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Judges, from left, Donna Corley, Scott Privat and Gene Williams

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Masters of Ceremonies, from left, Tracy Wirtz and Jay Suire

Dancing With the Stars announces emcees, judges for 2014 event

Information and photographs provided by organizers with Dancing With the Stars in a Caring Way.

With only three weeks remaining before the big event, members of the Rotary Club of Crowley, the Community Outreach Corporation and the Crowley Christian Care Center are finalizing the details of the second “Dancing with the Stars in a Caring Way.”

To be held the first weekend in May at the Grand Opera House of the South, this occasion is sure to be not only entertaining, but also of great benefit to the community. 

The festivities will begin Friday, May 2, with a dress rehearsal performance by the “Stars of Acadiana” at 7 p.m.

Saturday’s gala begins at 6 p.m. with a social hour and silent auction, followed by the performance at 7 p.m. and live music from 9 to 11 p.m., during which the winners will be announced.

A limited number of tickets still remain for the event and may be purchased through the Opera House by contacting Kim Gattle at 785-0440.

Tickets are $50 for Friday night and $100 for Saturday night.

Voting is ongoing by visiting the website www.crowleydancestars.com. Each vote costs $1 and can be purchased with a credit card or a PayPal account.

While fundraising is the main purpose of this effort, Dancing with the Stars is pleased to announce that the two masters of ceremony are as entertaining as the dancers themselves.

Tracy Wirtz and Jay Suire have agreed to return as the host and hostess for the evening, providing the audience with lively banter as they introduce each couple.

Tracy Wirtz: Wirtz is married to Kevin and the mother of three children, Bonnie, Terryn and Cory. 

She began her broadcasting career at KSIG in Crowley in 1988 and continues it as an early morning anchor for Good Morning Acadiana on KATC-TV 3.

Jay Suire: Suire is married to one of the 2014 dancers, Laurie Suire. They are the parents of three sons: Grant, Harrison and Regan.

Suire is an attorney for the Glenn Armentor Law Corporation. He is also well known for his broadcasting and theatre talent, as well as his volunteer efforts.

Adding their own flare to the evening will be the judges who will not actually select the winners, but who will provide commentary. Since they are dancers from the 2013 competition, they will surely have a unique perspective to share with the audience and the dancing couples.

Serving as judges are Scott Privat, Gene Williams, and one of last year’s winners, Donna Corley.

Donna Corley: Corley and her dance partner, Scott O. Sibley, are the reigning champs of the Dancing With the Stars, winning the 2013 inaugural event.

She is the owner of Shetler-Corley Motors and Don Shetler Buick Chevrolet, Inc. She is married to George Corley and has two sons, Chris and Don Eddie, as well as seven grandchildren.

Corley has always been active in the Crowley community and said she is happy to support such a worthwhile cause.

Scott Privat: Privat is married to Alison and is the father of Charlie and Graham.

He is an attorney, practicing law with his father at Privat and Privat.

He is a member of the Rotary Club of Crowley and a parishioner of St. Michael Catholic Church.

Privat and his dance partner, Debbie Spallino, received rave reviews after their performance last year.

Gene Williams: Williams, who is married to the former Janet Orgeron, is the father to Brady and Jeanne Claire and grandfather to five grandchildren. 

He is a financial advisor representative for MetLife.

He has been a Rice Festival volunteer for 43 years, serving as general chairman and president in 1992.

Williams and his partner, Mitzi LeJeune, dazzled the audience with their acrobatics in last year’s competition.

The success of this worthwhile event is based on raising money through sponsorship, ticket sales, and voting for the couple of your choice to win the highly sought-after mirror ball award.

For more information, contact Emily Stoma at 523-6044 or Mary Zaunbrecher at 207-9789.

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