Couples get first lesson for 'Dancing with the Geneva Stars'
It starts out with an innocent enough phone call sometime during the summer.
“How would you like to be a couple in our next ‘Dancing with the Geneva Stars' fundraising event?”
The call could come from any of the event planners, or maybe even from Linda Cunningham, artistic director of State Street Dance Studio in Geneva, which provides lessons to the competing couples.
You listen to the sales pitch: It will be fun. It's easy because you get eight free dance lessons. You don't have to know how to dance, but it certainly helps to be able to rustle up votes for a $1 to benefit the Geneva Cultural Arts Commission and the Geneva Academic Foundation. And it's not until Feb. 5, 2011, so you'll have plenty of time to master your dance.
After a bit of debate with a spouse, those who say yes commit themselves to what has become one of the more popular fundraising events in the Tri-Cities.
But reality starts to sink in when the dance couples attend their first gathering at State Street Studio for picture-taking, costume measurements, a quick dance lesson and, finally, finding out what dance routine they will do and who will teach it.
That major step unfolded last Sunday as six Geneva couples showed up in ballroom dancing black shirts, pants and blouses to find out exactly what they have gotten themselves into.
Cunningham tries to put everyone at ease before instructor Alex Arteaga takes the couples through basic steps of six dances.
“Trust me, we are not going to put you in front of an audience until you are comfortable,” Cunningham assured the couples. “We are going to make you look and feel good about yourself, so all I ask now is that you have some fun with it.”
The couples Anne and Matt Cesarone; Jane and Peter Cladis; Jeanne and Don Cummings; Nancy and Ralph Dantino; Therese and Steve Davison; and Amanda and Adam Law seemed game for whatever the instructors had in mind.
“Does anyone have any injuries we should know about?” Cunningham asked.
Don Cummings was quick to provide the best answer: “Not yet.”
While Arteaga took the couples through basic dance steps, instructors Michael and Aubrey Saelee looked on, taking notes about which couple might be best suited for which dance.
Arteaga delivered important advice to the ladies in the group when he said, “Get used to going where the man is taking you; you have to follow his lead.”
Couples questioned how the instructors were going to decide who would get which dance.
“We'll do it by what looks best for you,” Cunningham explained. “If you can move your hips well, then you'll likely get a dance that calls for hip movement.”
After an hour of instruction and a quick introduction to what might be done as part of a group dance, the couples were given their assignments.
“We're pretty excited about getting the Paso Doble,” said Steve Davison, after learning he and his wife Therese would be doing the first-ever Paso in the competition.
“We've been practicing a little by watching ‘Dancing with the Stars,' but I don't know if that's going to help us much.”
After learning that he and his wife Jane will be doing the waltz, Peter Cladis was pleased they would be learning a new dance.
“We've done the swing for many years, so this will be a great experience,” Cladis said. “It's a real lively group, and it's going to be fun to see how it is going with all of the other dances.”
Anne and Matt Cesarone were given the salsa, which Matt seemed to be fine with.
“It doesn't seem like there are a lot of steps with that dance,” he said.
Anne was a little more concerned about the facet of the event that is actually more important than dance skills.
“I'm fine with the dancing part, I'm just worried about getting the word out to get those votes,” Anne said.
Other couples and their dances were Amanda and Adam Law doing the cha-cha, Nancy and Ralph Dantino doing the swing and Jeanne and Don Cummings doing the tango.
The commitment has been made, and there is no turning back, so let the lessons begin.
The couples, the dances
You can't strut your stuff until you know exactly what kind of strutting you'll be doing.
The dance teams competing in the “Dancing with the Geneva Stars” event Feb. 5, 2011, at Eagle Brook Country Club found that out last weekend when they were assigned their routines for the event.
So what does it mean for the couples? Here's a quick look at what's in store for them and what spectators can expect to see.
Jane and Peter Cladis
Jane is a member of the Geneva Park District Foundation Board; Peter is a physician with Fox Valley Family Physicians.
Dance: Waltz
What to expect: The slower, more elegant dances like the waltz are difficult, even for experienced dancers, because of the need for fluid arm movements and timing of the rise-and-fall that defines a beautiful waltz. However, because it is basically a three-step count, it can be one of the easier dances in which to master the basics. Elegant costumes are the likely choice, with the man in a tuxedo and the lady in a flowing gown. Many country songs lend themselves to the ¾ timing of a waltz, so that is also an option.
Amanda and Adam Law
Amanda is a nurse practitioner; Adam is principal of Heartland Elementary School in Geneva.
Dance: Cha-Cha
What to expect: Probably the most “fun” dance for a couple because the cha-cha lends itself to flamboyant costumes and a flirtatious routine. However, because of the syncopation of the cha-cha steps, hip movement and precision of timing, it represents one of the tougher dances to learn in the eight lessons that are taken to prepare for the competition. Some dances can be performed in a small area, but a good cha-cha routine will likely take up most of the dance floor. It means a lot of extra practice on your own.
Jeanne and Donald Cummings
Jeanne is an American Airlines flight attendant; Don is owner of Blue Haven Capital and a member of the Geneva Library Board.
Dance: Tango
What to expect: Sharp lines, the facial expression of a “love-hate” relationship, and more emphasis on direct footwork – rather than gliding on the balls of your feet come into play for those doing the Tango. The costumes could be of any variety, depending on the music chosen, but they most often reflect a fiery flavor. There are several complicated steps in an advanced Tango, but the routine steps and turns are not difficult to grasp and fairly easy to keep in timing to the music.
Nancy and Ralph Dantino
Nancy is a day care provider and has been active in the Geneva Academic Foundation and St. Peter's Barn sale; Ralph is the Fifth Ward alderman in Geneva.
Dance: Swing
What to expect: Expect the unexpected. A swing routine can be done to music from a number of different decades, and the costumes will most likely match the music of an era rather than the style of the dance. Swing comes in different forms – triple step or double step, but either one is fast and energetic. So this routine lends itself to the most audience participation and fun, and likely a series of interesting dips and turns. As much or more than any other couple, those doing the swing will need strong knees and ankles.
Therese and Steve Davison
Therese and Steve are the owners of three 7-11 stores in the area and are active in the Geneva Sports Boosters.
Dance: Paso Doble
What to expect: This “dance of the bullfighter” is new to the schedule for the “Dancing with the Geneva Stars” competition, so the couple drawing this routine is entering uncharted waters. There's a good news/bad news scenario for newcomers to this dance. Good because the couple won't have to learn a lot of complicated steps; bad because it will call for a lot of arm movement and expression of character. More so than most other dances, the Paso Doble tells a story to the audience and the dancers have to act that out.
Anne and Matt Cesarone
Anne is president of the Geneva Academic Foundation and project manager for Advanced Telecommunications; Matt is an account manager for Allegient Systems.
Dance: Salsa
What to expect: This upbeat dance common in Cuba and other Latin American countries quite possibly is the easiest to learn for couples, as it's fundamentally a back-and-forth step with a slight hesitation that makes it stand out from other similar dances. But the routine will call for lots of hip movement and some semblance of Latin American zest and flavor. The costumes will likely be the brightest colors of the night, and the music should have members of the audience tapping their toes as well.
Compiled by Dave Heun