The 2020 cast of Dancing with the Williamsburg Stars features 13 “stars” and pros. Since 2010, the event has raised over $900,000 with its sights on topping the $1 million mark in 2020.
Heading into its 11th year, Dancing with the Williamsburg Stars has become an entertainment and philanthropic staple in Williamsburg. Based on the same principle of the popular television show, Williamsburg “Stars” train for 20 weeks with a professional dancer and compete in front of a live audience and a distinguished panel of judges.
Scott, Johnston, co-chair and star supporter for DWTWS, says this year’s show has been dubbed “The Million Dollar Show” in honor of the program reaching its first $1 million in fundraising.
“This year we’re going to break $1 million total raised,” said Johnston. “We are only like $60-some thousand away. Last year we raised $128,000 and the year before that $125,000. It’s steadily going up.”
Each star is tasked with the goal of raising at least $3,000 to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters and Literacy for Life. While the event centers on live entertainment, its core mission is its charity work. Last year, DWTWS stroked checks of $55,000 to each charity.
The 2019 show was won by Henry Broaddus, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives & Public Affairs at The College of William & Mary. In dazzling fashion, Broaddus, who performed an impassioned disco number, brought the house down, completely surprising the audience and panel of judges.
“He did every disco move ever created in two-and-a-half minutes,” laughed Johnston.
The show also featured a moving dance by Dr. Dan Via, a pediatrician who was nearly left quadriplegic after a boogie boarding accident in Outer Banks six years ago.
“He did a tango number and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house,” said Johnston. “He had nine surgeries on his neck, was in the hospital for four months.”
This year’s show will be at Crosswalk Church in Norge at 7pm on Saturday, February 29. It’s a ticketed event featuring these stars:
- Yuri Adams, City of Williamsburg Economic Development
- James Burden, DDS, James Burden DDS & Associates
- Elise Campana, Campana Waltz Realty
- Amy Eveland, James Burden DDS & Associates
- Chris Haywood, WISC
- Chris Jones, Local Scoop Magazine
- Scott Kucinski, Sotherly Hotels
- Kate Langbehn, LWell
- Sammy Lee, Singer/songwriter, Iota Creative Collective
- Jennifer Metcalf, Inside-Out Transformation
- Natalie Miller Moore, Moore Than Words
- Felix Vlad, Shorin Ryu Martial Arts, Zumba Fitness
- Sheri Wall, Pamisage
While the event began as more of a showcase of ballroom dancing, attendees can expect a potpourri of dance forms ranging from classics such as waltz, jazz and swing to modern movements in Latin and Hip-Hop styles.
Learn more at WilliamsburgStars.com