He’s busted a few moves while on stage in local theatre, but Geauga Park District Chief Naturalist John Kolar is confident his professional dancing partner will show him how to truly “cut a rug” before Oct. 18 arrives.
Kolar is one of several area dancers participating in “Dancing for Kids” — a competition inspired by the hit television show “Dancing With the Stars” — which aims to raise money for Geauga County’s court-appointed special advocate program to benefit abused and neglected children in the community
“I have an amazing professional dance partner, Renata Nitscheova-Knaus, who has helped me immensely,” Kolar said. “Our rehearsals are going very well. Renata and I will be rocking out to a ‘Queen’ song and doing a swing dance for our dance.”
Kolar said each local “celebrity” is learning one type of dance for the compe-tition/fundraiser, which will take place from
6 p.m. to midnight Oct. 18 at Cleveland’s Renaissance Hotel.
Each $80 ticket includes drink tickets, dinner, dance performances, a live auction and open dancing following the competition, which is sponsored by Fairmount Santrol, based in Chester Township.
Celebrity dancers, all amateurs, have been paired with professional partners from Alpha Dance Studio in Highland Heights, forming teams to compete for Best of Show.
Each pair will face off at the event and a winner will be chosen at the end of the evening based on a combination of performance scores and total number of votes.
A panel of three judges, including one professional dancer and “Live on Lakeside” host Michael Cardamone from WKYC-TV will judge the event. Online votes and judges’ votes will be tallied to crown the first ever “Dancing for Kids” champion.
In addition to Kolar, other celebrity dancers include Lynlee Altman of Pinnacle Construction, Clint Fowler of Fairmount Minerals, Geauga County Juvenile/Probate Court Judge Tim Grendell, Aaron Grossman of Alliance Solutions Group, Cleveland Cavalier host, radio and television personality Nicole Marcellino, and Kathleen Visconsi of Your Hometown Chagrin Falls.
Professional dancers under the guidance of Antonio Nunez, lead instructor of Alpha Dance Studio include Nunez, Mario Caliri, Carmen Camino, Thomas Kindt, Lisa Ferrara, Nitscheova-Knaus and Kimberly Stoffko-Bauer.
“We are excited to be bringing this event to the Cleveland Community,” event chairperson Amber Gile said. “While we are not the first community to model a charity event after ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ we believe this will be the first ongoing effort for Cleveland.”
Kolar said when he was offered the chance to compete, he “enthusiastically accepted,” and thought it was great to see so many people come together to benefit kids in need.
“I am having a blast and am so happy to be dancing for such a great cause — kids,” he said. “I would not consider myself a dancer but have danced a bit onstage when onstage in local community theater. I am confident though that Renata is helping me become a dancer.”
Friends of CASA President Jonathan Slain said he believes the money raised by this event will be a lifesaver for the abused and neglected children of Geauga County.
“There is an unprecedented rise of heroin and opiate addiction occurring in our community and it is wreaking havoc with families,” Slain said in a press release.
“The most important issue is raising funds to benefit the children,” said Judge Diane Grendell, Tim Grendell’s wife and dance partner. “What could be more important to our society than protecting and nourishing our children? The communities help will make the world a better place.
Dance teams have been practicing in the weeks leading up to the event as professional dancers donate their time with lessons.
“I am doing it to support the CASA program, which is invaluable to the court’s efforts to protect children,” said Tim Grendell.
Tim Grendell and is wife have been practicing the tango using music from the film “True Lies,” under Caliri’s tutelage.
Other competitors also expressed enthusiastic about the event.
“I am having a great time,” said Visconsi, who will be dancing the fox trot with her partner Tony Nunez.
Visconsi added she loves to dance, but also has some stage fright.
“I am extremely nervous, but I always remind myself that this all for a good cause,” Visconsi said. “Whether you are a dancer, have worked with children, or have kids yourself, I hope you will join me to support this great cause. And please vote for my team.”
“The idea to join the competition was Tim’s idea,” Diane Grendell said. “Tim has refused to dance for over 21 years, but when CASA asked him, he could only say ‘yes.’ This cause is too important. So after all these years, broken ankles, knee replacement surgery, rotator cup surgery and two eye surgeries, I am trying to learn to dance.”
Tim Grendell added, “Sure the competition is stiff, but we already have a victory. Any way of raising awareness of the CASA program benefits the children.”
Tickets and voting for the event are available at www.dancingforkids.org. Votes can be purchased online for $5 for the best couple.