The time has almost come. After months of rehearsals, countless moments of frustration and victory, and a fair amount of sweat, 10 locals will soon take to the floor at Seaquins Ballroom in Bluffton for the third annual Dancing With the Local Stars.
Under the glare of WHHI’s cameras, and with dozens of their closest friends in attendance, they will glide through a dance routine that has been perfected in their muscle memory by trained instructors, hopeful that their movements on the dance floor will be enough to take home the top prize.
At the very least, they’re hopeful that they’ll get through the whole thing without falling down.
Sea Turtle Patrol’s Amber Keuhn will perform a tango with Armando Aseneta at this year’s Dancing With the Local Stars.
“It’s just such a great variety of people who are total non-dancers,” said event organizer and dance coach Sandro Virag. “That’s what makes it fun. They’re a total blank slate, so their enthusiasm and commitment is so great. Each year has gotten better and better.”
Dancing With the Local Stars has been held for the past two years, casting a wide net to draw local talent to the dance floor. In years past, that roster has included numerous local leaders – from WJCL’s Riley Miller to Beaufort County Treasurer Maria Walls, and even C2 Publisher Maggie Washo – who ostensibly competed for the top prize, but mostly competed to show they could do it.
Meghan Green gets a pick-me-up from SERG Group’s Alex MacDonald.
“They came to us with no background, but a lot of them have continued on. We’ve had several people come back after the competition to participate in our showcase. They get hooked on performing,” Virag said.
Even if they are one and done, even if they fail to secure that trophy, what they accomplish during those two minutes on the dance floor goes far beyond any award. Serving as a fundraiser for Kiwanis Club of Bluffton, Dancing With the Local Stars puts money in the hands of organizations like Habitat for Humanity of the Lowcountry, Bluffton Self Help, area schools and more.
Dr. Evan Wolff will be paired with Monica Bohrer, who won the competition in 2024 with Daniel Cort.
Given the opportunity to help the community, you’d be hard pressed to say “no.” Even if, as many of their competitors are now learning, dancing is about more than just timing and rhythm. It’s a full-body exercise that demands nothing less than total concentration.
“I didn’t realize how out of shape I was,” said Amber Kuehn, maven of Sea Turtle Patrol and charter captain. “I had some salsa lessons a few years ago so I’ve leaned on that, but otherwise these are the only dance lessons I’ve had in my life.”
Lori Price will perform with local Realtor Lawrence Taylor.
Kuehn, who will partner up with Armando Aseneta for the salsa, is used to being in the spotlight as the island’s resident “turtle lady.” But the spotlight during Dancing with the Local Stars shines in a different light.
“I can speak in front of 400 people about sea turtle biology, but for me to get up in front of just over a hundred people and dance is very intimidating,” she said. “I’m just glad (emcee) Andrew Davis will be there because he’s my favorite. Even if I mess up, he’s going to say something to make me look great.”
Armando Asenetawill dance with Dr. Mary O’Loughlin.
Like her fellow competitor, City of Hardeeville Town Manager Josh Gruber, Kuehn has only some bygone instruction to rely on for experience. And like Kuehn, Gruber is approaching the event with measured optimism.
“I haven’t danced for the past 30 years, other than the time I was part of a show choir,” he said. “There’s some knowledge, but it’s in the deepest part of my brain.”
The Rotary Club had reached out to Gruber previously to be a part of Dancing With the Local Stars. At the time, he was still new on the job and wanted to put his sole focus on getting up to speed as city manager. Now that he’s had a few years at the helm, “I’m out of excuses.”
Sandro Virag and Alina Porcelli
All kidding aside, Gruber is excited for the event and happy to be part of a group raising money for Kiwanis.
“I think it’s going to be a fun night. Everyone associated with the event has been very supportive,” he said. “Obviously there are a lot of nerves, putting yourself out there. But it’s the same as the job – you train and prepare for taxes and emergency operations and do that dance, or you dance to the music.”
There are a lot of opening night jitters that come with dancing in front of friends and strangers. Realtor Lawrence Taylor is dealing with those jitters by leaning into it and just having fun.
Nancy Gutierrez and Armando Asenete strike a pose.
“Anyone that knows me knows I’m not much of a dancer. So, it’s been fun to tell people that I have to get going to my dance lessons, because they know me so they always give me a funny look,” he said. “I don’t even know that what I’ll be doing can be called ‘dance.’ My professional partner, Lori Price, has been very patient with me.”
For Taylor, the nervousness that comes from putting yourself out there on the dance floor is negligible when weighed against what the evening accomplishes.
City of Hardeeville Town Manager Josh Gruber will dance with Lauren Kirk
“It’s hard to say ‘no’ to these guys, because it’s for such a good cause. This area has been good to me and my family so I wanted to give back,” he said. “For an hour at a time, the practice gets me away from the daily grind and, if nothing else, there will be plenty of laughs afterward.”
Nancy Hunter and David Chesworth
As pessimistic as they all sound, anyone who has been to the event has witnessed the startling transformation each has gone through. Each year these dancers come from almost no dancing background, and under the careful instruction of Hilton Head Ballroom Dance Studio, emerge as graceful dancers ready to help their community.
Sandro Virag and Alana Adams
“This is all about entertaining people, not necessarily the technique of the dance,” Virag said. “I’m just so proud of all of them. Some want to win, but some are just there for the participation and to support the community, which is beautiful.”
Dancing with The Local Stars will be held 7 p.m. March 21 at Seaquins Hilton Head Ballroom. Visit blufftonkiwanis.org for details.
Back Row: Josh Gruber, Nancy Gutierrez, David Chesworth, Lauren Kirk, Alex MacDonald, Alana Adams, Sandro Virag, Meghan Green, Dr. Mary O’Loughlin, Lawrence Taylor, Monica Bohrer and Dr. Evan Wolff
Front Row: Nancy Hunter, Amber Kuehn, Alina Porcelli, Lori Price and Armando Aseneta
