Get ready to see waltzes, rumbas, tangoes, twirls, some cha, cha, cha, and maybe even some moonwalking at the Dancing Stars of Greenwich, a charity dance off for the nonprofit Abilis.
— an announcement from Abilis
This fourth annual event will be bigger than ever with celebrity judges and a line-up of dancers. It features local celebrities and community leaders performing choreographed dance routines, mirroring the hit TV show.
“Dancing Stars of Greenwich is full of all the fun, glitz and glamour of the hit TV show Dancing with the Stars,” said Elmar Schmidt, owner and ballroom dance instructor of the Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Greenwich. “Local stars and leaders in the community have been training to compete, just like on television.”
The panel of celebrity judges and the audience decide who will win the Mirrorball trophy. Guests will enjoy an evening of live entertainment, music, dancing, a champagne reception, hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction.
Tickets are now on sale for the event, to be held Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, at the Tamarack Country Club in Greenwich. Tickets sell out quickly every year, so reserve yours today at GreenwichDancingStars.com.
Photo from Abilis
Dancers Clemens Legenfelder and Rita Lurito compete at the 2021 Dancing Stars event.
Dancing pairs are sponsored by donations to Abilis, with the top fundraising team awarded the “People’s Choice Award.”
This year’s event features celebrity judges Brendan Fraser, eight-time award winning actor; Lara Spencer, co-anchor for ABC’s Good Morning America; and Billy Blanks, Jr., creator and host of Dance It Out TV on Lifetime Television, choreographer and dancer.
Photo from Abilis
Clemens Legenfelder and Dr. Katie Takayasu show how to cut a rug at the 2021 competition.
The master of ceremonies is Ali Wentworth, co-creator, star and co-executive producer of the “Head Case” series, former correspondent with the “The Oprah Winfrey Show.
“The Dancing Stars of Greenwich charity dance-off is one of our favorite events of the year,” said Amy Montimurro, CEO and president of Abilis. “We’ve had such a great partnership with The Fred Astaire Studio of Greenwich for the past several years, along with the dancers and partners.”
The funds raised support all of Abilis programs and services, which serve more than 800 individuals with disabilities and their families in Fairfield County.
Brendan and Afton Fraser, who act as a judge and dancer, have been big supporters of Dancing Stars of Greenwich and Abilis over the years. They are parents to a son with special needs and know personally how crucial programs and supports like Abilis offers are to families with children and adults with disabilities.
“We are proud to support Dancing Stars of Greenwich and Abilis to help raise funds for Abilis’ programs and services,” said Afton Fraser. “We know how much it means to a family to have an organization like Abilis that can help provide training, educational, social and employment opportunities for those with special needs.
“It can mean the difference between living an isolated life and one full of friends and with meaning,” Fraser said. “They are really a great organization, and we are happy to help in any way.”
Photo from Abilis
From the 2021 event: It’s not all ballroom dancing.
Dancers at the event include: Brad and Erica Walker of Greenwich — the first amateur couple to participate; Trevor Crow of Greenwich; Lindsay Darrell of Stamford; Afton Fraser of Greenwich, who has participated in every Dancing Stars of Greenwich event; Melissa Levin of Greenwich; Elaine Madonna of Greenwich, who won the People’s Choice Trophy last year; Greg Masone of Greenwich, Makeda Mays-Green of Stamford, Chris McCormack of Greenwich and Carly Samalin of Greenwich, who is the youngest dancer and an incoming Greenwich High School freshman on the Abilis Youth Board.
Each dancer is paired with a professional partner from The Fred Astaire Studio. Those dancers are: Matthew Ames, Clemens Lengenfelder, Santa Pavlovic, Christian Perry and Elmar Schmidt.
About Abilis
Abilis is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that supports more than 800 individuals with disabilities and their families from birth throughout their lives. Founded in 1951, Abilis provides support to the community in Fairfield County, in towns including Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Ridgefield, Stamford, Westport and Wilton.
For more information, visit the Abilis website or follow on Facebook @Abilis, Inc., Instagram @abilis_us or Twitter @Abilis.
About the Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Greenwich
Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Greenwich provides ballroom and Latin dance lessons to all ages and attracts participants from the Greenwich, Stamford and New Canaan areas, and Armonk, Harrison, White Plains, Port Chester, Rye, Mamaroneck and Scarsdale, New York, areas.
There is no partner or experience necessary to enjoy ballroom dance lessons. The dance studio has made it its mission to ignite a passion for ballroom dancing in as many lives as possible.