Anchored in love: Dancing with the Danville Stars returns for the sixth year

Published 9:26 am Monday, November 6, 2017

The stars of the Danville Schools align Saturday night over Gravely Hall at the Danville High School, for the sixth Dancing with the Danville Stars.

“This will be the last year we have five schools participating,” said Gail Lewis, secretary for the Danville Schools Education Foundation and former district educator, which hosts the event, noting the district restructuring plan.

The event started in 2012, with couples dancing on behalf of each school in the district and two community groups. Since then, it has evolved, growing to include groups of students and teachers and even all student groups.

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“People started getting more innovative,” Lewis said.

This year, all the dancing will be quite different, said Kathy Belcher, former educator and a member of the foundation. The theme this year is “We are Anchored in Love — We are Danville.”

“Change is going on, but there’s one basic factor: we’re Danville. We support one another and we’re going to have some changes happening,” Belcher said. “Dancing with the Danville Stars has been a great foundation to pull us together as a district … We’ve been able to look at each school, let each school shine and have their talent, support one another, laugh with one another.

She called the event something that the community “needed” when it started, to bring everyone together.

“It’s still that foundation to bring everyone together and have fun,” Belcher said.

The seven teams include:

• Current and former teachers and students of Jennie Rogers Elementary will dance for the school, as team Evolution of the Cougar, highlighting dancing styles and songs over the decades, including the school’s song. Money raised will go toward the Jennie Rogers Commemoration.

• A group from Hogsett Elementary will be dancing as team Happily Ever Hogsett, featuring songs from favorite Disney movies. The school plans to use the money to support their need for reading and math manipulative and a reading program.

• A group of students from Toliver Elementary will be dancing hip hop as team The Unto Others to “Our House,” by Flo Rider. The money raised by the youngsters will support the Leader in Me program at the school.

• Principal Sheri Satterly, Coach Kelvin “Dukey” Turner and student Demani Bell will be free styling for John W. Bate Middle School, as team You Can’t Stop the Beat. Money raised will go to student and teacher rewards.

• A group of Danville High School seniors, called The Wolfpack, will be dancing hip hop music. The money raised will go to student rewards.

• The Synergy Allstarz Youth Team from the Danville Dance Company will be one of the community teams. Money raised will provide dance opportunities for Danville students.

• The RUN DDMS — Danville Dancing Mommas — will be the second community group, consisting of four Danville school moms. Money raised will to go graduating senior scholarships.

Tickets and votes can be purchased and cast at the schools, online at danvilleschoolsfoundation.org or at the event. The group that raises the most money will win $1,000, while the second place group will win $500. A Fan Favorite vote is taken up at the event; that winning group earns $250.

Money raised for the event will go to benefit the Danville Schools Education Foundation. Lewis said they had raised around $20,000 almost every year, which benefits students in the district.

“The foundation goals are arts and humanities enrichment, technology, and general enrichment opportunities for students,” Lewis said.

Last year, she said, they gave $7,000 in teacher mini grants, a $500 scholarship to a graduating senior; in the past, the foundation has covered the cost of transportation, technology projects, art projects, and more.

SO YOU KNOW

The Dancing with the Danville Stars is 6-8:30 p.m. Saturday at Gravely Hall in the Danville High School. Hors d’oeuvres and desserts will be served at 6 p.m. during a meet and greet.

Votes are $1. Tickets can be purchased and votes cast at the schools or online at facebook.com/danvilleschoolseducationfoundation or at www.danvilleschoolsfoundation.org. Tickets will also be sold at the door.

For any businesses looking to support or individuals interested in joining the Danville Schools Education Foundation, email sampollom@gmail.com.