Couples will step out on the dance floor and present tangos, waltzes, swing, salsa and disco at the Seventh Annual Dancin' for a Cause.
The fundraiser provides college scholarships for new and continuing education students who need funds to pursue their college degrees. The students who receive a scholarship not only get money for their first semester but up to four semesters, as renewable scholarships are offered to recipients for up to two years.
"We raised more than $50,000 last year. It was great," co-chairwoman Glendora Bright told The Sentinel-Record.
"The first year we raised $7,000. The next year, we raised $25,000 and it has gradually gone up since then. I think altogether in the last six years we have raised about $200,000. We have to pay for the event and after that, we try to give as many scholarships as we can plus renew the ones that are already in school."
The Hot Springs Women's Chamber of Commerce presents the event with plated hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar and a silent auction beginning at 6 p.m. and dance presentations from 7-9 p.m. on Oct. 4 at Horner Hall in the Hot Springs Convention Center.
The women's chamber raises funds by pairing local celebrities with area dance instructors who are willing to solicit donations for their team, a news release said.
The women's chamber is open to members who volunteer to support and promote Hot Springs and Garland County programs for the betterment of the community.
"We do a lot of other things, but this event is our main focus for the year," Bright said.
One of the celebrity dancers, local physician and barbecue master Randy Hill, who is paired with dance instructor Rebecca Sayadian, posted on social media Thursday saying his dancing career "was brief, torn mcl (medial collateral ligament) while practicing for Dancing for the Cause. My lifelong break dancing dreams are lost."
Aside from that, Bright said she spoke to Sayadian on Friday and "his instructor said they are still dancing and will modify the dance for him to not make him uncomfortable."
Others listed on the dancing lineup are instructor Andrea Pierkowski with celebrity partner Lauri Adams, instructor Monika Crissler with celebrity Bill Burrough, instructor Faron Richey with celebrity Terri Dill, instructor Jack Jackson with celebrity Mandy Golleher, instructor Brian Bridges with celebrity Patsy Haynes, instructor Mick Harris with celebrity Karla Hunter, instructor Ron Galloway with celebrity Julia Mathews, instructor Bette Harris with celebrity Joe Mouton, instructor Faron Richey with celebrity Michelle Watkins, instructor Amy Bramlett with celebrity Richard Webb, instructor Loretta Trowbridge with celebrity Gerald Hatley, instructor Carole Katchen with a group of ladies, and instructor Jan Galloway with celebrity Lance Spicer.
"Most of them (local celebrities) will say, 'I can't dance,' and most of them aren't dancers, but we have had some excellent performances from them in the past," Bright said.
"Fundraising is the main focus. They sell the tickets, bring in donations or sponsorships and we have a large silent auction. What they bring in during their summer prior to the event is totaled that evening. We also have containers at the back of the room with each dance couples' name. It is surprising how many people in the audience will add to that, even if they have already donated. They want to promote their good friends or someone they really enjoyed watching dance, so we end up collecting money that way, too."
The team of dancers who raises the most money through ticket sales, silent auction items and monetary donations is the winner and each dancer receives a trophy for first-, second- and third-place fundraising.
Local on 09/01/2014