Contestants shook their booties and their groove things for a good cause on the weekend as they took to the floor for the Stars of Northern Rivers dance for cancer fundraiser.
The Cancer Council NSW hosted the gala show at the Byron Theatre raising over $60,000 for cancer.
MC Amy Colli introduced eight local legends joined by professional dance instructors. The Star’s brief was tough: never having had much dance experience before, they had only eight weeks to learn a dance routine while also fundraising to help people in the community affected by cancer. They then performed their dance at a gala event, in front of an impressive judging panel, including: Australian singer and entertainer, Normie Rowe, founder and Creative Director / Producer of Dance Integrated Australia, Philip Channells and Byron Tango dance teacher Jan Rae.
The dance stars competed for three awards: Judges’ Choice (overall winner), People’s Choice (determined by a text to vote / donate) and Highest Fundraiser (person who raised the highest amount of money overall).
And the winners are…
Quangi (Shoza) Chen from Shoza Gyoza in Clunes who danced with the dynamic Brittney Leshae from JC Dance School in Wolongbar. Photo supplied.
All the performances were outstanding, but the winners of the trophies on the night were: The Highest Fundraiser trophy went to Stevey Arena from Sugar Beach Ranch Ballina, and her teacher Briony Guest from Byron Ballet School who performed a very moving lyrical jazz dance. Stevey’s incredible fundraising efforts – was a super impressive $7,350 for the Cancer Council.
The People’s Choice Award (determined by a text to vote / donate system) went to local legend Max McAuley and his talented teacher Zerina Millard from Bollywood Sisters – this was clearly a popular choice with some impressive moving and shaking from those two.
The overall winner, the Judge’s Choice Trophy went to a dancing duo – Quangi (Shoza) Chen from Shoza Gyoza in Clunes who danced with the dynamic Brittney Leshae from JC Dance School in Wolongbar. They performed a high-energy hip-hop dance routine inspired by the Barbie movie which brought the house down and the judges were super impressed.
So many stars
Other stars and their dance teachers included: Margie Ward, Architect from Clunes danced with Silvia Magnani, from the Byron Ballet School – they performed a Latin Flavours routine; Edwina Black, Teacher and Jewellery Maker from Clunes danced with Shea Mulligan from Cape Byron Celtic Dance – they performed a fun Irish dance; Jordan Staniford, Executive Chef from Crystalbrook Byron danced with Grace Owen from Grace Dance Academy – they performed a Broadway act;Linda Kelly, a Northern Rivers Yoga Lates teacher danced with Lilith Rocha, from Mana Aloha Hula. They performed a beautiful Hawaiian dance, and; Tania Usher, from Blue Ginger Picnics in the Tweed, performed with Danielle Linegar from The Cassettes – they performed a fun disco dance.
The event also included a fun flash mob performance from the groovers from The Cassettes, a local dance group, who performed an energetic disco routine while the judges made their final decision.
Anne Briggs, Community Relations Coordinator at Cancer Council NSW’s Northern Rivers office said she was so honoured to work with such an amazing, fantastic, and fun group of people on the Stars of Northern Rivers event. ‘It was such a fun night! All our Stars and dance teachers were outstanding and so committed to the cause – they are all winners in our eyes.
‘I also loved the way they all supported each other along the way. I think we are all going to miss our rehearsals and get-togethers.
‘Their dance performances brought the house down…they were ALL such a high standard, entertaining, fabulous costuming and everyone had so much fun…I was glad I was not one of the judges – what a tough choice.
Thanks to the supporters and sponsors
‘We would like to do a big shout-out of thanks to our local community who supported our fundraising event – it really does take a village – whether it was by donating to the cause directly, sponsoring one of our local Stars, attending one of our Stars fundraising events in the lead up to the show, or by buying tickets to the performance on the night, it all adds up to one big successful event.
Sponsors for the event included Ballina RSL, Breast Friends Ballina and Lennox and Tour de Cure. Support also came from the hair and beauty teachers and students from TAFE who pampered the Stars and dance teachers on the night.
Local dance teachers also generously offered their time and expertise and worked with the Stars over the eight-week period to be performance-ready.
Funds raised by Stars of Northern Rivers will contribute to local Cancer Council initiatives such as the local Northern Rivers Transport to Treatment and Cancer Councils 13 11 20 information and support line, as well as provide practical and emotional support services such as access to free financial, legal and emotional support for cancer patients, carers and families, and education programs on cancer prevention.
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