After ten weeks of intense dance training and fundraising, our ten daring stars took to the dance floor at the Mercure Ballarat for Dancing with our Stars 2023.
In its fourth year, the gala event brings together community figures who are paired with expert dancers from The Dance Studio Ballarat. Owner, Shelley Ross, puts together an extraordinary night of entertainment as the Stars compete in a dance competition, showcasing their newly learned dance routines.
The night, which is fast becoming one the best events on the social calendar in Ballarat, was hosted by Julia Zass and Tim Bone. Judging came from the expertise of Abbey Ross, Peter Head and former Dancing with our Stars alumni, George Fong. Click here to see photos of the guests from the evening.
Whilst each of the Stars aim to impress the audience and judges with their dancing skills, more hard work has been done in the lead up to raise funds for the Ballarat Foundation's charitable initiatives. The Ballarat Foundation is a community-based organization committed to working towards improving the lives of people in the Ballarat region through various programs and initiatives aimed at addressing social issues like homelessness, poverty, and education.
Each star is anticipated to raise $10,000 to go towards programs run by the Ballarat Foundation such as the L2P Driver Mentor Program, Dolly Parton Imagination Library and Volunteering Ballarat.
Chris Radford kicked the night off performing the party dance, the Samba, with partner Emma Learmonth. Crystal Patel danced a beautiful waltz with partner Brent Thomas followed by Grant Newell and partner Jess Rodda picking up the pace to dance a fun and entertaining Tango. Tim Goode was next with a Viennese Waltz partnered by Helen Bloom and Melissa Decarli danced the Foxtrot with Adrian Misseri.
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Chris Radford with partner Jess Learmonth, Crystal Patel and partner Brent Thomas and Grant Newell with partner Jess Rodda.
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Tim Goode and partner Helen bloom, Melissa Decarli with partner Adrian Misseri and hosts Jules Zass and Tim Bone.
After dinner and an impressive auction run by Mark Nunn, Lee Merrifield danced a showstopper partnered by Alicia Wang Sheludko with the Cha Cha. Stacey Berlund performed the Quickstep with partner Scott Bruhn, followed by Danielle Walker performing a stunning Swing Waltz with Mark Vandekley. Sam Borner and partner Ashlie Ross danced an emotional Rumba and Rebecca Patton and partner Aaron Bonell-Huy finished off the performances with the Jive.
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Lee Merrifield and partner Alicia Wang Sheludko, Stacey Berlund with partner Scott Bruhn and Danielle Walker with partner Mark Vanderkley.
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Sam Borner with Ashlie Ross, Rebecca Patton and partner Aaron Bonell-Huy and the winners!
Our Stars came back to the dance floor doing the Time Warp for the group dance, with much of the audience participating as well! And finally, what we had all been waiting for, the announcement of the winners! Judges Choice was given to Grant Newell and Jess Rodda, Tim Goode and Helen Bloom won over the fans with the People’s choice and Lee Merrifield was given overall Dancing with our Stars Champion with most funds raised throughout the campaign.
In total, Dancing with our Stars 2023 raised over $185,000! We are incredibly proud of this achievement and so thankful to the Ballarat community, the sponsors, The Dance Studio and of course to the incredible people who volunteered to be a part of this amazing experience.
