By Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor
Two trophies are up for grabs, and there’s only one way to win them — shake your stuff.
The Plant City Noon Rotary Club is hosting its fifth Dancing with the Locals charity competition Nov. 9, at the John R. Trinkle Center. Rotarians hope to raise about $30,000, which will go into the Rotary’s fundraiser account to help the community in the future.
“It’s a great event,” Rotarian Jim Scott said. “It’s been well received by the community.”
The nine couples prepare for the event by taking 10 weeks of classes. They are free to find their own instructor, but Susan Stanton and Kevin Rios are the go-to choreographers for the contest.
This year’s judges include Natasha Davis, of Plant City Mortgage; James Surrency, superintendent for Wetherington Tractor Service; and Traci Walding, a zumba instructor at the Plant City YMCA and the owner of Face Place.
In the past, the event has been held at the Red Rose Inn. But after the inn closed, the fundraiser had to find a new location.
“We’re very excited about the new venue for this year’s event,” Rotary President Billy Keel said. “But that is not the only thing that is new this year. For the first time, the event will have two new emcees, Gary and Tina Pike.”
Out of the two winning trophies last year, the Pikes won the judges’ trophy. The other trophy is won by raising the most money. Olan Deguzman and Tracy Connell, of South Florida Baptist Hospital, took home the gold in that division.
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
IF YOU GO
WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Nov. 9
WHERE: John R. Trinkle Center, 1206 N. Park Road
TICKETS: $100 per seat; Call for sponsorship pricing
CONTACT: (863) 412-2880
THE DANCERS
Tommy and Jennifer O’Neal
Mike and Angela Sessa
Karen Fuentes and Eric Randall
Lori Rogers and Michael Johnson
Heather Coats and Alan Figga
Maribel Lorenzo and William Lasseter
Clay and Caitlin Rollyson
Victoria Garren and Kyle Garren
Gail Lyons and Larry Roth
THE JUDGES
Natasha Davis
James Surrency