County 'stars' begin preparation for dancing competition

Monday, January 25, 2010
Dancers, judges and MCs for the second annual Dancing with the Putnam County Stars will be Dan TeGrotenhuis, Chuck Shroeder, Debbie Steffy, Fig Hardwick, Deb Smith, Judge Matthew Headley, Dave Wells, Marty Watts, Judge Diana LaViolette, Renee Marsteller, Julina Price, Teena Bryant, Alan Zerkel, Jana Brothers and Beau Battin. Not pictured are Tom Sutherlin and Brad Tucker. The Putnam County Youth Development Commission fundraiser will take place April 9 at Dixie Chopper Business Center.

GREENCASTLE -- Local "celebrities" are ready to put on their dancing shoes for the second annual Dancing with the Putnam County Stars.

Teena Bryant, one of the celebrity dancers, said she has three goals for the fundraiser -- raise money for the Putnam County Youth Development commission, learn something new and have fun.

"I have never danced a day in my life, except at my wedding," Bryant admitted. "But I think it will be a fun experience."

Bryant said she enjoys watching the show "Dancing With the Stars," which airs on ABC.

"I have the boys in my house (her husband and son) watching the show," she said.

Marty Watts, another local celebrity dancing in this year's fundraiser, said her number one reason for strapping on her dancing shoes was the children benefiting from the work PCYDC does in the community.

"I also enjoy dancing -- socially," she said. "It's kind of a hobby."

While Alan Zerkel confessed to not having any dancing skills, the experience of his colleague at North Putnam High School, Jana Brothers, had last year was enough to bring him to the dance floor.

"It was the talk of the school," he said.

Zerkel is looking forward to the learning experience and said he is open to considering becoming skilled at any type of dance.

Dance instructors for the Dancing with the Putnam County Stars are, back row from left, Tim Tillotson, David Terry, Logan Kuhne and Brad Sandy; front row, Jessyca South, Katie Wallace, Colleen Muir, Tara Gardner, Ashley Cook and Lita Sandy. Not pictured is Carrie Hamilton.

"It's a great cause, too," he added.

Other local celebrities competing against Bryant, Watts and Zerkel will be Renee Marsteller, Julina Price, Deb Smith, Debbie Steffy, Chuck Schroeder, Tom Sutherlin, Dan TeGrotenhuis, Brad Tucker and David Wells.

Dancing with the Putnam County Stars will be at 6:30 p.m. April 9 at Dixie Chopper Business Center. Tickets go on sale in February and can be purchased at the PCYDC office, 10 1/2 N. Jackson St.

Anyone unable to attend the event can still support the PCYDC by making a donation. For more information, call 653-9342. Dance Workshop and Dixie Chopper are sponsoring the event.

It will be an evening filled with elegant dancing and fun.

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