Matt Frye/The Smithville HeraldStarla Henderson and Gerry Vernon of Smithville learn how to swing dance while practicing at Saint Luke’s Northland Hospital-Smithville Campus Thursday, Sept. 25. Five couples will take the stage for the first “Dancing with the Smithville Stars” competition during Octoberfest.
Join our Mailing List!
Please click the link below to sign up for your community paper mailing list. Stay up to date with all the events going on in your community as well as the latest news.Sign Up Today!
Smithville dancing contestants unveiled
Audience will vote in final round of competition to determine winners
By Kathy Crawford
Dr. Linda Buckmiller is in charge of the Octoberfest Courtyard Park events for the second year, and she is jazzed about the Dance with the Smithville Stars event.
“We’ve never done this before,” she said. “I watch (“Dancing with the Stars”) on T.V., and I love it. I think dancing has become popular right now, and this (event) is outside the box.”
The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, on the Ali Kemp Memorial Stage.
To find participants, she first asked people she thought might be interested in the dance competition. Some told her “yes,” and some said “no.” She finally found five couples.
The winners will receive a trophy.
“I’m a little nervous,” said contestant Kelly Busch, who is the hospitality hostess for the Chamber of Commerce. “But it’s fun. The people are fun.”
Busch, who moved to Smithville in 2004 with her husband and two children, said she and her partner are newbies at dancing. Her partner is Ramiro Gonzalez, who is a senior manager with Federal Express. He also moved to Smithville in 2004 with his wife and two children.
Like the television show, which premiered on Sept. 22 this season, Buckmiller said there will be an elimination round. Three judges — Mary Foster, a retired dance instructor, Danielle Hernandez and Christina Martinez, both SHAPE Fitness Zumba instructors — will narrow five couples down to three. Then the audience will get to weigh in.
“(The couples) will dance again, and the audience will be able to vote,” Buckmiller said.
The couples have been receiving lessons from dance instructors Rick and Jean Auxier in the multipurpose room at Saint Luke’s Northland Hospital-Smithville Campus, Buckmiller said.
“The instructors are great,” said contestant Frank Lukenbill, who is a retired Smithville postmaster. “We’re meeting new people.”
Frank, who is a member of the Masonic Lodge, Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club, will dance with his wife. Sue Lukenbill is a safety specialist with the U.S. Post Office, and she is active at her church, Buckmiller said.
Contestant Dr. Gina Lawson is a hospitalist at Saint Luke’s Northland Hospital-Barry Road and is on the Spelman Foundation Board. She will dance with her husband, J. Casey Ramsey, who is an employee of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Pharmacy and served in the U.S. Army for eight years.
City Administrator Gerry Vernon will dance. His partner is Starla Henderson, who is a real estate agent with Keller Williams Realty. Henderson enjoys talking to and meeting new people.
Kris and Jackie Fuller, co-owners of Full Features Nursery and Landscape Center, will be partners. Kris is the landscaping head designer, and Jackie is a perennial specialist.
Staff writer Kathy Crawford can be reached at 532-4444 or kathycrawford@npgco.com.
printable version
e-mail this story
“We’ve never done this before,” she said. “I watch (“Dancing with the Stars”) on T.V., and I love it. I think dancing has become popular right now, and this (event) is outside the box.”
The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, on the Ali Kemp Memorial Stage.
To find participants, she first asked people she thought might be interested in the dance competition. Some told her “yes,” and some said “no.” She finally found five couples.
The winners will receive a trophy.
“I’m a little nervous,” said contestant Kelly Busch, who is the hospitality hostess for the Chamber of Commerce. “But it’s fun. The people are fun.”
Busch, who moved to Smithville in 2004 with her husband and two children, said she and her partner are newbies at dancing. Her partner is Ramiro Gonzalez, who is a senior manager with Federal Express. He also moved to Smithville in 2004 with his wife and two children.
Like the television show, which premiered on Sept. 22 this season, Buckmiller said there will be an elimination round. Three judges — Mary Foster, a retired dance instructor, Danielle Hernandez and Christina Martinez, both SHAPE Fitness Zumba instructors — will narrow five couples down to three. Then the audience will get to weigh in.
“(The couples) will dance again, and the audience will be able to vote,” Buckmiller said.
The couples have been receiving lessons from dance instructors Rick and Jean Auxier in the multipurpose room at Saint Luke’s Northland Hospital-Smithville Campus, Buckmiller said.
“The instructors are great,” said contestant Frank Lukenbill, who is a retired Smithville postmaster. “We’re meeting new people.”
Frank, who is a member of the Masonic Lodge, Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club, will dance with his wife. Sue Lukenbill is a safety specialist with the U.S. Post Office, and she is active at her church, Buckmiller said.
Contestant Dr. Gina Lawson is a hospitalist at Saint Luke’s Northland Hospital-Barry Road and is on the Spelman Foundation Board. She will dance with her husband, J. Casey Ramsey, who is an employee of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Pharmacy and served in the U.S. Army for eight years.
City Administrator Gerry Vernon will dance. His partner is Starla Henderson, who is a real estate agent with Keller Williams Realty. Henderson enjoys talking to and meeting new people.
Kris and Jackie Fuller, co-owners of Full Features Nursery and Landscape Center, will be partners. Kris is the landscaping head designer, and Jackie is a perennial specialist.
Staff writer Kathy Crawford can be reached at 532-4444 or kathycrawford@npgco.com.