North Bay to Get its Own Dancing with the Stars

A new fundraiser promises to bring the North Bay to its feet -- literally.

Starting just after Labor Day, 10 to 12 of your favorite local politicians, school principals, athletes, police chiefs or firefighters -- paired with the best of Sonoma or Marin county dance teachers -- could be competing for your votes at North Bay's own version of "Dancing with the Stars."

Just like the wildly popular ABC-TV show, "Dancing With the Stars," your votes will be combined with judges' votes at the venerable  in Healdsburg at a grand dance-off on Nov. 12.

"This is going to be a very entertaining evening, from beginning to end," said Vera Harvey of Cotati, event co-chair with Joe Gellura of Healdsburg. "Anyone who misses this event is going to miss the event of the year."

Between the public's votes -- at $1 a pop on a soon-to-be created secure website -- and ticket sales at the 430-seat Raven Theater, the inaugural "Dancing With the Stars at the Raven" is expected to be a major fundaiser for the theater's ongoing maintenance and operations.

"We're counting on the popular vote," said Harvey of the local "stars" who will be paired with the dance professionals. "They have to be familiar faces in the community."

Harvey, a longtime social dancer and dance teacher, and Gellura, a board member of the Raven Theater and its artistic theater troupe,  are in the midst of recruiting the dance pros and local stars in business, the arts, politics, education, social services, law enforcement, sports, the Hispanic community, the LGBT community or other groups.

Charismatic Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Chairman Efren Carrillo hasn't been contacted yet -- but he could be an example of the kind of star power that the organizers are looking for.

"We want to cast a wide net," Gellura said.

To nominate a "star" or to nominate yourself for consideration as a "star," contact Harvey at vharvey@topspeeddata.com. There will also be an event Facebook page and website to take nominations, Harvey said.

She and Gellura expect to announce the pairs lineup the first week in September. Each pair will be asked to give the organizers three song choices in each of three different ballroom dance styles -- from swing, to Latin, to fox trot, waltz or jive, for example.

"It's supposed to be ballroom, but if someone really, really loves hip-hop -- and that's the dance that they really want to do -- we could make an exception," Harvey said.

From the song choices submitted, Harvey and Gellura will choose one song for each pair to prepare and rehearse as a choreographed dance routine.

"We want to choose different songs to make it interesting," Harvey said. "No duplications."

Once the pros/stars partners are announced, people will be able to begin voting online. Each dance partnership will have about nine weeks to rehearse.

In addition to the "Dancing" website, Facebook pages and Sonoma and Marin-area media coverage, Patch sites in the North Bay will offer updates on the build-up to the actual "Dancing with the Stars at the Raven" event.

There could also be online blogging possibilities on Patch from area dance fans as interest and excitement builds in the competition.

"Many of the pros already have dance routines in their back pockets," said Harvey, noting she has already recruited dance teachers in Marin and Sonoma counties.

"I'm so excited," Harvey said. "The reason is that everyone I've talked with so far has been very, very positive."

Everyone involved in "Dancing With the Stars at The Raven" -- including the dance pros and the stars -- will be donating their time, Harvey added. Some of the dance pros will also donate costumes, she said.

"There are going to be lots of little surprises, that nobody knows about," Harvey said of the actual event Nov. 12.

"We expect high ticket sales," Gellura said. "It's going to be a very large turnout."

To nominate yourself or someone you know, send an email to Vera Harvey.