BY CHRISTINA TASCON

Although Mother Nature tried to dampen the Red Carpet, Dancing With Vero’s Stars still was the most entertaining and dazzling event of the season.

This is the fifth year the Healthy Start Coalition has held the event with each year being increasingly well received.

“The first year was held at the Elk’s,” said Co-Chair Cheryl Gerstner.  “The dancers had to learn to be really friendly in one small changing room each.

The show was then held at Saint Edward’s but grew so popular that this year it was moved into the spacious Riverside Theatre to accommodate the larger ticket demand.

Brenda Lloyd danced two years ago in the show and now is on the board of Healthy Start Coalition as well as on the event committee.

“Riverside Theatre adds so much to the production, with the lighting and an incredible sound system,” said Lloyd before the show.  “It really should be amazing.”

Over 700 guests milled around the Orchid Lobby as they sampled hors d’oeuvres and sipped cocktails while participating in the silent auction and supported their favorite stars.

The 10 Star Dancers were judged not only on their dancing ability, but also on the dollars raised for Healthy Start.

Dancers held fundraisers, found sponsors and also looked for creative ways to have supporters donate to the cause in their name.

The night was supposed to begin with a Hollywood style walk on the red carpet as they were driven up in a Classic Antique Car and then besieged by a staged crowd of 1950’s attired paparazzi and fans.

Only four of the Stars made the walk and interview with Bobby Guttridge under the lights before the wind and rain blew everyone into the elegantly decorated Orchid Lobby and Waxlax Second Stage hall.

Once inside, dancers nervously accepted encouragement from their friends and family before having to go backstage and dress for their numbers.

Former Vero Beach Mayor Mary Beth McDonald’s husband, Dr. John McDonald attended with their son Patrick.  When asked what the behind-the-scenes was like at home in the process of Mary Beth learning her moves, McDonald said it was nerve racking.

“I have almost been as nervous of the dancing as she has been,” he said.  “But because of her personality, I know she will do fine.”

“Actually I will be really sad when it’s over,” said Mary Beth McDonald.  “I will miss seeing all the dancers.  We all have been rooting for each other and it has been such a tremendous experience for such a great cause.”

Dancers definitely shared each other’s similar experiences of the aches and pains, joyful moments and certain trepidation but they all seemed to work together as a team to do the best on stage.

2012 dancer Joey Schlitt recalled the pre-event jitters he experienced last year as he just came to enjoy this year’s show.

“I was more nervous at rehearsals than when we were about to go on stage,” he said.  “At rehearsals you are dancing in front of the committee or other dancers so they are really judging what you can do.”

Joe Tessier and Stefanie Conrado of 14th Avenue Swingsations Dance Studio were the DWVS’s producers for the first two years of the show and came to support their dancers, Freddy Vega and Star Dancer Michelle Kantzler.  Vega is a Swingsations dancer who had to fill in as a last minute replacement for Jose Ratto.

“It’s really tough for these dancers,” said Tessier.  “They have real lives and families.  They are committed for 20 hours but because of their generosity they usually donate more like 30 to 35 hours.”

As the lights dimmed, one by one each “Star” took the stage with their professional partners…

First on stage, Mary Beth McDonald and Robert Scott performed a fun and fancy Cha-Cha followed by Kantzler and Vega dancing an energetic Salsa.

Kerry Firth gracefully performed a sweeping Waltz with Joe Wynes followed by Page Curtis and Barry Trammell in a slow and sexy Tango.

Next up, John Talmadge and Amy Trammell brought down the house with a wild swing style Lindy Hop.

Judges Lance Sexton, Donna Roberts Mitchell and Adam Schnell awarded their very first (and second) perfect 10’s of the evening, and in emcee Hamp Elliott’s memory..first 10 ever in the history of the show.

Adam Chrzan and Terry Greene got the crowd’s blood pumping with a Charleston followed by crowd favorite, Dr. John Sarbak (he brought his own row of cheering fans from his office) dancing with Karren Walter to a Tango Paso Doble.

Sheriff Deryl Loar next jokingly offered to exchange “get out of jail” cards for votes before he cracked up the house by dancing the Tango with Patti Rooney to the appropriately titled song, “Bust the Windows Out Your Car.”

All through the night, the judges each had to score the dancers as they also commented on their performance which they did in a very funny way.

Chris Bieber dancing with Stefani Conrado is known around town as a very extroverted and humorous personality.  He kept the crowd laughing in his pre-dance interview and video and then performed an extremely acrobatic Salsa, swinging his partner completely around his body.

Judge Donna Roberts Mitchell connected to the audience’s funny bone when she gave him high marks for the dance but said his facial “grunts” were not good.

“What is she a hundred pounds?  You look like you are trying to pick up concrete,” laughed Roberts-Mitchell.  “No woman wants to see a man grunt when they pick her up.”

“I’m just glad he didn’t drop me,” said partner Conrado.

The final dancers on stage were Trish Hickey-Reid and Tom Isola.  Isola had hurt his back prior to the event and Hickey-Reid said she was a bit nervous on how it would go.  She need not have worried because their elegantly performed Viennese Waltz earned them the second pair of perfect 10’s of the night.

After the dances a short intermission gave guest time to bid on more auction items, buy Dancer’s roses and choose the house favorite and then it was time to give out the glittering disco ball.

Healthy Start’s Executive Director, Kathie Cain, thanked the audience, the dancers, Riverside Theatre and brought home the purpose of the event.

Healthy Start is the “go to” organization for helping assist pregnant moms and infants at risk.  Their services include Care Coordination, TLC Newborn, MomCare, Partners in Pregnancy and Parenting & Healthy Families.

Cain introduced the board and thanked Riverside Theatre for helping to make the evening a dazzling affair.

Turning the microphone over to Chairs Laura Guttridge and Cheryl Gerstner, crystal awards were announced.

Teams Talmadge and Hickey-Reid were announced to be tied for Best Dancers; Star Fund Raiser went to Dr. John Sarbak for raising almost $40,000 and Sheriff Deryl Loar was crowned “King of the Roses.”

Then for the big moment–Chris Bieber won 2nd Runner Up, Deryl Loar topped him as 1st Runner Up and….

Dr. John Sarbak and Karren Walter won the matching Mirrored Disco Balls as Grand Champions!

“I was so entertained,” said guest Cindy Goetz excitedly.  “The judges were hysterical, so animated!”

The entire event was elevated to an unseen level of excellence in not just quality but also in pure enjoyment on the part of both the performers and the audience.

Moving it to Riverside Theatre was the right choice and gave the whole event more flair, excitement and style than ever before which is why it was easily the best event of the season.

Congratulations goes out to the committee, the chairs, the performers and Riverside Theatre for a stunning success.

More importantly, congratulations goes to Healthy Start Coalition for raising over $191,000 for their organization from the night.