Dancing for the Stars Returns to Music Hall Ballroom for 10th Anniversary

A Benefit for Cincinnati Arts Association's Overture Awards and arts education programs Dancing for the Stars 2016 returns for its 10th Anniversary, Saturday, April 9, 2016 at Music Hall Ballroom.

Tickets: $150 - Patron • $1,500 - Corporate Table • $2,000 - Celebrity Circle Table

Inspired by the hit ABC-TV show Dancing with the Stars, Dancing for the Stars will feature eight Cincinnati celebrities paired with some of the area's finest professional dancers in a competition program at which the audience will vote for their favorite celebrity dancer. The stars include: Stephen Beck, MD (Chief Medical Information Officer, Mercy Health), Eric Combs (Trial Lawyer and Partner, Dinsmore & Shohl), Casey Hilmer (Co-owner and Founder, Power Ryde), Jamie Humes (Vice President of Marketing, Traditions Building & Development Group), Jay Lame (Financial Analyst, Lenox Wealth Management), Dr. Lakshmi Sammarco (Hamilton County Coroner), Conrad Thiede (Director of Gifts, Cincinnati Pubic Radio), and Marianna Vardaka, MD (Board Certified Obstetrician-Gynecologist).

In addition, Dancing for the Stars will feature:

· Silent auction

· Showcase performance by a 2016 Overture Award finalist in dance

· Dance music by guest DJ "Rockin' Ron" Schumacher, WGRR-FM

· Pre-event reception and wine tasting

· Open dancing before and after the competition

· Lite bites provided by some of Cincinnati's finest restaurants and caterers

· Cash bar

In addition to the winner of the dance competition, Dancing for the Stars will crown a Fundraising Champion - the celebrity dancer who raises the most revenue toward the event's fundraising goal through table/ticket sales and donations from fans, who can add a donation under their favorite celebrity's name at the time of ticket purchase, or simply make a donation if they cannot attend the event. These direct donations (outside of the event ticket price) will help one of the fans' favorite celebrities win the Dancing for the Stars Fundraising Champion award - which will be announced the evening of the event - and are 100% tax deductible.

The event will benefit the stars of tomorrow - the talented high school artists who participate each year in CAA's Overture Awards - as well as CAA's diverse arts education programs. The Dancing for the Stars committee includes: Dr. Tracey Skale (co-chair, Dancing for the Stars 2011 winner), Phil Schworer (co-chair, Dancing for the Stars 2009 winner), Christina Bolden, Terry Foster, Sue Gilkey, Jim Howland, Ginger Loftin, and Rosemary Schlachter.

Tickets are currently on sale at the following levels (a portion of the ticket price is tax-deductible):

• $150 - Patron (includes pre-event reception and two drink tickets)
• $1,500 - Corporate Table (ten Patron level tickets and a half-page program ad)
• $2,000 - Celebrity Circle Table (premium "first-row" viewing of competition area, ten Patron level tickets, full-page program ad, recognition on event signage)

Reservations and Information:

• (513) 977-4188

• Aronoff Center Ticket Office
• www.CincinnatiArts.org

THE STARS:

· Stephen Beck, MD (Chief Medical Information Officer, Mercy Health)

· Eric Combs (Trial Lawyer and Partner, Dinsmore & Shohl)

· Casey Hilmer (Co-owner and Founder, Power Ryde)

· Jamie Humes (Vice President of Marketing, Traditions Building & Development Group)

· Jay Lame (Financial Analyst, Lenox Wealth Management)

· Dr. Lakshmi Sammarco (Hamilton County Coroner)

· Conrad Thiede (Director of Gifts, Cincinnati Public Radio)

· Marianna Vardaka, MD (Board Certified Obstetrician-Gynecologist)

THE PROS (with Star pairing):

• Doreen Beatrice (Independent Dance Instructor) - Eric Combs
• Leigh Bradshaw (Cincinnati Ballroom Company) - Jay Lame
• Bonita Brockert (Independent Dance Instructor) - Conrad Thiede

• Desiree Mainous (Arthur Murray Dance Studio - Cincinnati) - Stephen Beck, MD
• Jeremy Mainous (Arthur Murray Dance Studio - Cincinnati) - Dr. Lakshmi Sammarco
• Jozsef Parragh (Independent Dance Instructor) - Marianna Vardaka, MD
• Josh Tilford (Independent Dance Instructor) - Jamie Humes
• Alyenendrov (Lenny) Tsorkean (Phoenix Rising Ballroom) - Casey Hilmer

THE HOSTS: Chris O'Brien & Janeen Coyle ("Married With Microphones," 103.5 WGRR-FM)

THE JUDGES:

· Douglas Beal (Independent Dance Instructor)

· Joe Rigotti (Creative Director, Accent on Cincinnati; Dancing for the Stars 2012 Alum)

· Doug Bolton (Managing Principal, Cushman & Wakefield; Dancing for the Stars 2015 Fundraising Champion)

· Fourth Judge TBA

Presenting Sponsor: TriHealth (in celebration of The Overture Awards' alumni - past, present and future)

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