Dancing With the W2 Stars

Walla Walla alumni celebrities will take to the stage at Gesa Power House Theatre on Saturday, October 8th at 7:00 p.m. for the Annual “Dancing with the W2 Stars” fundraising event for Valley Residential Services.

Dancing With The W2 Stars is back, and they are bringing back contestants from the previous years. Some are champions, and some are not. But they are all considered champions because they raise money for Valley Residential Services. This year’s event is presented by Lloyds Insurance and supported by other local businesses, nonprofits, and individuals.

Local participants will be paired with professional dancers and have a week of rehearsals to learn a ballroom dance routine before the live performance and a judging panel – Mark your calendar!

This year’s local alumni “celebrities” are:

Dancers:

• Matt Mahan, Herring Funeral Home
• Greer Buchanan, Blue Mountain Community Foundation
• Peter Erb, City of Walla Walla
• Claire Evans, Whitman College
• Ruben Hernandez, Walla Walla
• Department of Community Health
• Jodi Worden, Academy Mortgage

Judges:

• Damien Sinnott, Washington State University
• Jan Corn, Retired and former contestant
• Roger Esparza, Williams Team Homes

Master of Ceremonies:

• Lawson Knight, Edward Jones

In addition to seeing the Walla Walla Stars dance, the professionals teaching the stars will perform excerpts from their award-winning showcase “Ballroom Fever.” Audiences can expect to see breath-taking lifts, hundreds of costumes, theatrical storylines, and a variety of ballroom dance styles, from the sexy Cuban Salsa to the energetic American Swing to the elegant Viennese Waltz.

The professional dance ensemble is a member of the United States National Formation Championship company in Latin American and Standard ballroom dancing. Their company tours internationally, with more than 100 performances each year.

For more information, contact Betsy Hadden, Fresh Marketing & Events, 509-629-1503 betsy@freshmarketingevents.com.

Valley Residential Services provides personalized support in safe, comfortable home environments for developmentally disabled individuals, residences for veterans with rehabilitation opportunities, and family assistance services.

Reserved seating tickets ($45) are available online or by calling the Gesa Power House Theatre box office at 509-529-6500.