Local stars to debut dancing abilities

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July 10, 2009

By Brittany Davenport The Richmond Register Fri Jul 10, 2009, 10:15 PM EDT

It has been a couple weeks since Sheriff Nelson O’Donnell began lessons preparing for his dancing debut at the Madison County Fair. His concern about competing in the county’s first Dances With the Stars, he said, is his ability.

The program, boasting local celebrities O’Donnell, Mayor Connie Lawson and Commissioner Rita Smart is the first of what event coordinator Robin Chrisman hopes to be many.

Madison is one of only about five counties putting on an event like Dances With the Stars and Chrisman said she hopes to make it an annual event.

Chrisman and Mary McCurdy, co-coordinator the event, said they plan to have at least five participants, but are willing to take more if people are interested.

Dancers will perform an opening group act of the waltz, followed by individual performances. Participants will have the chance to take a free dance class at Arthur Murray Dance Studio prior to the competition. Dancers will choose their own dance partner, song and dance to perform.

Lawson’s been trying to figure out what to wear and working on getting votes, she said.

“I’m really politicking. We’re trying to draw a crowd ’cause we sure can’t win by dancing,” she said. She and partner Ralph Hacker will perform The Twist.

“There’s a little funny behind it, but I’ll let him tell the rest. We have danced where Chubby Checker was performing the song,” she said.

She just wants to make sure she does not fall down, make a fool of herself or have a heart attack, she said.

“Remind people I’m 69 years old,” she said.

In high school, Smart and her class were on American Bandstand, but like Lawson, Smart said she is worried about embarrassing herself.

“I have to work on getting into shape,” she said.

Smart has been working on building her stamina for the two-minute tango she and partner Eddie Wray, owner of Hairmaster’s, will be performing.

“If I can just hold up and not fall down,” she said.

No matter how much talent or embarrassment is displayed at the competition, it is “strictly for fun,” Chrisman said.

“Of course, we do have some very good dancers out there,” she said.

Arthur Murray Dance studio is judging the event, though the voting is not just based on the judges, but “lots of audience participation,” Chrisman said.

O’Donnell said he is most excited about “getting it over with,” he laughed. “No, I think it’s a great cause and a fun event.”

The event kicks off at 7 p.m. July 25 in the Exhibit Hall as part of The Madison County Fair.

Brittany Davenport can be reached at 624-6624 or news@richmondregister.com.

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