NEONOW FILE PHOTO
Music and movement will abound when “Dancing with Hermiston Stars” returns for an epic encore production on Jan. 10, 2015.
Back for the third year running, six everyday faces will join forces with professional dancers to compete for your votes. “You don’t have to be a fan of the TV series to come out and have a good time,” says Jacelyn Keys, event chair for Desert Arts Council. “It’s an event that all ages can enjoy.”
Six familiar faces from the Hermiston community have volunteered to master choreography with hopes of raising money for their selected local charities. This year’s contestants are Erica Sandoval, John Wambeke, Dave Smith, Eric Reise, Kristi Smalley and Dawn Kennison-Kerrigan.
“This is THE event of the season,” claims Mary Corp, president of the Desert Arts Council. “No other show allows the audience to participate so thoroughly in the action.” Judges will vote, the audience will vote (a $1 donation to their charity equals one vote for the dancer), and the winners will be announced at the end of the evening.
The event is broken down into three parts. The first showcases the local talent, with back-to-back performances of Hermiston’s finest and most courageous community dancers. They will be taking the stage after only a week’s worth of rehearsals with the professional dancers. The second part of the show is an interactive intermission. Here, the local celebrities will continue to work the crowd in hopes of securing their votes.
In addition to seeing your Hermiston Stars dance, the professionals teaching the stars, The Utah Ballroom Dance Company, will perform excerpts from their award winning showcase “Hollywood”. Audience will be treated to breath-taking lifts, hundreds of beautiful costumes, enchanting theatrical story lines and a variety of ballroom dances that will captivate your heart.
The Utah Ballroom Dance Company is the United States National Formation Champions in both Latin American and Standard ballroom dancing. They have toured throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, and Latin America receiving numerous accolades for their performances. The company maintains a touring program that typically reaches more than 75 cities across the United States and internationally. With more than 100 performances each year, this professional-level ensemble delights, entertains, and uplifts thousands worldwide.
The doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the show starts promptly at 7 p.m. Advance general admission tickets are $30 and those under 18 are $15. Tickets at the door are $5 more each. Tickets are available online at Desert Arts Council website, as well as at the Hermiston Parks and Recreation Department, the Hermiston Chamber of Commerce. www.desertartscouncil.com,
This Desert Art Council performance is available due to the generous event sponsorship of Umatilla-Morrow Head Start.
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