The Dancing with Our Stars event, Clutha-style, had all the pizzazz and glamour of its television counterpart and a crowd of more than 350 loved every minute of it.
Ten local celebrities have spent the past few weeks rehearsing their moves with dance tutors, and those combinations took to the floor, as Jason Gunn would say, to show off all they had learnt.
Not only did they receive a warm welcome, all 10 pairs collected thousands of dollars for their nominated charities.
The evening had a star-quality feel to it with dancers Candy Lane and Jonny Williams, from the television series, Dancing with the Stars, performing two demonstration dances, one at the start and one at the end of the night.
The dance celebrities had little, if any, dancing experience before the show.
The pool of talent ranged from Clutha Mayor Juno Hayes and his deputy, Hamish Anderson, to former Otago rugby forward Richard Knight, a local pharmacist, youth worker, and a bank manager.
Those taking part were: Project Clutha chairwoman Sarah Andrew and Kevin Polaschek (rock 'n' roll), Clutha deputy mayor Hamish Anderson and the Big River Line Dancers (line dancing), Balclutha community constable Tom Taylor and Monique Elleboode (ceroc), Balclutha pharmacist Ngaire Taylor and Robyn Gardner (showtime jazz), Kaitangata and Districts Promotions co-ordinator Jean Proctor and Grant Vicary (rock 'n' roll), Clutha Mayor Juno Hayes and Rachel Ferguson (waltz), youth worker Daniel Maze and crew (hip hop), clerk Trudy Cochrane and John Stanway (ceroc), former rugby player Richard Knight and Rachel Ferguson (tango) and bank manager Cindy Holmes and Lorraine Mclean (tap dancing).
Tomorrow: Author Alexa Johnson speaking at South Otago Town and Country Club, Balclutha, noon; tai chi class, Rosebank School Hall, 7pm-8pm.
