Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre fundraiser brings local celebrities to dance floor
For the second year, Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre has gathered local luminaries to strut their stuff for its Dancing with Celebrities fundraiser, which will be held at the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel on Saturday.
During “Dancing with Celebrities,” notable community members are paired with local choreographers. The duos then rehearse a dance in a style and to a song chosen by the celebrity.
This year’s Dancing with Celebrities features: Amy Bartoo, patient care representative at North Idaho Home Health; Ben Tran, creative director of Tran Creative; Heidi Rogers, CEO of Northwest Council for Computer Education; Jeff Crandall, attorney with Crandall Law Group; Kiki Miller, owner of Kagey Company, Inc.; LaDonna Beaumont, investment adviser with Horizon Credit Union; Michelle Johnson, assistant principal of Lakes Magnet Middle School; Mike Kennedy, president of Intermax Networks and former city council member; Steve Roberge, mayor of Dalton Gardens, Idaho; and Tom Torgerson, Century 21 real estate agent.
“It’s a matter of looking around at different community leaders and seeing who seemed like they would be supportive of us and would enjoy doing something fun like this,” Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre Executive Director Tracey Vaughn said.
This year, the competition will be judged by Angela Pierson, Jim Meyers and Wayne Cofield.
Pierson, a local choreographer, will focus on the skill, while Meyers and Cofield will judge more on showmanship.
The audience will be able to vote for their favorite dancer using their dollars. Proceeds raised during Dancing with Celebrities will go toward production costs of the Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre’s 2017 season.
“They’re all very, very nervous, and that is such a testament to how great these individuals are,” Vaughn said. “Everybody’s nervous amongst the celebrities but part of the fun is that they’re out of their element so their friends and family members and community members can come see what they’ve accomplished despite the fact that they’re not typically professional dancers.”