Nine stars, 80 students participate in 2015

First Look: Dancing With the Local Stars

Chris Wolf
Fri, 12/19/2014 - 9:45am
Dance instructors and local stars shared their first meeting at High Mountain Hall in Camden, Monday, Dec. 15. Left to right: Jessica Libby (Swing & Sway), Christian Clayton (Swing & Sway), Betsy Kingsley, Heather Hearst, Polly Saltonstall, Tom Headstrom, Kea Tesseyman (Kinetic Energy Alive Productions), Owen Casas and Steven Dones-Rogers (Swing & Sway). Stars not pictured are Matt Bixby, Hodding Carter, Erin Ovalle and Lucinda Ziesing. (Photos by Chris Wolf)
Stars, instructors and veterans take time to get to know each other.
Wayfinder students, from left to right, Dylan Fowler, Rakeem Sullivan, Rose Piscuskas, Jack Dehlinger, Cliff Barnes, Myranda Robishaw and Papi Musese.
Robin and Charlie Jordan, DWLS veterans and committee members.
Dance instructors listen and talk to participants to get them ready for their whirlwind dance experience. Left to right, Steven Dones-Rogers, Jessica Libby, Christian Clayton and Kea Tessyman.

    CAMDEN — You have to wait until April 2015 to see them on stage, but we will give you a first look at the individuals who will make Dancing with the Local Stars annual fundraiser as big a success as it has been in the past years.  

    Andrea Vassallo, of Wayfinder School and the Community Farm, said she is excited about the event.

    “We have nine fabulous stars and 80 students participating in 2015,” said Vassallo. “Students come from out Passages Program and our two residential programs, the Community Farm and Wayfinder School. And it’s all for a great cause.”

    The nine local stars for 2015 are Matt Bixby, Heather Hearst, Tom Headstrom, Erin Ovalle, Polly Saltonstall, Lucinda Ziesing, Hodding Carter, Betsy Kingsley and Owen Casas.

    Erin Ovalle is a news anchor on WMTW News 8, in Portland.

    Vassallo said that the April 10 show has sold out for the last three years and urged people to get their tickets early if they want a seat this coming April.

    “Dancing with the Local Stars is our biggest fundraiser all year,” said Vassallo.

    Jessica Libby, Christian Clayton and Steven Dones-Rogers, of Swing & Sway Dance Studio, as well as Kea Tessyman, of Kinetic Energy Productions, were on hand Dec. 15 to talk about what is involved with getting ready for the big night.

    “There are costumes to decide on, sets, and of course what you want to dance to,” said Clayton. “It’s a lot of work and the end result depends on what you want to put into it.”

    DWLS veterans Amanda Strong, as well as Charlie and Robin Jordan, were on hand to offer advice and tell war stories from past shows, and generally make the stars feel comfortable and welcome.

    This will be Jordan’s fifth year with DWLS. He danced twice and has served on the committee for three years.

    “We have fabulous stars this year,” said Jordan. “We started looking early and we were pleasantly surprised with the response this year. I’m sure we’re going to sell out early this year and I am looking forward to a fabulous show.”

    Clayton told the stars that their first dance lesson will be to figure out what they are attracted to.

    “We want to get you to the right place,” said Clayton. “You’re going to be way outside your box here. For some people it’s easy; for others it takes a little bit of time. We want you to have a good time, but we also want you to have a great experience with the school.”

    Anticipation was high. Dancing With the Local Stars 2015 is off to a good start.

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