Walla Walla alumni celebrities will take to the stage at Gesa Power House Theatre on Saturday, October 8th at 7:00 p.m. for the Annual “Dancing with the W2 Stars” fundraising event for Valley Residential Services.
Can you say, “Alumni”? That’s right! Dancing With The W2 Stars is back, and they are bringing back contestants from the previous years. Some are champions, and some are not. But they are all considered champions because they raise money for Valley Residential Services. This year’s event is presented by Lloyds Insurance and supported by other local businesses, nonprofits, and individuals.
Local participants will be paired with professional dancers and have a week of rehearsals to learn a ballroom dance routine before the live performance and a judging panel – Mark your calendar!
This year’s local alumni “celebrities” are:
Dancers:
- Matt Mahan, Herring Funeral Home
- Greer Buchanan, Blue Mountain Community Foundation
- Peter Erb, City of Walla Walla
- Claire Evans, Whitman College
- Ruben Hernandez, Walla Walla
- Department of Community Health
- Jodi Worden, Academy Mortgage
Judges:
- Damien Sinnott, Washington State University
- Jan Corn, Retired and former contestant
- Roger Esparza, Williams Team Homes
Master of Ceremonies:
- Lawson Knight, Edward Jones
In addition to seeing the Walla Walla Stars dance, the professionals teaching the stars will perform excerpts from their award-winning showcase “Ballroom Fever.” Audiences can expect to see breath-taking lifts, hundreds of costumes, theatrical storylines, and a variety of ballroom dance styles, from the sexy Cuban Salsa to the energetic American Swing to the elegant Viennese Waltz.
The professional dance ensemble is a member of the United States National Formation Championship company in Latin American and Standard ballroom dancing. Their company tours internationally, with more than 100 performances each year.
For more information, contact Betsy Hadden, Fresh Marketing & Events, 509-629-1503 betsy@freshmarketingevents.com.
Valley Residential Services (VRS) is a community based non-profit organization offering supported living, transitional housing and family support opportunities in Walla Walla and Columbia Counties in Washington since 1982. With more than 200 employees (the vast majority of which are full-time), VRS is the 23rd largest employer in Walla Walla County. Most of our employees work directly with clients. Our programs include:
- Supported Living: provides in-home support for developmentally disabled individuals.
- Corps of Recovery Discovery (CORD): provides transitional housing for veterans.
- Family Support: provides supervised visitation, transportation, and parenting skills instruction for parents who receive services from the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS).
Individuals receive services from VRS by referral only.
Reserved seating tickets ($45) are available online or by calling the Gesa Power House Theatre box office at 509-529-6500.
This event is a rental by Valley Residential Services. Click here to learn more about renting the theatre for your own event!
