Dance-Off Competition will raise money for Bethesda Center BY TODD LUCK THE CHRONICLE Everyone from the mayor to Average Joes will take part in "Take the Lead Winston Salem." a dancing fundraiser for the Bethesda Center. Based on the popular ABC show, "Dancing with the Stars," the fundraiser will pair dancers who will practice in a variety of genres - from ball room to hip hop. They will then have videos of their dancing skills posted online (starting tomorrow). Residents will be asked to make a $10 donation to vote for their favorite pair. The winning pair will be announced on May 6 during a culminating event at the downtown Embassy Suites. The goal is to raise $100,000 for Bethesda Center, which serves the city's homeless population. At last Friday's fundraiser kick off at Lite Fantastic School of Dance. Bethesda Center Executive Director Mike Ryan said the funds are sorely needed. The center typ ically provides shelter for 100 clients in its night shelter. The Center, through its self-suffi ciency programs, annually finds permanent housing and employment for dozens of clients "It's a place of refuge and a place of hope and a place of opportunity," Ryan said of the Center? "Take the Lead" partici pants include Mayor Allen Joines. Wake Forest University Field Hockey Coach Jen Averill and Busta Brown of 97.1 WQMG. Most pairs will include one dance professional - people like Tonv Econ of the Kathy Marino School of Dance in Clemmons. "We got a good group; We're going to have lots of fun, we got some good dancers and some good teach ers, we should have a great show," said Econ. a ballroom dancing instructor. Kenny O'Neal, owner of downtown's KO's Family Fitness, will shake a leg as part of the competition. He is a fan of dancing and has led Photo* b> Todd Luck Actress Rosemary Harris dances with Arbor Acres CEO David Piner, a " Take the Lead" participant. hip hop workout sessions. O'Neal is partnered with Suzanne Ramm. a fellow fit ness instructor. "It's for a great cause; it's for the community," said O'Neal. "It's going to be a lot of fun". No Take the Lead partici pant can appreciate the cause more than Greg White, a Bethesda Center client who has called the shelter home for the last six weeks. He's no stranger to dance, hav ing been a dancer on "Soul Train" in the 1980s. Since then, he has fallen on hard times and has been chronically homeless for more than five years, moving from city to city and being on and off drugs. The 49-year-old says that he's now clean and trying to get back on his feet by taking full advantage of Bethesda's referral services. White, who was slated to start GED class es this week, said he's glad to give back to Bethesda by tak ing part in the fundraiser. "Even if it's not to help me. it'll help someone else down the road who may need that assistance." said White. Actress Rosemary Harris, a local resident best knovvn for playing Aunt May in tTfr" ~ Spider-Man movies, also lent her star power to Friday's opening event and plans to take part in the May 6 finale. Event organizer Ann Guill is a lawyer by day. but danc ing is her passion. She teaches ballroom dancing in the pub lic schools through the non profit Dancing Classrooms. She said she jumped at the chance to use her love of dancing to benefit Bethesda. "When you can take something you love dearly, like dancing, and combine it with something you thorough ly. 100 percent believe in, like serving and supporting facili ties for the homeless popula tion. it doesn't get any better." said Guilt. To see videos of the dancers and / or to vote, visit www.taketheleadws.com . Greg While Kenny O'Neal Ann (muiII Dancers Kathy Marino and Tony Econ. I'NCSA Photo Daryl Wade (squatting and holding a film reel) poses with other UNCSA leaders and stu dents for this photo, which Chancellor Maurceri used for his holiday greeting cards. Wade from page A1 mark of UNCSA's legacy, largely because the students are so focused on their art. Wade says. Maurceri believes Wade has overcome that challenge famously. "Daryl has been able to maintain his student life as an artist and somehow find the time and energy to represent the students and take the Student Artists Association to a level that it's never been before." Mauceri said "He's articulate and passionate and enormously persuasive. With all of those things plus his tal ent, I think he has a really great future ahead of him." Among Wade's crowning achievements as president was the staging of the "Mighty-O" benefit party, a collaborative effort among UNCSA. Salem College. Wake Forest and 'Winston Salem State universities. The party, which drew more than 100 local students to the Millennium Center last fall. served as a fundraiser for three student-led initiatives. Wade says he has also worked to increase the visi bility of other student activi ties, such as Big Man on Campus, a mock male pag eant. which he won in its inaugural year, not long before his election. Wade, who as SAA presi dent serves as an ex-officio member of the UNCSA Board of Trustees, makes it a point to push issues that matter to his fellow students. He has worked since the summer to convince the School to end its ban on skateboarding and skating on campus, arguing that such forms of "recre ational transportation" should be permitted. Last year. Wade led a successful campaign to have the cafeteria list its menu items according to ingredients, to protect stu dents with food allergies. "That was a pretty big wi for us," he said. "It was an excellent example of what students can do." Wade has excelled at UNCSA academically as well. Last year, his short film was one of a handful picked for a special screening at the Warner Grand Theatre in Los Angeles, and another of his films is again being consid ered for the 2010 screening. After Spring Break, Wade, who will graduate in May. is slated to travel to Miami, where he will oversee the opening of a new Vector Marketing office. The compa ny hawks cutlery, and Wade's ambitious goal is to sell more than $1 million of it before heading to Los Angeles in September to follow his dreams of becoming a film producer. As for the SAA. Wade says he is hopeful someone of similar fervor will succeed him as president. "(The SAA) is in its first stages of being comparable to the (other) student govern ? mcnts in the UNC system; that's probably what I'm most proud of." he related "We have to walk the line between being a quirky art school and being a student government that takes itself seriously " Paint fnmt pant A7 in removing lead-based paints and outreach and edu cation about the dangers of lead-based paints The proj ect will also establish Winston-Salem's first Lead Safe Home registry . City officials are partner ing n* ith the Forsyth County UNCSA from punr Aft Liberty." McCullough, also a School of Design & Production grad. has illumi nated the stages of the San Francisco Opera, the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, the Glimmerglass Opera and the Metropolitan Opera Other L'NCSA alumni connected to the upcoming Kennedy Center production include Shayne Doty (School of Music. High School Class of 1979). Director of Development for the Washington National Opera: Sara Henley (School of Dance. High School Class of 2002), Assistant Manager of Development at the Kennedv Center; Christina Gould (School of Design & PriKluction. Class of 2006). Lighting Director at the Kennedy Center: and Gregory Goldsmith (School of Drama. Class of 1976; n v n | A v/ ? v #-% ? Health Department. the Winston-Salem Slate University Center for Community Safety. Hispanic Interaction. CH.AN.Gh and Imprints to implement "the program Residents interested in the program should contact Neighborhood Services h\ calling Citx Link at 33b- 727 HOOtJ. McCullough CV . L. ... I _/ L n ocnooi i)i usr. Llass (>I 1977), Master Technician at the Kennedy Center In addi tion. Kenan Fellows at the Kennedy Center for 2009-10 include Ryan Gastelum (Design & Production 2008). Molly e Maxner (High School Dance 1993. Drama 2009). Paolo Rodriguez (Design <t Production 2009). and Ryan Wineinger (Design A; Production 2009) Rep. 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