Putting on their Dancing Shoes to Support Local Youth

The Boys & Girls Clubs Dancing for the Stars event is now in its eight year and has drawn dancers from all walks of local life –    a mayor and town council member, business leaders, the Yavapai County Sheriff, a fire chief, cardiologist, dentist, saloon owner, college president and an online newspaper editor – among others. The local celebrities are joined with dance professionals who help them craft a performance for the event.

With clubhouses in Prescott and Prescott Valley, the Boys & Girls Clubs program incorporates academic enrichment, health and wellness, STEM, arts, sports and recreation, and character and leadership development.

During the school year, clubs offer daily homework tutoring, educational games, healthy habit activities, arts and crafts, recreation and sports, STEM projects, community service and more. This summer, the clubs’ day camp is serving 300 kids.

The theme for season eight is “Dancing Through the Ages” with Phil Stephens and Dre Caldwell; Kym Lopez and Sally Ann Mcgee; Leslie Costes and Michael McConnell with Monique McConnell choreographing; Dr. Paul Hicks and Mallory Barrett; Rachel Sarti and Nolan Weidling; Conrad Jackson and Alexes Niekamp; Gillian Haley and Zach Leonard; Brad Wright and Beth Raber; and Rikki Avila and Ron Howard.

Each team is now collecting sponsors, ticket sales and voting dollars, which all go directly to the local Boys & Girls Clubs.

The show has grown far beyond the original local concept. Season seven drew more than 800 people at the Jim and Linda Lee Performing Arts Center, and the event is expected to surpass that number this year. It has raised an average of $300,000 to $500,000 each year, including about $100,000 in in-kind support.

Prescott Valley Mayor Kell Palguta, who now sits on the executive board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Arizona, participated as a dancer in 2020, partnered with Jamie Procknow. COVID canceled that event, but the following year, the dancing pair came back to perform. In the two years, the team raised $150,000 for the clubs.

Other top donation earners for the event have been Matt’s Saloon co-owner Matt Brassard with Dre Caldwell at $96,000 and Sheriff David Rhodes with Carri Hughes at $95,800. Both teams danced in 2021.

Palguta admitted to some nervousness. “The last time I had danced was at my wedding!” he said. “I was not a dancer and I’m still not, but I used it as motivation. If it makes me look like an idiot onstage, we’re raising money for a good cause and the kids benefit from it.”

Palguta and Procknow were joined for their act by some good-natured Prescott Valley Police officers. “They weren’t pros either, but they said they had a great time doing it,” Palguta said. “It was a lot of fun.”

Other local celebrity dancers put their pride on the line to participate because they want to help area youth. Kymberly Lopez, an account executive for SignalsAZ, said she decided to dance “for the kids,” with a personal goal to raise $100,000.

Dentist Paul Hicks said he chose to dance for the challenge and the fun. “When they came to me, I couldn’t say no.”

Rachel Sarti grew up as a dancer. “I really love the opportunity to get up there on stage and give back to my community,” she said.   

Conrad Jackson is the City of Prescott’s Wildfire Risk Manager. “After 40 years of living in Prescott, this seemed like a really cool opportunity to do something good for a piece of our community that’s always looking for some help.”

Gillian Haley of Haley Construction previously served on the board of the Boys & Girls Club. “I have some history with the clubs and I know what a great organization it is, and what a need there is for really quality child care in our community. I want to be supportive of making that possible for everyone,” she said.   

This year’s Dancing for the Stars events will take place at the Jim and Linda Lee Performing Arts Center at Yavapai College in Prescott. Opening Night is scheduled to start at 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 6. The VIP Reception and Main Event is slated to begin at 4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 7.

“This is truly Prescott’s prom,” Palguta said. “Everyone dresses up in ball gowns and tuxedos. It’s a lot of networking and interaction among the pillars of the community who contribute to such an amazing event.”

Donations online serve as votes for a dance team and qualify for the AZ Tax Credit. For voting, ticket and other event information, visit    https://dancingforthestars.net. QCBN

By Heidi Dahms Foster, QCBN

Photo courtesy of Blushing Cactus Photography: This year’s local dancing celebrities are expected to draw an audience of more than 800 people and raise upwards of $300,000 for the local Boys & Girls Clubs.