The first annual Victim Services Huron Dancing with the Stars was held in 2009. It was inspired by the TV show of the same name and started by former VS staff member, Jan Vogel. The Dancing with the Stars event is the main fundraiser for the organization and over the past 11 years has raised over $160,000. Victim Services Huron receives ministry funding for the basic overhead items: staff salaries and office expenses but flexibility to tailor support to individual client needs and provide resources for our team of volunteer crisis responders requires fundraising.
Each dance couple consists of a local `celebrity` community member with little or no dance experience paired with a professional or experienced dancer. Together they choose their music and dance style and over the course of eight or so months, each couple perfects two dances in ballroom style (waltz, Viennese waltz, foxtrot, tango, pasodoble, quickstep), latin (east coast/west coast/jive/lindy hop and other variations of swing, salsa, rumba, cha cha, sambo, mambo) or freestyle to perform for the audience.
Each couple performs their first dance and then their second. The panel of judges weighs in with their scores which count for half the result and then the audience votes for the 3 couples they would like to see dance again. Those couples perform one of their dances again for the honour of Gold, Silver and Bronze awards.
Every year the Columbus Centre is beautifully decorated and transformed for this gala by a dedicated group of volunteers. Guests enjoy a delicious 3 course meal, live and silent auctions, the performance and dancing afterwards.
The event has always been sold out to the 324 person capacity. Starting in 2018, a live feed powered by Faux Pop was added to allow more people to enjoy the event in real time.
