Naperville celebs meet the dance floor

Six local celebrities spent the last six weeks channeling their inner Evan Lysacek.

No, they're not taking to the ice.

They'll be heading to the Naperville native's other stamping grounds: the dance floor, where they'll triple step, glide and turn to help raise money for the Community Career Center.

The fundraiser mimicking the popular television show "Dancing with the Stars," begins at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 22, at Meson Sabika, 1025 Aurora Ave., Naperville.

Participants are state Rep. Darlene Senger, City Councilmen Kenn Miller and Grant Wehrli, City Manager Doug Krieger, Fire Chief Mark Puknaitis and Naperville magazine Publisher Leah Rippe.

Each local celeb will dance one dance with a professional partner from one of three participating area dance studios: Arthur Murray, Two Left Feet Dance and DuPage Dance Center.

A panel of judges - Mayor George Pradel, Police Chief David Dial, Community Relations Manager Nadja Lalvani and lawyer W. Brand Boboski - will determine the winner.

Not everybody can skate right through with a perfect performance like Lysacek, the Olympic champion who was runner-up on last season's "Dancing with the Stars" and earned perfect 10s multiple times.

Somebody has to be the Buzz Aldrin or Kate Gosselin of the group, right?

Dancing pro James Dutton, owner of Naperville's Arthur Murray Dance Studio, says it's not going to be his girl Leah Rippe, who will dance the cha-cha.

"If I said (she danced like) Kate Gosselin, she'd punch me, so I should totally say that," he said. "Nah, she's totally Pamela Anderson mixed with Nicole Scherzinger. She'll be one of the top of the night, I'm certain of that. She's like Nicole because Nicole won last year, and we're going to win this year."

That confidence isn't shared by all of Wednesday's performers.

Miller said he's been working with Two Left Feet Dance to learn his salsa dance.

"They assigned me appropriately," he said. "I'm not very coordinated, so it's been a challenge."

In the other dances of the night, Wehrli will do a swing dance; Puknaitis will do the hustle; Senger is dancing the tango and Kreger is dancing the jitterbug.

When asked to participate, Miller said he responded, "You've got to be kidding me."

But with the current economic situation leading to a higher rate of unemployment, the Community Career Center's services are as important as ever, Miller said.

"I'd do most anything to help those folks," he said.

The Community Career Center is a not-for-profit organization that helps those who are unemployed seek employment. Proceeds benefit job seekers by providing one-on-one counseling, networking, resume writing and Internet access.

In addition to dancing, the evening includes live and silent auctions and a presentation of the organization's Dwyer Award for outstanding volunteerism.

"We're just hoping everyone comes out and has a good time and enjoys mingling with the celebrity dancers," said Kimberly White, associate director of the career center. "We hope they just enjoy some great dancing, great conversation and some great food."

An overwhelmingly positive response in advance of the event leads White to believe there will be dancing by local celebrities again next year.

She expects this year's event to sell out. Advance reservations are encouraged. The cost is $60 per person.

For information or to make reservations, call (630) 691-5665 or visit www.communitycareercenter.org.

<p class="factboxheadblack">If you go</p>

<p class="News"><b>What:</b> Dancing with Naperville Celebrities</p>

<p class="News"><b>When:</b> 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 22</p>

<p class="News"><b>Where:</b> Meson Sabika, 1025 Aurora Ave., Naperville</p>

<p class="News"><b>Cost:</b> $60 per person</p>

<p class="News"><b>Info: </b>(630) 691-5665 or <a href="http://www.communitycareercenter.org" target="new">www.communitycareercenter.org</a></p>