This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
02/07/2017 03:30 PMClinton’s version of Dancing with the Stars is ever so slightly like a real-world musical. It’s evocative of that moment when everyone—firefighters, policemen, shopkeepers, all the townsfolk—stop doing their ordinary activities and start dancing.
“It’s not every day you get to see a firefighter dancing the cha-cha or the rumba up on the stage, or the police chief,” said Clinton Chamber of Commerce President Mary Ellen Ierardi.
This year, the Chamber is hosting its third annual Dancing with the Stars on Friday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. at Andrews Memorial Town Hall. Professional dancers paired with talented locals will perform to a song of their choice.
“They’ve been practicing for two months now,” said Ierardi. “They pick a dance and their song—and nobody knows that until the night of, so it’s a surprise.”
Local dance studios that are participating include Ballroom Dancin’ Fools of Guilford, Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Old Saybrook, and the Arthur Murray Dance Center of Niantic. Nine local figures will join the pros: Clinton Police Chief Vincent DeMaio; Jen Russo of Rock Bottom Band; Morgan School football coach Pete Nye; Clinton Registrar of Voters June Hansen; Pastor Darren DePaul of Cornerstone Church; Eddie Alberino of the Clinton Volunteer Fire Department; Clinton Chamber of Commerce former director Lauren Sposato, who put together the first Dancing with the Stars; Clinton Sailing Club founder Alan Felgate; and First Selectman’s Assistant Mary Schettino.
“Obviously, some of our dancers have a great following—their families come—but it really is a town-wide event,” said Ierardi. “I like when the town lights up. Everybody gets excited. That’s what Clinton is all about and what it should be about: community.”
A big screen up on the stage introduces each pair of dancers with a brief bio, and spotlights them during their dance sequence. The screen also serves to highlight local businesses—each couple has a sponsor, and commercials run between sets. DJ Michael John of Long Island Sounds Entertainment will emcee the event, and three celebrity judges will score the dancers on a scale of 1 to 10. This year’s judges are Melissa Mitko of Jared Eliot Middle School, Laura Attanasio of Kidz Konnection Youth Theatre, and WFSB Eyewitness News 3 host Kevin Hogan.
For those hoping to attend, Ierardi recommends purchasing tickets as soon as possible.
“Each year we get bigger and better,” she said. “The VIP seats went immediately, and tickets are selling like hotcakes.”
Despite its pomp and popularity, Ierardi emphasized that it’s a casual affair at heart.
“We want people to come and be relaxed and enjoy the evening,” she said. “There’s no pressure. It’s just a good, old-fashioned town event. It makes people happy.”
Finally, Ierardi wanted to recognize the committee behind this year’s Dancing with the Stars: Jessica Demers, Mari Lee, Lynn Pinder, Jess Mastroianni, Dave Elder, and Todd Steward—both Steward and Lee danced at last year’s event.
“We have an amazing committee that has been working really hard on this event,” she said. “Everybody is really pumped about it just because of the joy that it brings to people. We’re all looking forward to it.”
The Clinton Chamber of Commerce hosts its third annual Dancing with the Stars on Friday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. at Andrews Memorial Town Hall, 54 East Main Street. The cost is $15 for students and $20 for adults. Seating is limited. For more information or tickets, call the Clinton Chamber at 860-669-3889.