Nicki Maslin, vice president at Seacoast Bank, emerged victorious as this year’s Mirror Ball Trophy winner, dazzling with a cha-cha with her professional dance partner George Go at the eighth annual Dancing with Vero’s Stars fundraiser to benefit the Indian River County Healthy Start Coalition. Maslin and the other nine sets of dancers performed in front of a packed house at Riverside Theatre Saturday evening at one of the most glamorous events of the year, raising $297,810 to help babies and pregnant mothers.
Cindy O’Dare was awarded First Runner Up with her partner Joe Wynes, and also won awards for Highest Online Donations and Top Fundraiser, bringing in a total of $76,558. The award for Highest Dance Score was presented to Steve Rennick and partner Karren Walters.
Dance teams were chauffeured in luxury vehicles to an enthusiastic red-carpet arrival as loyal supporters screamed and waved banners before exchanging banter as interviewees with emcee Geoff Moore from 93.7 WGYL. Everyone then moved inside to enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres by Catering by Adrienne Drew while perusing the 175 silent-auction offerings provided by the dancers.
Celebrity votes were calculated by combining dance scores, online contributions, ticket sales in their name, donations and funds raised through silent auction items. Auction coordinators Katy Faires and Natasha Potter said the dancers had collected more than 300 individual items which they bundled into packages with a value of at least $200.
As each dancer took the stage a short, humorous video played prior to their performances, which were judged by Dee Rose-Imbro, Chris Foster and Judy Cornell.
Dr. Denise Pieczynski drew the difficult opening number with partner Craig Galvin. Her smile lit up the stage as she danced a fast-paced salsa that earned a score of 25 and garnered praise for her personality and outfit, called “fabulous!” by Foster.
Paul Tripaldi and Marianella Tobar danced a slow, sexy salsa and cha-cha combo, scoring a 25. Belly dancer Cornell praised Tripaldi’s “wiggle” and emcee Hamp Elliott thanked Tripaldi for stepping in when another celebrity had to withdraw.
Shelley Adelle and Laconte Turner charmed the audience with the first lift of the night in a fun West Coast Swing and Hip Hop Mash, earning another 25. When Foster critiqued that she didn’t get low enough in the dance, Adelle garnered laughter from the audience by responding with a little twerking.
O’Dare and Wynes revived the twist scene from “Pulp Fiction” in their video and performance, which Rose-Imbro said was clever. Her enthusiastic supporters cheered her performance and booed the judges’ straight sevens for a total score of 21.
Maslin and Go cha-cha’d to “Shut Up and Dance,” which had the audience clapping along, especially to Maslin’s shimmying solo. Foster said “Wow! Finally, a dance filled with technique and footwork!” She received the first 10 of the evening and a score of 28.
Bob Brunjes and Beth Shestak used a park bench and newspapers as props for their humorous jazz number. The judges loved the concept and the dancers’ obvious enjoyment and scored it at 24.
Dr. Marc McCain and Anya Christina really wowed with several perfect lifts and freefall drops in a sensuous, smooth rumba, receiving several spontaneous bursts of applause and high praise from judges, who gave it a score of 29.
Dana Baker and Robert Scott’s cha-cha was enhanced by Baker’s bubbly personality. When Baker’s partner had to drop out, Scott stepped in to put the routine together in less than a week.
Judges praised her finale dip and “shiver and shake” and scored it 24 points.
Rennick and Walters received the only perfect 30 of the evening, dancing a cha-cha to “Ex’s & Oh’s.” Judges were unanimous in praising Rennick’s wonderful footwork and execution of the dance, with Foster saying, “This is what I love to see; full of technique and the frame was on point.”
Jay Ganzi and Shari Tessier ended the competition with a smooth foxtrot, with Cornell calling him the most dapper man on the stage and the other two judges agreeing. Ganzi said it was the best thing he had done for himself in a long time. His final total was another 21.
“We practiced for seven months, one to two hours every week,” said a jubilant Maslin. “I got my jitters out at dress rehearsal and tonight we were here to help a good cause. Healthy Start contributes to every child here in Vero Beach. It is such a great program.”
“My gratefulness is so hard to express,” said HSC Executive Director Kathie Cain of the efforts of dancers and volunteers to support local mothers and babies. “These people are the heart and soul of a vibrant community and are making a difference.”
Elliott ended the evening by thanking the committee and co-chairs Adam Chrzan and Karen Franke, joking that Franke, last year’s winner, was so attached to her mirror ball that she had bought it its own seat in the back row of the theater.
