Interview: OVERFLOWing onto the Dance Floor

On Thursday, August 4 I was excited to be a judge for a new fundraising event for The Overflow Foundation. The Overflow Foundation is a non-profit that strives to teach students to flow past their limits by bringing the arts to areas that lack these subjects in their schools. With classes in acting, music, visual arts and reading, The Overflow Foundation has been working in the East Lake area of Birmingham for two years and hopes to expand to include Tarrant this coming school year. Their dream is to encourage students to step outside of their box and try new things that will make them better students and better people.

On Thursday, OF held its inaugural "Dancing With the Stars" competition and I have to say it was really a fun event. Held at the Dance Foundation in Homewood, six couples competed for a trophy and gift cards sponsored by BroadwayWorld.com-Birmingham. For many of the couples, this was a night for them to step out of their comfort zones and try something new. For others it was a night to share their passion for dance.

As one of the judges, I was pleased to see a packed house enjoy many different styles of dancing from the competitors. My fellow judges were actor Kyle Bass and dancer Courtney Brooks. Our MC for the night was Scott Brooks.

The dancers were Dan and Carrie Carter, Halley Power and Wes Herring, Karim Shamsi-Basha and Lorie Flanegan, Ross Furio and Madison Hutto, Sterling Burroughs and Monica Gauker and Nathan and Kameron Carden.

The Carters danced to Michael Jackson, while Halley and Wes were comical dancing to a wide array of music. Ross and Madison had a fun routine that they worked on in preparation for their upcoming wedding and the Cardens did their best "Pulp Fiction" impersonations.

Karim and Lorie, Sterling and Monica danced to more classical sounds that made you want to get out of your seat and waltz with them.

With exhibition dances at the beginning and end of the show, it was a night to remember.

Winners were selected by adding the judges scores to the dollars that each team collected during intermission. Over $10,000 was raised for this worthwhile program, exceeding the goal set by founder Julie Adams, who exclaimed, "This fundraiser was one for the books!"

The winners were Nathan and Kameron Carden, pictured here receiving the BWW trophy.

It was definitely a great night for all. If you would like to help support bringing arts and reading to kids who might not get those important programs in school, go to www.overflowfoundation.com The website is being restructured, but you can still donate there.

Photo credit- Julie Adams

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