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DANCING THE NIGHT AWAY
At the Young Friends of the Kravis Center’s
17th Annual REACH FOR THE STARS
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Dancers: (Front) Rochelle
Ritchie,
Marci
Gonzalez,
Kyoung-im
Kang, Mayor
Lois
Frankel,
Livia Maciel,
Hillie
Mahoney, Liz
Quirantes,
Lesley
Elsbury,
Suzanne
Boyd, J.
Gwendolynne
Berry; (Back) Brian
Baker, Joe
Murillo,
Angelo
Caruso,
Corey Saban,
Steve Walsh,
Claude
Crevier,
Josh Cohen,
Herb
Vazquez,
Armando
Vega-Perez.
Photo by:
Corby Kaye
(Studio Palm
Beach)
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(West Palm Beach, FL – May 12, 2010) The 17th annual Reach for the Stars featuring a “Dancing for the Stars” ballroom dance competition at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts was truly a night of sparkling moments, filled with great music, glittery gowns and hundreds of fast-moving, tap-happy feet in designer high heels and shiny black shoes.
Presented by the Young Friends of the Kravis Center, the annual fundraiser for the Kravis Center ‘s S*T*A*R (Students and Teachers Arts Resource) Series and education programs, was a particular triumph for local TV station CBS-12 NEWS as two of its top on-air personalities – Liz Quirantes and Suzanne Boyd -- were both big winners.
Despite a broken buckle that forced her to dance in borrowed shoes, the svelte Quirantes and her partner, Claude Crevier of Park Avenue Dance, were the obvious favorites of both the judges and the audience as they jazzy-jived their way to the number one spot.
Finishing in second place were cha cha champs Josh Cohen of 94.3 Reach Radio andLesley Elsbury from Arthur Murray in Tequesta. Waltzing into third place were News Channel 5’s Marci Gonzalez and her partner Joe Murillo from Caruso Dancesport, West Palm Beach.
Other twinkle-toe competitors were Steve Walsh, former NFL Quarterback and Head Football Coach at Cardinal Newman High School, and his partner Livia Maciel, from Caruso Dancesport, Palm Beach – he sporting his school’s football jacket and she in cheerleader garb.
Plus the enthusiastic Corey Saban from THELAW.TV; J. Gwendolynne Berry, one of the Swirl Girls from The Palm Beach Post; and Rochelle Ritchie from WPTV News Channel 5, along with professional dancers Kyoung-im Kang from Park Avenue Dance in West Palm Beach and Brian Baker, and Armando Vega-Perez from Caruso Dancesport, West Palm Beach.
One of the evening’s highlights was the dazzling dance-off between Mayor Lois Frankel, 2009’s Dancing for the Stars winner, who came in second this year to 2008’s winner, CBS 12 NEWS and WFLX Fox 29’s Suzanne Boyd. Mayor Frankel’s tango partner was Angelo Caruso from Caruso Dancesport, while Ms. Boyd performed a perfect foxtrot with Herb Vazquez from The Palms West Ballroom in Royal Palm Beach.
In addition to the local ballroom dance competition, 2009 Ohio Star Ball Professional Latin Champions, Roman Kutskyy and Anna Kovalova, wowed the audience with an eye-popping, mouth-dropping ballroom show dance exhibition.
The judges for the 2010 Reach for the Stars ballroom dance competition were Frank Cerabino and Leslie Gray Streeter from The Palm Beach Post, and former NYC Ballet dancer and dance photographer Steve Caras from Palm Beach Dramaworks. The evening’s festivities were emceed by Tim Byrd (“The Byrdman”), president of VOXPOWER.COM. Hillie Mahoney served as the video correspondent prior to the event.
The talented Deirdre Baker once again provided all of the luscious costumes from Deirdre of London.
Marcie Gorman-Althof, David & Ingrid Kosowsky, Hillie Mahoney and the Sydelle & Arthur I. Meyer Foundation were Gold Sponsors of Reach for the Stars, and Susan Bloomand Jane M. Mitchell were Sponsors, with additional underwriting by Veronica Bauer, Robert L. Forbes and Melissa Wilson.
Additional support was provided by Bonefish Grill, Boynton Beach, Braman Motorcars Palm Beach, Celebrity Cruise Line, Deirdre of London, Eileen’s Cruise and Travel, Ellison Graphics Corporation, Ibis Liquors, The Palm Beach Post, Phase 9 Design Printing Web, Total Wine & More, Boynton Beach and Valentine Designs.
Thanks to their support and the hours donated by the celebrity dancers and professionals, the Young Friends of the Kravis Center raised $100,000 for the Center’s arts education programs, including the S*T*A*R (Students and Teachers Arts Resource Series).
Guests began the evening by applauding the ballroom dance competition in the Gimelstob Ballroom at the Cohen Pavilion. Following the presentation of the coveted mirror ball trophies, the crowd moved to the Dreyfoos Hall lobbies to enjoy a two-hour wine tasting of gourmet food and wine 18 different restaurants and vendors: Blue Martini West Palm Beach, Café Chardonnay, City Cellar Wine Bar & Grill, Echo, Executive Coffee Services, Grease Burger Bar, Havana Restaurant, Ironwood Grille, Kona Grill, Leila Restaurant, McCormick and Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant, Michelle Bernstein Restaurant at the Omphoy, Morton’s The Steakhouse, Palermo Bakery, Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila Bar, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Temple Orange at the Ritz Carlton, Palm Beach, Whole Foods Market and Zuccarelli’s Restaurant.
About the Young Friends of the Kravis Center:
The Young Friends of the Kravis Center is a giving group of young professionals, 25ish to 49ish, committed to supporting arts and culture in Palm Beach County. The Young Friends organize events throughout the year to support education programs which enable the children of our community to be exposed to the arts. There are many benefits to becoming a member of the Young Friends, including discounts to the popular Reach for the Stars “Dancing for the Stars” Ballroom Dance Competition. For more information, call 561-651-4429.
About the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts:
The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts is a not-for-profit performing arts center whose mission is to enhance the quality of life in Palm Beach County by presenting a diverse schedule of national and international artists and companies of the highest quality; by offering comprehensive arts education programs; by providing a Palm Beach County home in which local and regional arts organizations can showcase their work; and by providing economic catalyst and community leadership in West Palm Beach, supporting efforts to increase travel and tourism to Palm Beach County.
The Kravis
Center is located at 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm
Beach, FL. For more information, please
call 561-832-7469 .
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