INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Ten courageous “star dancers” and their talented instructors danced their way into the record book at the sixth annual Dancing with Vero’s Stars event at Riverside Theatre to benefit the Indian River County Healthy Start Coalition.
Not only did contestants raise an unprecedented amount, but the evening also produced a three-way tie for 2014 Grand Champion – with the teams of Joan Busch and Joe Tessier, Tim Girard and Amy Trammell, and Dr. Michele Maholtz and Barry Trammell emerging victorious as they took turns holding one set of mirror ball trophies aloft.
In the ultimate Mother’s Day gift to the parents and babies who rely on the Healthy Start Coalition’s programs, this year’s fundraiser raised a whopping $308,131.
The competition was fierce, with teams practicing their fancy footwork for hours on end, while also engaging in fundraising efforts. Final scores were based 50 percent on judges’ dancing scores and 50 percent on fundraising.
Co-chairs and former star dancers Cheryl Gerstner and Laura Guttridge led an enthusiastic committee to plan evening filled with glitz and glam.
Stars alit from limousines, flashing smiles and a bit of leg along the Red Carpet runway, before stopping for interviews with 2011 Grand Champion Bobby Guttridge.
After a cocktail hour, where contestants’ nervous families and friends encouraged bidding on a host of silent auction items, the sold-out crowd filtered into the theatre for the big event.
Show Emcee Hamp Elliott, of 93.7 The Breeze, introduced the trio of judges tasked with the most difficult role of the night – Hollywood screenwriter and executive producer Scott Rosenberg who flew into town for the occasion, and returning judges Lance Sexton, owner of Melbourne Ballroom, and Donna Roberts Mitchell, co-owner of Idea Garden Advertising and Planet Vero Radio.
Scot Wilke, owner of Wilke’s Fourteen Bones Barbecue and his partner Kaylan Keathley drew the difficult first position, earning a score of 24 for a hot, saucy salsa to a Latin version of the Pink Panther.
Kitty Wagner, owner of Blue Star Wine Bar and her partner Bob Kane, danced a flowing Night Club 2 Step, earning a score of 22 and a comment from Mitchell that she was “a picture of grace.”
County Commissioner Wesley Davis almost bared all with an energetic Country Broadway mix with partner Terry Greene, earning a 24 for a dance that he clearly enjoyed as much as the audience.
The impressive lifts in the Contemporary dance performed by Tim Girard, owner of Girard Equipment and Amy Trammell impressed even Sexton, earning the evening’s first 10 and an overall score of 29, the highest of the night.
Tony Donadio, owner of Donadio & Associates Architects and his partner Karren Walter earned a 24 for their animated Swing/Cha-Cha, which the judges said showed great interaction throughout.
Dr. Alan Durkin, CEO of Ocean Drive Plastic Surgery and partner Beth Shestak made their entrance in scrubs before revealing dancing duds for a jaunty Jazz/Broadway routine that earned a 25.
Joan Busch, mother of six, LPN and philanthropist showed off her sexy side, earning a score of 28 for a rhythmic Cha-Cha with Joe Tessier that Rosenberg deemed precise and beautiful.
Ginger Atwood, president and co-owner with son, Ryan Gragg of The Alexis Agency and her partner Robert Scott earned a 23 for a tender yet sultry Salsa.
Dr. Michele Maholtz, pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine physician, earned a 27 with partner Barry Trammell for a Russian Interpretive Rumba.
Last but certainly not least, Samantha Brackett, owner of Ripple Effect Advertising danced a Theatrical Tango with Brad Stein, earning a 26 and a comment from Mitchell that she had a “ripple effect on the audience.”
In addition to the three Grand Champion winners, it was announced that Dr. Maholtz was the highest on-line contribution winner, with $16,000.
The torch for top fundraiser was passed from Dr. Glenn Tremml to Dr. Durkin, the new record holder with $67,000.
The second runner-up team was that of Brackett and Stein, and the first runner-ups were Durkin and Shestak.
The IRC Healthy Start Coalition offers a broad spectrum of programs and care to optimize healthy outcomes for all pregnant women, infants, young children and their families in the county.
Dancing with Vero’s Stars 2014 from Vero News on Vimeo.