YWCA's Dancing with Boulder Stars returns to Boulder Theater

Oct. 27—Since hitting the small screen in June 2005, ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" has become a pop-culture phenomenon.

In its 31 seasons, the syndicated celebrity competition show has featured Nick Lachey, George Hamilton, Wayne Brady, Cheryl Ladd, Tonya Harding, Carole Baskin and many others. Most recently, actress Selma Blair — who has multiple sclerosis — wowed judges and viewers with an elegant exit performance following the advice of her doctors to quit the show.

The Front Range has its own dancing tradition. Since 2007, YWCA's Dancing with Boulder Stars has paired accomplished residents working in a variety of fields with dance professionals.

"Every year we look forward to working with these wonderful community volunteers who have come forward to participate in this event," said Robyn Hazlitt, YWCA's development and marketing manager. "They are so passionate about our mission to eliminate racism and empower women, and we are always so grateful for their amazing work fundraising for YWCA Boulder County and, of course, their hard work learning to dance."

Dancing with the Boulder Stars returns to Boulder Theater from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

After many weeks of practice, nine teams of two will show off their moves.

Dancing with Boulder Stars has always been an inclusive happening, featuring dance teams comprised of partners of the same sex. From spellbinding contemporary numbers to high-energy routines that incorporate breakdancing, the mix of performances over the years remains memorable.

"This year I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone's performances," Hazlitt said. "Each team is so creative and has been working hard on such different styles of routines."

While the event provides plenty of entertainment, it is also a significant fundraiser for YWCA Boulder County. This year, organizers have set the bar high when it comes to the amount they hope to bring in.

"In honor of YWCA Boulder County's 100th anniversary this year, we are striving for the ambitious goal of raising $100,000," Hazlitt said. "With the community's support, I think we can do it."

Funds raised will go to support many of YWCA's programs, including Reading to End Racism (RER), an inter-generational literacy program for first through fifth grade students, and STEM E3, YWCA's Science, Technology, Engineering and Math program primarily for girls of color in fifth through eighth grades.

Voting is already open, and votes are cast by the amount of dollars donated to each team. While the winning team is based on the most funds raised, the night of the performances there will also be selections of Instructor of the Year and Judges' Choice awards.

Judges this year are Emma Nicoletti, 2021's Dancing with Boulder Stars champion, Noel Hefty, a local dancer, choreographer and producer and Mona Simon, from Streetside Dance.

Coming back to the stage will be 2019's winning team Dana Stillman and Michael Jaycox.

"Winning in 2019 pretty much blew me away," Stillman said. "As you know, teams win through people voting with dollars. I have done some fundraising in the past, but nothing like this. At the time, I just hoped I could make it to the goal of $5,000. So when I not only made it to that but surpassed doubling it, it was a very emotional moment to know that there is a community of people out there that gave to not only support me, but to support what is so desperately needed in our world as it relates to the YWCA mission of empowering women and eliminating racism."

While Stillman is a successful graphic designer, who runs her own company Inspire Graphic Design, she has always been attracted to the art of movement.

"My background in dance started back in middle school," Stillman said. "I remember our school put on an annual play that had a group of dancers, and they were always so cool. I started dancing at a local studio during that time and eventually became one of those dancers once I got to eighth grade."

Stillman continued dancing throughout high school and joined a competitive team.

"I traveled to Australia to perform at the 1988 World Fair in Brisbane and made it to the Tremaine National Finals in New York in 1990," Stillman said. "In the 1980s, tap, jazz, and ballet were standard in dance studios with modern coming up in the scene."

Stillman had dreams of working alongside some of the world's most famous pop stars.

"My favorite was jazz," Stillman said. "I always wanted to be a back-up dancer for Janet Jackson or Paula Abdul. As a young adult, I didn't pursue dance as a career but did eventually circle back and discovered hip hop as my new love."

Stillman and Jaycox have been burning hours practicing complex choreography.

"Michael (Jaycox) and I have been rehearsing since the end of September," Stillman said. "I have known Michael for almost 10 years now as a hip-hop teacher at Streetside Studios where I danced on a performance troupe and took many classes from him."

Stillman and Jaycox grappled with the song choice for their upcoming hip-hop performance, but the two ultimately landed on Destiny's Child's 1999 banger "Jumpin' Jumpin'."

"I definitely love the performance," Stillman said. "It is a truly exhilarating experience and so incredibly fun. To be able to do it for a cause that I care deeply about makes it even better."

While Dancing with Boulder Stars allows those who love dance to reexplore the art form, it also creates a platform for novices to break out of their comfort zones and shine.

"Most people are performing hip hop this year, and I am looking forward to the positive energy that dance form brings," said Jill Adler Grano, who participated in 2017 and who will return to the stage Wednesday along with her dance partner Ayla Satten, an instructor at Alchemy of Movement and Streetside Studios.

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Grano is the former Director of Community Affairs for Congressman Joe Neguse. She is a Boulder Housing Commissioner and chairwoman for the People for Voter Turnout campaign.

Prior to working with Neguse, she was elected as Boulder's first openly gay City Council member.

While on City Council, she introduced Boulder's assault weapons ban and age increase for firearm ownership, which passed in 2018.

"I love the energetic release that comes from dancing," Grano said. "I also love the smile that it brings to those performing and watching. I am not a dancer, as the audience will soon see, but I love to dance and feel lucky to have had lessons for this performance."

Voting remains open. Tickets to stream the event live for an entire household are just $10. It's $35 to be a part of the live studio audience.

"Ticket sales have been going great and are really ramping up," Hazlitt said. It's great to be back at full capacity at the Boulder Theater, and there should be plenty of seats for the entire community to come out and support these nine amazing dance teams."

Tickets can be purchased at ywcaboulder.org/boulderstars.

"Expect a banging good time and some audience interaction," Grano said.

Dancing with Boulder Stars 2022 Teams:

Jill Adler Grano and Ayla Satten

Deborah Knorr and Steve Penny

Brandy LeMae and Allison Johnson

Marta Loachamin and Carly McAleavy

Jessica Nicolella and Eileen Waukau

Kendra Prospero and Cheryl Gerde

McLean Smith and Chayenne Theberge

Andrea Steffes-Tuttle and Maren Waldman

Dana Stillman and Michael Jaycox