Pictured above: The 2016 cast of Martin County Healthy Start’s Dancing with the Martin Stars.
Have you ever imagined yourself dancing on stage? Do you have what it takes to perform in front of a live audience? Are you looking for a way to positively influence the lives of women, babies and families in Martin County? This is your opportunity to fulfill that dream! Martin County Healthy Start Coalition (Healthy Start) launched the acclaimed Dancing with the Martin Stars event six years ago, and since then, nearly $630,000 has been raised to ensure all babies in Martin County are born healthy. This year, Dancing with the Martin Stars takes place on September 23 at The Lyric Theatre in historic downtown Stuart.
Healthy Start’s signature fundraiser pairs well-known members of the community with professional dance instructors who train with them on a dance routine that is performed in front of a sold-out crowd at The Lyric Theatre. The winner of the dance competition is determined through a combination of performance and fundraising ability.
“We encourage anyone, who’s up for the challenge, to apply to join the cast of Dancing with the Martin Stars,” said Dr. Teena White, Martin County Healthy Start President. “We are currently recruiting individuals who are not only inspired by our mission to ensure every baby in Martin County is born healthy, but who also have the charisma, skill to perform on stage, and ability to raise funds for the cause. Over the years, this organization has had truly incredible people from our community step up to participate in the event and we expect this year to be no different. We attribute the event’s remarkable success to the dancers who rally support and compete in the event,” White added.
An easy-to-complete questionnaire is available on the Healthy Start Website. Applicants are encouraged to be creative by submitting photos, videos, testimonials, or other means of expressing their level of enthusiasm about being a star dancer in the event. The deadline for submission is May 1, 2017. For more information call 772-463-2888, email dwms@mchealthystart.org or go to www.mchealthystart.org.
Highlights from 2016 Dancing with the Martin Stars
In 2016, a sold out crowd at the Lyric Theatre was entertained by nine talented dance duos that collectively raised over $167,000 – a new fundraising record – to benefit the women and newborns in the community served by Healthy Start. Libby Flippo, with her partner Bob Murray, were the overall winners last year for being the top fundraiser (raising more than $40,000) as well as achieving a score of 28 out of 30 from the judges. They performed an exceptional version of the Argentine tango. If that wasn’t impressive enough, two dancers broke all time individual fundraising efforts - Libby Flippo and Julia Sansevere. Three of the dance duos received perfect scores from the judges for their performances. The winners included Helen Martin and her partner Travis Stancil for their original contemporary dance, Shaun Kelly and her partner Craig Galvin for their high energy foxtrot/west coast swing, and Jeff Teach and Holly Perle for their alluring rhumba. One hundred percent of the funds raised through Dancing with the Martin Stars were used to pay for services and programs offered by Healthy Start such as prenatal care, ultrasounds, lab testing and specialized medical care for high-risk mothers.
About Martin County Healthy Start Coalition
Martin County Healthy Start Coalition is a community-based 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization that offers support and education to pregnant women and infants. Prenatal and infant risk screening, prenatal care, childbirth education, counseling services, and parenting education classes are available to families to ensure that all babies are born healthy. Connect with Martin County Healthy Start on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MCHealthyStart. For more information call 772-463-2888 or visit www.mchealthystart.org.
