By Ben Olson
Reader Staff
Dance fans, get ready to swing those hips. Pend Oreille Arts Council’s hit fundraiser “Dancing With Our Stars” is back for another year.
Featuring six local celebrities, “Dancing With Our Stars” is a fun-filled evening that benefits POAC, while giving the community a performance sure to bring down the house with applause.
“This is one of our largest fundraisers of the year for POAC,” said Rachel Hoff, executive director of POAC.
Modeled after the television show, the zany dance performance is back for the second year, after last year’s show proved such a success.
“We had such a good time that we wanted to do it again,” said Kathy Hubbard, president of the POAC board. “The energy in the room, to see people you know in the community putting on their costumes and going on stage dancing … it’s great.”
This year, six local celebrities vie for the coveted mirror ball trophy; Kathy Andruzak, Raphael Barta, Laurel Taylor, Wayne Pignolet, Meggie Foust and Rick Evans. At the end of the performance, the audience votes for a winner.
“The trophy is very similar to the one they get on the show,” said Hubbard. “Last year Dyno [Wahl] won, and she got a lot of mileage off of it.”
The performance features the expert tutelage of Utah Ballroom Dance Company, who will give instruction to each member in regards to their dance.
“They go around the country doing this,” said Hubbard. “All the dancers are high energy, young, talented, and want to be performers. They bring this dazzle that is just so slick.”
Thanks to Dance Works Studios loaning their space, the professional dancers with Utah Ballroom Dance Company have a place to rehearse all week.
“The professional dancers arrived [Sunday] night and started rehearsals [Monday],” said Hubbard. “They’ll rehearse with the dancers four times this week, and then Saturday it’s winner take all.”
It’s anyone’s guess who will come out on top at the big show Saturday, Sept. 26 at the Panida Theater. Tickets are $25 for general admission, or $45 for V.I.P. tickets which allow early entry to the theater at 5 p.m. for a wine and hors d’oerves reception. Doors open for general admission at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased in advance at the POAC Gallery, Winter Ridge Natural Foods, Eichardt’s Pub and Eve’s Leaves.
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Coming up this week! Don’t miss out on Live performances of music & theater, fundraising, and more! See the full list of events in the 
