For the third year in a row, 10 local celebrity dancers will be paired with 10 professional dancers to raise money for the Child Advocacy Center by competing against each other to be deemed the Dancing Stars of East Alabama.
This year's event will take place tonight, April 18 at 8 p.m., in the ballroom at the Auburn University Hotel and Dixon Conference Center. Votes in the form of donations will be collected during the show for each couple. All proceeds go to the Child Advocacy Center.
This competition will not mirror the popular televesion show, according to Lauren Ashley Whaley, one of the professional dancers in the top 10.
"This competition is not exactly like the show Dancing with the Stars," Whaley said. "You are assigned a partner and you pick a style of dance then teach your partner and you practice one routine for the show."
According to Cleone Brock, executive director of the Child Advocacy Center, this year's performance will trump its two predecessors, and in one big way it already has.
"The competition is stiffer this year, the rivalries are unbelievable and everybody is having a great deal of fun," Brock said. "And we have already exceeded what we made last year in donations."
You can participate by voting online and making donations for your favorite team at dancingstarsofeastalabama.com where you can also watch the event live on your computer.
Whaley will dance a swing dance with Dan Anniuk, a 1999 Auburn University alumni.
"Dan's a great guy," Whaley said. "We have been training since January and train at least twice a week. We are both very busy and have hectic schedules, but we make it work."
Dancing has been a part of Whaley's life since she was 5 years old.
"I have learned and practiced many different styles of dance," Whaley said. "My favorites are hip-hop and ballroom. Dancing is a great way to exercise and stay active. I think dancing can fix any kind of problem you're having, too."
Jaky Wilson, senior in marine biology, said she knows Whaley will be tough to beat.
"I've seen Lauren Ashley dance at events for our sorority, like Greek Sing, and she always rocks it," Wilson said. "I don't know how good of a dancer her partner is, but with Lauren Ashley on his team I'm sure they'll do great."
Whaley said she is excited about tonight's event not only for the dancing, but also for the cause.
"They needed an extra person, and I was in the right place at the right time," Whaley said. "It benefits such a great cause, too. The Child Advocacy Center helps children who have been sexually abused. Its funding has been decreased, and they need this center because it helps so many people."
Miss America Mallory Hagan will also be at this event to speak on her platform about child sexual abuse.
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