY ADAMS
news@readthereporter.com
Monon Trail Elementary School physical education teacher Benji Lewis is passionate about making sure that his students leave fourth grade having found some kind of exercise they enjoy. For Lewis, that form of exercise is running. However, one to always push himself beyond what he has done in the past, Lewis has taken on participating in Dancing With Our Stars to raise money for Meals on Wheels Hamilton County.
In its 10th year as a Meals on Wheels Hamilton County fundraiser, Dancing With Our Stars pairs local professional dancers with leaders, business people, and public servants throughout the area to compete in a ballroom dancing competition. In addition to an Outstanding Male and Outstanding Female champion selected by a panel of judges, the public can get in on the fun and fundraising by voting and donating for their favorite performer. The participant to raise the most money wins the coveted People’s Choice Award.
Lewis said he often plays music in the gym to get his kids dancing while they wait in lines, which he calls “sneaking in exercise.” In addition, his sons, ages 9 and 12, dance at 317 Dance Academy in Fishers. Despite promoting dance all around him, Lewis said he has “zero” dance experience himself.
“I’m a runner, a marathon runner,” Lewis said. “I run in a straight line. Agility is not really my thing.”
However, Lewis’ friends Aaron Head, Noblesville Community Engagement Manager, and Lindsey McVey, owner of Just Logom and co-founder of the Indiana Peony Festival, have both participated in Dancing With Our Stars in past years, and Lewis attended the events.
“It’s like going to a wedding,” Lewis said. “Except instead of dancing, you watch others dance.”
Though Benji Lewis teaches PE, he says he is a runner and agility isn’t his forte. (Reporter photo by Amy Adams)
Thanks to his friends’ persuasiveness, Lewis won’t be watching this year. Instead, he’ll be dancing the Samba with professional partner Yulia Shook.
“I told them if they couldn’t find any other men, I would do it,” Lewis said. “I say that in jest. Obviously, I’m a willing participant. It’s an easy ‘yes.’ It’s fun, and it’s for a good cause.”
As far as he knows, Lewis is the first Westfield Washington Schools staff member to participate in Dancing With Our Stars.
For this year’s competition, nine dancing pairs have twelve weeks to work on learning their dances which will celebrate 10 years of Dancing With Our Stars with performances that represent decades from the 1930s to the 2010s. Lewis said he and Shook will be dancing to the song “Cuban Pete” while dressed as Ricky Ricardo and Lucille Ball.
“I know the routine,” Lewis said. “Now we’re working on making it look good.”
Though he was unable to coach cross country at Westfield Middle School due to his commitment to the Meals on Wheels fundraiser, he has been training for a unique ultramarathon that will take place just two days after Dancing With Our Stars. Assuming he makes it through the competition with no major injuries, he’s struggling a little with plantar fasciitis, he will run in the Prairie On Fire Backyard Ultra at White River Campground. Runners make their way around a four-mile loop every hour on the hour until there is only one person left running. Lewis said he has run around 50 miles at a time before, so he’s hoping that he can run beyond that point.
“I’m going in with the mindset that I will go for as long as I can,” Lewis said.
That seems to be Lewis’ philosophy for life as he also hopes to win the People’s Choice Award for Dancing With Our Stars. The more money he raises, the more money Meals on Wheels Hamilton County gains to help meet its goal of providing meals to anyone, regardless of age or income, who is unable to prepare meals for themselves.
Though Lewis said he doesn’t have the connections to find a corporate sponsor, he has raised some money through his side woodworking business called 4th Cup Creations. He entered everyone who donated $5 into a giveaway for a tray, and he plans to do another similar giveaway before the competition. Follow 4th Cup Creations on social media to find out more.
Dancing With Our Stars will take place from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5 at Embassy Suites, 13700 Conference Center Drive South, Noblesville.
For tickets or to place a bid toward Lewis’s chance at winning the People’s Choice Award, go to mealsonwheelshc.org/dancing-with-our-stars.