Giordano Dance to Host Dancing with the Giordano Dance Stars
| Giordano Dance Chicago (GDC) hosts its wildly popular “Dancing With The Giordano Stars” ballroom dance competition to benefit GDC’s Jazz Dance/Science & Health outreach program, company operations, and jazz dance advocacy and mentorship programs 7 -11 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6. The event will take place at Park West, 322 W. Armitage Ave. This annual gala, patterned after the hit ABC series “Dancing With The Stars,” teams GDC professional dancers with partners from the who’s who of Chicago’s civic, social and business communities to vie for “Best Male Dancer” and “Best Female Dancer” honors before a panel of celebrity judges. WGN’s Anna Davlantes will emcee. The slate of male contestants (and their GDC dance partners) are Shaun Gallagher, Head of ADR Conversion Trading at BTIG (with Katie Rafferty), Scott Hudson, President & CEO at Gallagher-Bassett (with Erina Ueda), Robb Leone, Co-Founder & President at BIÂN Chicago (with Ashley Downs), Raul Ruiz, Senior VP: Global Houseware & Modern Design at Instant Brands (with Onjélee Phomthirath) and Dr. Hilel Swerdin of ENT Family Clinic (with Amanda Hickey). The female contestants (and their GDC dance partners) are Courtney Eisen Burk (with Adam Houston), Rachel Kohl (with Ryan Galloway), Sarah Norris, Parter & Head at BBR Chicago (with Skyler Newcom), Beth Ann Papoutisis (with Zachary Heller) and Randi Whitman, Owner at Frog Temple Pilates & Yoga (with Fernando Rodriguez). The evening will begin with spirits and light fare, followed by the competition. As part of the competition, each couple will perform a compulsory Foxtrot and a dance of their choice: Cha Cha, Swing, Rumba, Salsa or Tango. Open dancing for all guests completes the evening. Tickets range from $150 to $1,600. Corporate sponsorships are available. For tickets or more information visit giordanodance.org or call 312.922.1332. “Dancing With The Giordano Stars” precedes GDC’s fall engagement at the Harris Theater | Millennium Park, 205 E. Randolph Dr., Friday, Oct. 21 and Saturday, Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets go on sale Aug. 11 at the Harris Theater box office. For more info visit harristheaterchicago.org. |
