Local “stars” (if just for the evening) and dance pros cut a rug in front of a packed house at the Caruso Club Feb. 24 during the 12th annual Dancing with the Easter Seals Stars event.
The Easter Seals “Stars” are Sudburians, many of them businesspeople, who have been paired with professional dancers from various dance studios across the Big Nickel as they learned how to dance ahead of the big event.
In the end, Janie Pinard (dance pro) and Alessandro Costantini, both of them representing STC/YES Theatre, won the competition.
The gala event, which this year had the theme “A Night at the Movies,” included a dinner, dance studio performances by Dance Evolution and Northern Latin Flavour, a live and silent auction, and wrapped up with the dance competition.
“They are really putting their best foot out there,” said MJ Pappin, community development officer with Easter Seals in Sudbury.
“We always tell them to break a leg, like figuratively, not literally. So I think that they're just gonna have fun with it. And once the music hits, I think all of those nerves will go away and they have so many friends and families and supporters here at their table supporting them tonight, that I think it's just going to encourage them to get through it and just have a good time.”
She did not have an exact fundraising total on Friday evening, but said it was hoped that the event would bring in more than $80,000.
Easter Seals, which celebrated its 100th anniversary last year, provides support to children with physical disabilities, including mobility equipment and summer camps. Pappin said Easter Seals provides services to about 80 families in Greater Sudbury.
Sebastien Parent, a 17-year-old student at Bishop Alexander Carter Secondary School, is the Easter Seals’ provincial ambassador.
He said he hasn’t personally received mobility equipment from the organization, although he has gone to summer camp thanks to Easter Seals.
“Seeing all these people here supporting us and giving back to these kids and helping them get the devices they need to be as independent as possible in their lives, it’s incredible and heartwarming,” Parent said.
One of the dance teams taking part in the event was Patrick Drolet of Nickel City Ninjas and salsa dancer Zoi Monroy. They’ve been practicing since Dec. 13.
“She’s the pro, and has taught me everything I need to know for tonight,” Drolet said. “We’re going to try to put on a show tonight and do a couple of flips and tricks through dancing, so it’ll be fun.”
Monroy said Drolet has a lot of energy, and did well in learning their numbers. “We’ve had so much fun,” she said, adding that they planned to do some salsa as well as changa dancing.
A full list of participating dance teams include Dennis Harasmychuk (dance pro) and Mandy Gauthier, Plan A Sudbury; Collette Lance (dance pro) and Jacques Campeau, Campeau Heating; Kaija McDonough (dance pro) and Adam Haight, Remax Crown Realty Inc.; Skyler Slywchuk (dance pro) and Katherine (Kat) LeBlanc, The LeBlanc Group; Zoi Monroy (dance pro) and Patrick Drolet, Nickel City Ninjas; Janie Pinard (dance pro) and Alessandro Costantini, STC/YES Theatre; Bob Leduc (dance pro) and Celine St. Germain, T2 Training Systems, Lifestyle Coach and Influencer; and Luis Belis (dance pro) and Dawn Condon, Connected Living Yoga.
Judges of the competition include 2022 Dancing with the Easter Seals Stars winner Montana McCulloch, Marcel Gladu of Remax Crown Realty, local dance teacher Jan Fregonese and David Anselmo of Hideaway Pictures (which was also the event’s presenting sponsor).
Heidi Ulrichsen is Sudbury.com’s associate content editor. She also covers education and the arts scene.
