Local celebs get ready to shake at Dancing with the Idaho Falls Stars
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IDAHO FALLS – Relay for Life of Idaho Falls and Extreme Ballroom are gearing up for the seventh annual Dancing with the Idaho Falls Stars.
Local celebrities and business owners are matched up with professional dancers to perform and raise money for the American Cancer Society through Relay for Life. Each star works to raise funds in order to be crowned winner of Dancing with the Idaho Falls Stars.
Jennifer Moulton, event director for Relay for Life, said locals look forward to the night of sensational entertainment.
“A lot of times people forget that it is a fundraising benefit for Relay for Life because they’re just very excited to be entertained for the night,” Moulton said.
She said this event, like others hosted by Relay for Life, is to celebrate and support those who have been diagnosed with cancer.
“We want to celebrate them and make sure that they know we’re here to rally around them to be inspired by their fight,” Moulton said.
The fundraising goal for this year is $20,000. Last year dancers and stars raised $23,000. Moulton says the amount raised each year keeps getting higher.
Extreme Ballroom has been involved with in the event since the beginning. Extreme donates its studios, dancers, music, choreography and costumes. The dance company also arranges original numbers for the night of the fundraiser.
Dancers training the Idaho Falls Stars are ages 15 to 18. Kolby Hillman a dancer of Extreme Ballroom says it’s his first year arranging a piece for this event. He’s hoping he and his partner Miss Idaho Falls, Christina Christensen, will leave the audience with an unforgettable performance.
“I want to pull the audience in with us. I hope we can leave the audience feeling something, feeling like they’ve been a part of the story,” Hillman said.
Christensen says she’s happy to be giving back in the effort to find a cure for cancer.
“I’m a little skeptical of tripping over (my partner) and forgetting the dance in front of my peers, but it’s a new experience, and it’s fun, so I’m excited,” Christensen said.
The event is Thursday, Feb. 4, at the Civic Auditorium from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and costs $1. The fundraiser is also being hosted by local radio personality Liza Raley of Classy 97.
People attending the event can bring spare change to vote for their favorite performers. Winning the competition is based on how much money a star can raise. Donations can also be given online.
This kickoff is just one of the events to prepare for Relay for Life’s larger ceremony in July where cancer survivors and their caregivers are honored. Individuals, teams and survivors can register for free for the July reception at Dancing with the Idaho Falls Stars.
Find out more about Relay for Life’s community events or Extreme Ballroom’s performances.