JANIE GOULD

Hollywood-style glitz and glamour are due to return to Vero Beach on Saturday, May 10, when the red carpet will roll out for the 6^th annual “Dancing with Vero’s Stars” at Riverside Theatre.

Since the fall, 10 prominent local residents have been learning the moves of ballroom dancing, under the tutelage of professional dance teachers, to prepare for the competition They’ve also been working their contacts in the community to raise money for the event, a major fund-raiser for the Indian River County Healthy Start Coalition, which provides a broad range of programs to provide health care and support services for pregnant women and their young children. A portion of the proceeds from “Dancing with Vero’s Stars” also helps pay for programs and services at Riverside Theatre.

Committee member Beverly Paris of Paris Productions, which handles publicity and marketing for the event, says the dancers who participate in the show each year “are the busiest people in the community.”

“They are selected for their networking ability and for their fund-raising ability,” she said. “Most of them can’t dance a lick when they start.”

Each dancer is asked to raise a minimum of $3,500 by securing sponsorships from businesses and individuals, selling tickets priced at $200 for Exclusive seating and $150 for Premium seating, and getting donations from people who are unable to attend but support the missions of the Healthy Start Coalition and the theatre.

A couple of years ago, local physician and dance competitor Dr. Glenn Tremml raised $53,000 for the cause.

“We have one dancer this year who is nipping at his heels!” Paris said.

By early April, dancers and other supporters had secured $200,000 in sponsorships.

“We’re looking to make a quarter of a million dollars this year,” Paris said.

The winning dancers will be picked not only for their dancing skills but also on the strength of their fun-raising results. This year’s dance contestants include Ginger Atwood, Samantha Brackett, Joan Busch, Dr. Michele Maholtz, Kitty Wagner, Wesley Davis, Tony Donadio, Dr. Alan Durkin, Timothy Girard and Scot Wilke. The instructors are Robert Scott, Brad Stein, Joe Tessier, Barry Trammell, Bob Scott, Terry Greene, Karen Walter, Beth Shestak, Amy Trammell and Kaylan Keathley. They’ve been practicing their routines since the fall.

Equally hard working are the members of the event committee, which for months has been planning every detail, from costumes to canapes. Laura Guttridge and Cheryl Gerstner are co-chairs. Others serving on the committee are Judy Van Saun, Tom Lowe, Brenda Lloyd, Melissa Shine, Jeff Zachary, Sharon Batten, Cheri Dietrich, Amanda Robinson, and Kathie Cain, executive director of the Healthy Start Coalition.

Cain said funds raised by “Dancing with Vero’s Stars” enable the Healthy Start Coalition to receive matching state funds totaling about $750,000.

“It’s a big challenge,” Cain said.  “We don’t get state funds unless we show commitment from our local community.”

She expressed gratitude to everyone involved in the event – dancers, instructors, committee members and other volunteers — for making it such a success.

“These people are making such an impact on the health and well-being of pregnant women and children from birth to age 3,” she said. “It’s so important for our community.”

Gerstner, a real estate agent, has participated in the event for five years. She was a dancer the second year. She says she thinks the Healthy Start Coalition’s mission, which focuses on prenatal and postnatal needs of women and infants, is on target with what the community needs.

“I think the scope of the services gives the Healthy Start Coalition a greater chance of success,” she said.

The charity event is modeled after the hugely successful ABC television show “Dancing with the Stars,” now in its 18^th season.

Charity supporters in Brevard County were the first in the region to stage a local version of “Dancing.” Indian River County followed suit in 2008, and other Treasure Coast and South Florida communities later hopped on the band wagon and staged similar events.

“Everybody’s event is a little different, which makes it so exciting,” Paris said.

Vero’s Broadway-style spectacular will feature red carpet treatment for the dancers, who will arrive by limo while guests look on and cheer. The price of admission includes full bar, hors d’oeuvres by Elizabeth D. Kennedy and dessert by Cupcake Wars chef Paul Conti, along with a silent auction featuring items donated by businesses and individuals.

“We’ve taken it up a few notches this year,” Paris said.  ‘I don’t know what we’re going to do next year!”

One of the items in the silent auction is an abstract mixed media painting in acrylic, oil and pencil on canvas by watercolor artist Paul Scarborough of Orlando.  When a Vero friend asked him to paint an original work for the silent auction, he took brush in hand and began reflecting on his childhood growing up in Florida.

“The colors of this painting are amazing and they depict how my childhood was filled with goodness and great parents,” Scarborough said. “When my art work sells, it will pass on as my gift perhaps to a mother or child who will benefit from my small donation. I don’t have anything else to offer by my art, in which I believe that colors are emotions.”

The painting is titled “Into the Wild.” Its gallery value, based on other works Scarborough has sold recently, is $5,500. Bids will start at $1,000.

The three judges in this year’s “Dancing with Vero’s Stars” include two veterans from past shows and one newcomer.

The new kid on the block is Hollywood screenwriter and executive producer Scott Rosenberg, a nephew of Beverly and Marty Paris.

Rosenberg’s numerous credits include the screenplays “Things to do in Denver When You’re Dead,” “Beautiful Girls,” “Con Air,” “Disturbing Behavior,” “Gone in 60 Seconds” and “Highway.” He co-wrote “High Fidelity” and “Kangaroo Jack;”  created and produced the Showtime series “Going to California” and co-created the ABC series “October Road,” “Life on Mars” and “Happy Town,” among many other projects for film and TV.

Returning for his sixth go-round as a judge, Vero’s version of ABC’s Len Goodman is Lance Sexton, owner of Melbourne Ballroom. Sexton brings more than 30 years of top professional dance experience to the Riverside stage. Among his many credentials, he is certified as a Master by the former national director and world top instructor of the Arthur Murray dance studios and brings his keen eye and art of expression to the judges’ table.

Returning judge Donna Roberts Mitchell, who in many ways stole the show last year, is not known locally as a dancer, but she is an actress/singer, and a person with the ability to know what it takes to perform on stage. As co-owner of Idea Garden Advertising and Planet Vero Radio, Donna is astute in media sales and promotions, and is a voice-over artist and radio show host. Her comic timing makes her, not only the hit of the party, but well-seasoned as an emcee, announcer and performer.

Tickets for “Dancing with Vero’s Stars” may be purchased by visiting the Riverside Theatre Box Office, calling the theatre box office at 772-231-6990, or by visiting www.Dancingwithverostars.

To vote for your favorite dance candidate, make a donation in the dancer’s name, or become a sponsor, visitwww.Dancingwithverostars.com or call 772-563-9118.