01/05/17 — Dancing Stars will be tonight

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Dancing Stars will be tonight

By Staff Reports
Published in News on January 5, 2017 9:57 AM

Dancing Stars of Wayne County will be tonight at 6:30 at the Paramount Theatre.

The annual fundraiser, originally slated for Nov. 4, was postponed due to Hurricane Matthew.

The event raises money to support Wayne Education Network, a partnership supporting educational efforts across Wayne County. Among its many activities are teacher scholarships, teacher stipends, mini grants, middle school career fair, teacher job fair, teacher welcome breakfast and the Golden Rule incentive program for teachers.

Modeled after the popular TV show, "Dancing With the Stars," it pairs residents with students from local dance studios.

This is the sixth year for the event. Seventeen local "stars" will be featured on the program, along with representation from five dance studios.

Academy of Performing Arts: Cynthia Giambatista and Michael Hayes of Wayne County Public Schools; and Jeremy May of BB&T

Artistic Dance Academy: Helen Baddour of Baddour, Parker, Hine & Hale; Aulena Barnes of Radiant Serenity Esthetics & Spa; Aaronia Grady of Daniels & Daniels Construction Co.; and Corey Coley of N.C. Wesleyan College

A Step of Class Dance Studio: Michelle Garon of Eastern Wayne High School; Kelli Corbett from Wayne Action Teams for Community Health, or WATCH; and Terry Gainer, 916th Air Refueling Wing, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base

Goldsboro School of Ballet: Edna Gambella of St. Mary School; Chad Lewis from Dillard Middle School; and Dr. Ben Eskra, Wayne Health Physicians

Studio 33 Dance Company: Rebecca Bartick from Southeastern Medical Oncology; Jessi Carter, homeschool educator; Steve Mitchell, Markham, Mitchell & Stroud, CPAs; and Charles Spruill, O'Berry Neuro-Medical Treatment Center.

Last year's event raised $69,030 for the Wayne Education Network.