- November 23, 2024
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Under red lights and on a pearly white dance floor, local stars Mary Gratehouse, Monica Kelly, Dr. Cathleen McCabe, Hallie Peilet, Dan Starostecki and Elisabeth Waters took turns Oct. 20 performing choreographed ballroom dance routines for CAN Community Health supporters.
When guests arrived at the 2018 CANDance at the Art Ovation Hotel, they mingled in the lobby with competitors and their dance partners until the ballroom opened. Guests continued to vote for their favorite performer online, which cost a $10 donation to CAN for each vote, throughout the social hour and until the paddle raise, during which eventgoers filled out a donation form to support their favorite fundraiser.
Once dinner was over, all eyes were on the dance floor. Paliet started off the competition portion of the night with an upbeat routine featuring several genres of music to match her preferences.
McCabe followed with a classic and elegant ballroom performance. Starostecki mixed things up with a more edgy routine. He rocked a fur coat throughout the first half then threw $100 bills in the air at the end, all while the audience threw new Victoria Secret panties at him and his partner.
After the dance floor was cleared, Kelly took the stage for a Latin-inspired dance that even emcees Bob Trisolini and Bob Nosal wanted to tango to. Gratehouse then channelled her inner Dallas cowboy cheerleader for a Texas-girl routine.
Waters was the final dancer to grace the floor, along with a posse of Pink Ladies. Waters’ “Grease” theme included backup dancers, such as last year’s CANDance Fundraising and Dance Champion Donna Koffman. More than 50 Pink Ladies came dressed up to support their favorite dancer.
While the votes were tallied to determine the 2018 CANDance champion, professional dancers, including Elisa Carlisle, put on a show.
Waters was later crowned fundraising champion, and Kelly won the voters over with her spicy dance routine to be the CANDance champion.