Two big events on the calendar this weekend: the 4th Annual Horizons Dance With the Stars fundraiser Saturday at the Kent County Community Center in Worton, and the Ravens playoff game this Sunday against the Patriots. And while the Spy was unsuccessful in getting any quotes from the Baltimore team, we were able to reach some of the Horizons Stars by phone.
Attorney Charles Athey admitted that while he has been secretly practicing for years, he may need a few more days to polish the Country Hop he is working on with partner Amanda Ensor. The two will be dancing to the new country remake of “Footloose;” Athey anticipates plenty of crowd participation and handclapping during their performance.
Torr Howell, owner of Blue Heron Contracting, will be performing the ChaCha with Zumba instructor Cherae Ensor. Howell said over the phone that he had no idea what he was getting into, and that it has, “.. been quite an experience, as I have never done any ballroom dancing.” He promised to be quite entertaining, perhaps even a spectacle, and that it was, “All for the kids.”
Kirk Helfenbein has learned that his Jive with Aundra Weissert is one of the harder dance steps to master. He must be doing fairly well, because during one of the pair’s practice sessions at Washington College, a student stuck his head in the door and asked Helfenbein if he gave lessons. Another ‘non-dancer,’ Helfenbein, whose day job is a funeral director, confessed that he is trying to overcome a huge fear of dancing in public, and that his wife does all the dancing at parties. He said that his stage debut would be good for him personally, as well as a great night for the Horizons program.
Event judge Margo Bailey sent in an email, ” Horizons Dancing With the Stars has it all over network television. The humanity and caring for the children who will be the beneficiaries of this joyful night throbs around the room. How joyful to see your friend, neighbor, teacher and those involved in all walks of our life in Kent County put aside their personal selves to get out on stage and smile at the lights and audience and dance their hearts out as if they do it every day. Bravo to the contestants and the Horizon group for letting us share in this magnificent night.”
The Horizons program in Kent County was founded at Kent School in 1995 and moved to Radcliffe Creek School three years ago. The program serves some 70 low-income children each year, offering them targeted instruction in reading and math, science projects, swim lessons and activities that build citizenship and community. The Dance with the Stars event is a major source of funding for teacher salaries, supplies and other costs.
The Spy has been told that the event is sold out. Horizons thanks the community for all the overwhelming support.
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