You may know the contestants of "Dancing for Special Stars" as local law enforcement officers, business owners, teachers, financial advisers, doctors and dentists. But on Tuesday, you can learn something new about them: Can they dance?
The third annual "Dancing for Special Stars" fundraiser for Special Olympics North Dakota will be Tuesday at the Empire Arts Center in downtown Grand Forks. A reception in the Empire gallery will begin at 6:15 p.m. followed by the contest at 7 p.m. and a "Meet and Greet the Dancers" after the show.
The event will pair area celebrities -- such as East Grand Forks Police Chief Mike Hedlund and Grand Forks City Public Information Officer Kevin Dean -- with dance instructors in a contest patterned after the popular "Dancing with the Stars" television program.
Tickets for the fundraiser must be purchased in advance and will be available at Special Olympics North Dakota, 2616 S. 26th St., Grand Forks; or by calling (701) 746-0331 or (800) 279-4201. Tickets will not be sold at the door.
Each couple will perform a dance of their choice. Audience members will cast their vote for their favorite couple(s) with their checkbooks. Every dollar donated, including those used to purchase admission tickets, count as a point, and the couple with the most points will be declared the winner. At the end of the evening, the winning couple will be announced.
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"This event has been a great success for us and is highly entertaining and lots of fun for both the audience and the participants," said Kathy Meagher, president and CEO of Special Olympics North Dakota. "I anticipate some truly unforgettable dancing."
But most important, she said, the event helps Special Olympics carry out its mission to make a difference in the lives of the people it serves.
Meet the dancers:
- Amanda Bentow, UND community relations officer
- Dr. Paul Bothun, Dakota Dental Associates
- Kevin Dean, Grand Forks city public information officer
- Mike Hedlund, East Grand Forks police chief
- Karyn Hippen, UND and mayor of Thompson, N.D.
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- Barb Kramer, Edgewood Management Group
- Dave Kvidt, Lunseth Plumbing & Heating
- Richard Marcil, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
- Brian Michaels, Leighton Broadcasting
- Dr. Pat Moore, Grand Forks Veterans Administration Community Outpatient Clinic
- Michael Ritland, Frandsen Bank and Trust
- Vince Voigt, Jim's Towing
Instructors include area professionals as well as UND ballroom dance students.
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The event is sponsored in part by Opp Construction, Edgewood Management Group LLC and True North Equipment.
Special Olympics North Dakota is a private, nonprofit organization that provides year-round physical fitness, sports training and competition in 15 sports to children and adults with intellectual disabilities. All activities are provided free, and more than 1,400 athletes, 3,500 volunteers and 330 coaches participate throughout the state of North Dakota.
