The Third Annual ‘A Night Among Stars’ – powered by Lacombe Ford — is set for March 9 at the Lacombe Memorial Centre.
“It’s put on by the Dancer’s Edge Parents Association in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters,” said Jen Harty, BBBS interim executive director.
“It’s a fundraiser where, every year, we see the community connection,” she said, adding that the celebrity dancers’ commitment of personal time to prepping for the event is inspiring in and of itself.
“We had them matched up in November, so they’ve been working on this since then. They also have been putting themselves out there into the community to advocate for Big Brothers Big Sisters, too.
”To me, it shows what the community can do when everyone works together,” she said, adding that this year’s event will include delicious charcuterie boards.
“There will also be a late-night dinner of a poutine bar.”
This year’s dancers include Tegan Heck, Brad Bromley, Lisa Vornbrock, Ted Lloyd, Todd Lewis, and Trinity Williams.
To donate to a dancer, head to the A Night Among Stars Facebook page to find each of their website links (www.facebook.com/nightamongstars).
Tickets are also available for purchase via the Big Brothers Big Sisters Facebook page as well.
“Now it’s just about getting the word out into the community — I know that our celebrity dancers are doing a great job of getting out there and fundraising,” she said.
“The dollars that are raised by these celebrity dancers go directly back into the Big Brothers Big Sisters local mentoring programs,” she said.
Harty took in last year’s event and said it was a stunningly magical evening from start to finish.
“It’s a lot of fun. It’s a unique fundraiser — you walk in, and there’s a red carpet — it’s honestly hard to explain how beautiful it looks.
“The Dancer’s Edge Parents Association does an amazing job setting it up and making it look the way that it does.
“Also seeing the performances put on by Dancer’s Edge Studio dancers is cool to see as well.
“And of course, seeing the celebrity dancers light up the dance floor by showing what they have learned is amazing,” she said, adding that most of this year’s dancers don’t have much dance experience to draw on, which makes their efforts and commitment to the cause that much more inspiring and admirable.
“We are so excited that they are taking this on full force to support us,” she said.
“We thank the local celebrities and the professional dancers (partnered with them). Also, we thank the community businesses for helping us to bring this event to life again this year.”
As mentioned, funds raised support the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization and also go back into Dancer’s Edge scholarships, and competitive and travel expenses as well.
“Last year, the Dancer’s Edge Parents Association was able to raise just over $47,000,” said Mandy Walter, president of the Dancer’s Edge Parent Association.
“So this is why we are here with round three because it was such a great feeling to be able to walk away knowing that those funds are going back into our community.”
Walter noted that this year’s dancers come from across Central Alberta, including the communities of Ponoka, Sylvan Lake, Bentley, Red Deer, and of course Lacombe.
So it’s truly a regional event, she said.
“Of course, we will also have performances from our home studio dancers from Dancer’s Edge too. We want to showcase them as well.”
Meanwhile, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lacombe and District serves the communities of Clive, Bentley, and Blackfalds as well.
At Big Brothers, Big Sisters, folks can sign up for one-to-one mentoring which can take place in a local school for one hour each week.
There is also community-based, one-to-one mentoring, which has mentors spending in the neighborhood of six to eight hours each month with their mentee.
The organization has a 33-year-long history in the Lacombe area.
Again, for ticket information (tables of eight or single tickets are available) for A Night Among Stars, head to the A Night Among Stars Facebook page, call the Big Brothers Big Sisters office at 403-782-7870 or visit www.lacombe.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca.