Dancing with the STARs

Ontoni Reedy, Stacy Bazemore & Beth Haltom

Story & Photography by Amanda Kyzar

An excited crowd gathered at the Jackson Fairgrounds Park on Thursday night, October 18, to enjoy dinner and drinks and watch local friends and colleagues perform in the STAR Center’s third annual Dancing with the STARs. Event organizers transformed the space at the Fairgrounds into a glamorous stage for the live dance competition. Attendees enjoyed dinner and drinks. Then names were drawn to determine the order of the competition. The dancers had worked tirelessly with their choreographers to prepare for the competition, and they did not disappoint the crowd. Judges awarded first place to Beth Haltom and Ontoni Reedy, second place went to Ginger New and Brad Adkins, and in third place were Betsy Little and AJ Massey. Ginger New and Brad Adkins also won the People’s Choice Award, chosen by votes from the audience.

This event, which raises funds for the STAR Center, has become a local favorite with a sold-out show all 3 years. The STAR Center is a non-profit that assists individuals with disabilities in a variety of ways, including therapy, home care, job training, assistive technology and vision services. According to their own mission statement, they seek “to help any person, with any disability, to realize their potential.”