American Red Cross Announces Dates for next Dancing with Our Stars Campaign

Posted in Dancing with Our Stars by

DWOS 2017 Title Treatment-page-001The next campaign of the American Red Cross Dancing with Our Stars fundraiser is set. It will begin with a kickoff party Tuesday, October 4 and culminate with the dancing show on Saturday, February 25, 2017 at the KI Convention Center in Downtown Green Bay.

For the first time in its nine-year history, DWOS is recruiting teams to compete in the event in addition to its traditional individual participants. The teams will consist of two participants who will work together to raise funds. Divisions will then be created for teams and individuals with those raising the most money in each category taking home the coveted Fundraising Mirror Ball Trophy. Regarding dancing, each participant will learn and perform one dance.

We are actively seeking suggestions for possible participants. Please email them to Shawn Kiser at skrallyman@gmail.com.

Karen Classon takes home the fundraising mirror ball trophy raising over $87,000. Photo by: Mark Witte

Karen Classon takes home the fundraising mirror ball trophy raising over $87,000. Photo by: Mark Witte

All funds raised support disaster prevention, preparation and relief, the life-saving training of first aid, CPR/AED classes, collection and testing of blood and blood products, support to military members serving around the globe and international programs.

DWOS 2016 raised more than $200,000 for the local Red Cross.  Karen Classon, Owner of SKB Management, took home the Fundraising Mirror Ball Trophy after raising $87,000.

Information about tickets will be available at a later date. More event information can be found on the following Red Cross platforms:

Dancing with Our Stars blog: http://redcrossdwosblog.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanredcrossnortheastwisconsinchapter/

Twitter: @redcrosswis (#DWOS17 to join the conversation)

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

Dancing with Our Stars 2016 Fundraiser Raises Awareness for Local Services and $200,000+!

Posted in Anna Allen, Dan Terrio, Dance Sport of Green Bay, Dancing with Our Stars, Jen Berres-Dart, Karen Classon, Kati Donaho, Lori Dufek, Marty Williams, Maureen Gagnon, TC Dance, Zeb Metzler by

 

Karen Classon takes home the fundraising mirror ball trophy raising over $87,000. Photo by: Mark Witte

Karen Classon takes home the fundraising mirror ball trophy raising over $87,000. Photo by: Mark Witte/American Red Cross. 

The 8th Annual Dancing with Our Stars for the American Red Cross held on Saturday, February 20 at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay featured fantastic fundraising as well as spectacular dancing. Together, with the amazing efforts of our star and professional dancers, sponsors, and with the support of the community, we raised more than $200,000 in net revenue to support Red Cross programs and services in our community.

“Here at the Red Cross, we are truly humbled by the outpouring of community support received through the “Dancing with Our Stars” event,” said Steve Hansen, Chapter Executive. “Saturday night, the entire event concluded with the entertainment and demonstration of dancing skills by our stars, but the real event started more than four months ago, when our dancers made the commitment to raise funds to support the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross.”

Thank you to our sponsors including: Broadway Automotive; Erie Insurance; Festival Foods; Gagnon Clay Products; Green Bay Packaging; Green Bay Packers; NXC Imaging; Schneider Foundation, Toonen Properties and Wisconsin Public Service Foundation. We also thank our media partners of WBAY-TV2 and 101 WIXX for their promotional support.

Our dancers definitely put their best foot forward to entertain and dazzle the crowd. The evening began with dinner and followed with our amazing dance program where each star dancer performed two dances. The night concluded with the awards ceremony.

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People’s Choice award for showcase one: Kati Donaho and Rane Cegelski, Foxtrot – “Kill of the Night.” Photo by: Dave Pruszka/American Red Cross. 

Taking away the top honor for the Mirror Ball Fundraising Trophy was Karen Classon. The owner of SKB Management raised $87,000 to support the local Red Cross.

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People’s Choice award for showcase two: Jen Berres-Dart and Michael Witte., Jive – “Shut Up and Dance.” Photo by Mark Witte/American Red Cross. 

The People’s Choice award for showcase one went to Kati Donaho and Rane Cegelski for their Foxtrot to “Kill of the Night.” The People’s Choice award for showcase two went to Jen Berres-Dart and Michael Witte for their Jive to “Shut Up and Dance.”

The Judges’ Choice award went to Anna Allen and Michael Witte for their two performances: the Foxtrot to “Sexy Silk” and a Bolero to “Alone.”

Judges Choice: Anna Allen and Michael Witte for their two performances: Pictured - the Foxtrot to “Sexy Silk” photo by: Dave Pruszka

Judges Choice: Anna Allen and Michael Witte for their two performances: Pictured – the Foxtrot to “Sexy Silk” photo by: Dave Pruszka/American Red Cross. 

Special thanks to Cami Rapson and Tammy Elliott of WBAY-TV 2 for serving as masters of ceremonies and Nikolay Karchev, Jay Morth and Heather Wudstrack for their professional and colorful commentary as judges.

