Dance fever
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on October 18, 2015 1:50 AM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
The puppet master George Anderson runs around the stage to awaken his dolls from Artistic Dance Academy during "Puppet Show."
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Aaron Jordan leans over to give his daughter Jade a kiss on the head at the end of his Dancing Stars of Wayne County performance Friday night at the Paramount Theatre. Dancing alongside students from Goldsboro School of Ballet, Jordan received an award for best presentation and was also the top fundraiser, bringing in just over $5,000.
A birdman, a Michael Jackson impersonator and two flappers walk out onto a stage.
No, that isn't the lead-in to a poorly constructed joke.
It's just a sampling of the performances in the Dancing Stars of Wayne County fundraiser that took place on the Paramount Theatre stage Friday night.
This is the fifth year for the event, part of the Wayne Education Network under the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce.
Kate Daniels, chamber president, said it had evolved quite a bit over the years, starting out as a dance showcase for community "stars" into inclusion of local dance studios paired up with the dancers.
"Since five years ago, we have had 96 stars as part of this program," she said.
Four dance studios lent their time and talent, providing student dancers to appear on stage and support participants in the show. This year's studios included A Step of Class, Academy of Performing Arts, Artistic Dance Academy and School of Goldsboro Ballet.
Dr. Ed Wilson, chairman of the Wayne Education Network or WEN, shared what the countywide initiative designed to support educational and training opportunities for students and teachers had accomplished since being created in 2009. Among its contributions have been stipends for teacher interns -- $33,000 distributed to date -- a middle school career fair, teacher job fair and mini grants for teachers, with $123,000 given out so far.
Similar to the TV show "Dancing With the Stars," the local event featured judging and voting components. The public was invited to vote for the 16 participants online and throughout the actual show, at $10 a piece, with the one who raised the most money declared ultimate winner.
Local attorney Geoff Hulse was emcee for the evening, providing comedic commentary and slapstick recaps at intervals during the show. Judges providing feedback after each performance included Beverly Carroll, retired educator and former dancer and event organizer; Scott Stevens, Goldsboro city manager who also previously participated in the event; Brandi Strickland, last year's winner who raised over $11,100; and recently retired district attorney Branny Vickory.
Hulse also updated the audience throughout the event of the three top vote-getters.
Going into the competition, Dr. Leon Stockton was in the lead with $3,565, followed by Jennifer Collins with $3,285 and Beth Saylors and Aaron Jordan tied for third place with $2,600 apiece.
The physician morphed into Michael Jackson in his "Ode to Michael" performance, flanked by 15 dancers from Goldsboro School of Ballet.
"You didn't just beat it. You killed it," Hulse said afterward, evoking a Jacksonesque soft-spoken response from Stockton.
"Are you talking to me?" Hulse asked.
Stockton was a crowd favorite and stayed in the lead throughout the competition. He later enthused that a bonus was having his daughter, Sarah Stockton, among the dancers backing him up. Ultimately, though, he was bumped to second place when the final votes were tallied at night's end, bringing in $4,449.
In the end, trucking company owner Aaron Jordan, in a Goldsboro School of Ballet-choreographed rendition of "Bird Flu," clipped Stockton's wings and was named the champion, raising $5,151.
Jordan also received the judges award for best presentation, a frenetic performance which featured flamboyant body tattoos, an extravagant bird mask and buoyant wings.
"This is the whole reason I did this," he said after his dance, summoning his daughter, Jade Jordan, to the stage. " I got to dance with my daughter."
When he was presented with the grand prize later, he admitted he had not initially planned to participate.
"I kind of ran myself into a corner by telling my daughter last year at this time, 'I will do Dancing Stars,'" he said. "I didn't think she'd remember.
"She voluntold me and signed me up so here I am."
Rounding out the top three for the most money raised was Jennifer Collins, who was paired with Brooke Worley Norris and the Academy of Performing Arts, and were decked out as Roaring 20s flappers in red fringe dresses. Ms. Collins, who works in the Planning Department for the City of Goldsboro, raised $3,705.
The judges award went to George Anderson from Sam's Club, for "Puppet Show" during which he was puppetmaster to 14 dancers from Artistic Dance Academy.
The most technical performance award went to Erin Fonseca, promotions coordinator for Downtown Goldsboro Development Corporation, who received rave reviews for her haunting and "heartfelt" interpretation of the timely topic of sex trafficking.
"Cry Freedom" was choreographed by Artistic Dance Academy director Patricia O'Quinn Warren and her daughter, Tara Warren.
"It was very heartfelt. I'm speechless," Mrs. Carroll said afterward, thanking Ms. Fonseca for the message behind the performance.
"It took me a minute to pick you out of the girls," Stevens said. "You fit right in with them."