'Dancing With Our Community Stars' Will Raise Money for CWC Schools

And the Mirror Ball trophy goes to ...

The Caldwell-West Caldwell Education Foundation’s inaugural “” fundraising event will samba into town on Saturday, Feb. 11.

The event, which will take place at ’s (JCHS) Center for Performing Arts, is a take-off of ABC's hit show Dancing With the Stars, and will showcase 12 recognizable community members who have volunteered to put their dancing skills to the test and dazzle the audience with their footwork. Similar to the television show, each participant will partner with a professional dancer from Montville’s Fred Astaire Dance Studio.
 
The star-studded lineup includes Principal Barbara Adams, Caldwells Patch editor Teresa Akersten, JCHS Principal Kevin Barnes, West Caldwell Councilman Joe Cecere, West Caldwell resident Nick Cofone, Caldwell-West Caldwell Board of Education Member Mary Davidson, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Daniel A. Gerardi, (GCMS) and JCHS teacher Lisa Manfre, North Essex Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Member Pat Nocito, GCMS and JCHS teacher Diana Reyes, MMA Instructor Sempai Fabian Rosario, and manager Rebecca Thorton.

As an added bonus, the show will also feature several musical numbers from JCHS’s upcoming spring production 42nd Street by its cast of student dancers.
 
Participants will compete for the coveted Mirror Ball Trophies awarded to the Best Male Dancer, the Best Female Dancer and the People’s Choice Dancer. The best male and female dancers will be judged by a panel of judges featuring West Caldwell Mayor Joseph Tempesta, and Ilya and Nadia Ifromov, the owners of Montville and Princeton Fred Astaire Dance Studios.

The Ifromovs have been featured on popular television shows, including America’s Ballroom Challenge and The Real Housewives of New Jersey. National judges and choreographers, they are the World Masters Professional Latin Champions, North American Professional Champions, World Cup Professional Champions, and six-time Fred Astaire National Champions.
 
Votes cast by the public for $1 per vote both prior to and during the event will determine The People’s Choice winner.
 
Charlie Pennatello, a member of the NJ Fred Astaire Regional Directors, will emcee the event. He and his wife Jeannie are professional judges and coaches, three-time U.S. Professional American Smooth and Rhythm Champions, and former Fred Astaire National Champions.
 
Tickets for the event are $10 for adults and $7 for students and senior citizens (65+). Reserved seats are available at www.Showtix4u.com. General admission tickets can be purchased from any of the dancers or by mailing a check to CWCEF, P.O. Box 96, Caldwell, NJ 07006. Please note that online orders are subject to credit card fees.
 
To help put the “fun” back in fundraising and sponsor the event, or to purchase an ad for the playbill, e-mail cwefinfo@gmail.com.
 
The Caldwell-West Caldwell Education Foundation is a 501(C) 3 non-profit organization. All proceeds from this event will benefit the students of the Caldwell-West Caldwell District. For more information on the CWCEF, visit www.cwcef.org.