Thank you to all our star dancers for their time, commitment, energy and passion:
• Anna Allen – Teacher, Lineville Intermediate School
• Jen Berres-Dart – Owner/Instructor, Jenstar Yoga
• Karen Classon – SKB Management
• Kati Donaho – Business Travel/Group Sales Manager, Hyatt Regency
• Lori Dufek – Account Manager, NXC Imaging
• Maureen Gagnon – Co-owner, Gagnon Clay Products
• Zeb Metzler – Learning & Development Specialist, Innovative Services
• Dan Terrio – Learning Facilitator, Humana
• Marty Williams – Owner/Dentist, Sierra Dental

Also, thank you to our pro dance partners: Rane Cegelski and Brad McDonald from DanceSport of Green Bay; Bill Beschta; Jamie Blair, Michael Witte and Mina Witte from Simply Ballroom of Green Bay; and Jim Gagnon, Toby Crawford and Terry Irwin from TC Dance Club of Appleton.

Thank you to our committee, volunteers and most of all the community for supporting your local Red Cross.

3D Figurines Fundraiser at DWOS 2016

Posted in Dancing with Our Stars by

Avatarium 3D’s modular studio will be setup in the reception hall of Dancing with Our Stars 2016, providing guests the unique opportunity of creating a 3D figurine of themselves. 20% of each sale will be donated to the American Red Cross.

HOW IT WORKS

Individuals or couples enter the array featuring more than 100 HD cameras, and they strike a pose. In a fraction of a second, the 360° HD camera array captures you from every angle. Afterwards, you select their favorite pose(s). Proprietary Avatarium software sorts and processes the images, which are then modeled into a preliminary figure by 3D artists. State-of-the-art 3D printers bring the virtual model to life.

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Can’t Make the Show – Watch our Live Stream!

Posted in Dancing with Our Stars by

camera cornerWe are less than a week away from “raising the roof” on the KI Convention Center’s NEW ballroom with a packed house of  800+ guests.  Are you not able to see the action in person?  We have you covered. Thanks to our friends at Camera Corner Connecting Point you can still be part of the action by viewing our live stream.

Live stream link: http://livestream.com/cameracornergb/dwos2016

On event night, starting at 7:00pm, you will be able to see our dancers perform, and you can continue to support them by voting (donating) online.

Voting site: https://www.crowdrise.com/dancingwithourstars/fundraiser

We also encourage you to take the conversation online using #DWOS16 on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Let’s get it trending worldwide on February 20th!

 

 

 

 

 

Meet our Dancing with Our Stars 2016 Judges

Posted in Dancing with Our Stars by

Jay MorthJay Morth, Judge

Jay Morth graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay with a Bachelor of the Arts degree.  He started ballroom dancing at a young age, but really started to enjoy the art of ballroom dancing his sophomore year in college at the University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley. He has been dancing ever since and volunteered teaching at DanceSport of Green Bay from 2009 to 2012.

Jay is the owner of Ballroom by Jay, LLC, as well working as an employee at Get Out and Dance. He has received his Bronze level of certification in all of the DVIDA American Style Dances from Valley Social’s Ballroom Dance Teachers College in Menasha. Outside of teaching, Jay spends time competing and lumberjacking.

 

HeatherHeather Wudstrack. Judge

Heather Wudstrack is a DC Everest graduate and has been an instructor with Get Out & Dance since 2009. She enjoys teaching both social and competitive students and is passionate about her dancing. She loves the creative and challenging aspect to dancing and loves sharing her passion for dancing with her students. She is a nationally-ranked teacher on the World Pro-Am circuit and is a current Professional Smooth competitor with her professional partner, Jay Morth.  In her free time, Heather enjoys training with Jay and spending time with her friends, family and her husband, Lee.

Nikolay KarchevNikolay Karchev, Judge

Mr. Nikolay was born and raised in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. He started dancing at age 7 when his mother took him to the ballroom dance studio. While in Bulgaria he was a three-time Bulgarian champion in International Latin, Standard and in the 10 Dance Championship.

He moved to the United States and worked at a Fred Astaire Dance Studios in Phoenix, Arizona for two years. In 2008, he moved to Wisconsin and has earned many awards as a dancer and teacher. Nikolay was the Fred Astaire Dance Studios National Rising Star Rhythm Champion in 2009 and in 2010 earned the Top Customer Service Award and the Top Overall Teacher Award for the Wisconsin Region.

Check out Zeb’s Moves on the dance floor!

Posted in Simply Ballroom, Zeb Metzler by
Vote for Zeb to “Stay Alive” for a chance to win the Fundraising Mirrorball Trophy.

Come out to Drag Bingo with the Queens of the Mirrorball Bash! 

Join the Queens for an afternoon of BINGO!! $10 gets you in the door and your first bingo card!! Extra cards can be purchased for $5! Amazing prizes for each game and a 50/50 raffle to top things off!! Proceeds to benefit the American Red Cross and TeamMcZ for Dancing with Our Stars.

When:  Saturday, February 6

Time:  1:00pm-4:00pm

Where: Townline Pub & Grill

Click HERE for more information.