Dancing Like the Stars
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The National Inclusion Project and A Step to Gold International Ballroom are happy to once again host “Dancing Like the Stars” at the Southern Women’s Show on April 25, 2010, at 1:00pm.
Local celebrities are busy practicing with their professional dance partner to provide great entertainment to the Show attendees.
Read about your favorite celebrities and then click on their link to see their practice video. Once you have studied the competition, click the link at the bottom to make a donation and vote for your favorite!
ANNOUNCING SPECIAL GUEST, ANOOP DESAI!
Pop artist Anoop Desai is best known for his time as a finalist on the eighth season of “American Idol.” This modern gentleman combines classic southern charm with a soulful, fresh appeal. His unique name means incomparable - a word he lives life by. Anoop broke boundaries and set new records in college, on “American Idol," and now in the music industry. The world awaits what this incomparable artist will do with his first independently released EP All is Fair due out this Spring.
Meet our Celebrities and Dancers:
Renee Chou and Dan Barber
Currently in 1st Place!
Renee is a weekend morning anchor/reporter for WRAL-TV. You can see her reporting the news Saturdays from 6 to 8 a.m. and Sundays from 7 to 9 a.m. She joined the WRAL news team in October 2004. Renee also covers education, Cary Town government, and the big stories of the day. Renee is also the reporter for "Project Education," a weekly series that highlights educational trends, innovations and issues in the Triangle. Prior to WRAL, she worked as an anchor/reporter for KCRG-TV in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for five years. The Michigan native and University of Missouri alum has dabbled in community musical theatre-- and while Renee enjoys singing and dancing, she says she does neither well enough to give up her day job.
Dan has been dancing for 9 years. He began dancing in Spartanburg, SC before moving to Raleigh and has been dancing with Melanie Dale at A Step to Gold ever since. He and his wife, Carole, began teaching part time in fall 2007 and have thoroughly enjoyed watching their students learn the love of dance. Dan and Carole began competing as an amateur couple in 2009 and have participated in competitions in New York, Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina. Recently, they won both the Silver and Gold level American Smooth events at the Triangle Open in Raleigh and at the MidAtlantic Championships in Bethesda, Md. When he is not dancing, Dan works as a Senior Chemist for Lord Corporation in Cary.
Click here for Renee and Dan's Practice Video.
Billy Dukes and Kat Truitt
Billy followed his wife Amanda to North Carolina in August, 2006, after growing up just south of Detroit. He graduated from Western Michigan University, and worked at radio stations in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek before landing the Music Director/Night DJ job at 94.7 WQDR. Billy is always looking for new ways to work off his infectious energy. He plays baseball for a local men's league, and is an avid bicycle rider. Amanda is a teacher at Wildwood Forest Elementary School and has her own line of jewelry. Together they enjoy camping, hiking, writing and watching their two dogs wrestle.
Kat started her Ballroom and Latin career at the Metronome in San Francisco. She is DVIDA certified Full Bronze Associate Level in American Smooth and Rhythm Styles. This is Kat's third year volunteering for Dancing Like the Stars. With her bubbly personality and a smile that lights the room, she is a big favorite.
Click here for Billy and Kat's Practice Video.
Scott Fitzgerald and Melanie Dale
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Scott grew up in Cincinnati OH. and has been in radio most of his adult life. He loves talking to people about issues and things that keep us up at night. Scott is well known for his quirky sense of humor. He loves to read and has written a novel and several screenplays. At station WPTF 680AM each morning
from 9 -11 he brings you info to keep you going each day.
Melanie has competed in the American Style & International Style of Ballroom Dancing for 27 years and has earned a Licentiate Degree with the North American Dance Teachers Association as well as an Associate Degree with the Imperial Society Teachers of Dancing. She is the owner of A Step to Gold International Ballroom and co-owner of the NC Ballroom Teachers College in Raleigh. Since partnering with National Inclusion Project she has decided to make inclusion part of her dance instructions. To that end, Melanie has recently started classes for wheelchair participants.
Click here for Scott and Melanie's Practice Video.
Bill Reh and Amanda Shannon
Bill has been forecasting the weather in central NC since 1983. He spent 13 year forecasting in Durham covering major weather events. He wrote and produced the exhibit: "Ask a Meterologist" for the NC Museum of Life and Science in Durham. In 1984, Bill earned the American Meterological Society TV Seal of Approval. He has taught continuing education classes on weather at Duke University and visited literally thousands of school children throughout the years explaining the how's and why's of weather. When not forecasting the weather for NBC-17, Bill enjoys coaching soccer, cooking and spending time with his family.
Amanda started dancing at age 4. She participated with the Moscow Ballet in The Nutcracker at Duke University. She has won numerous awards at national dance competitions. This is her first year with Dancing Like The Stars. Amanda says she enjoys her dancing very much and is happy to be dancing for a wonderful cause.
Click here for Bill and Amanda's Practice Video.
Tina Seldin-Cash and Mike Gepner
Currently in 2nd Place!
Tina is familiar to many from her work in television. She currently hosts the North Carolina Education Lottery Drawing on WRAL and appears in various commercials. Her television background includes reporting and anchoring for WRAL and working with Ted Turner’s WTBS in news and feature programming. Tina has been singing professionally for 15 years, appearing in variety shows in Smithfield and Selma, NC and performing for civic functions, private events, and schools. She also freelances as a script writer and talent for industrial videos.
Mike began ballroom lessons in 2007 and was such a quick study he began teaching after a few months. He has Intermediate to full Bronze level knowledge in many dances. An enthusiastic and award-winning dancer with a big smile, he shows the fun in his style. This is Mike's second year helping at Dancing Like the Stars.