Dancing With the Stars, in a Caring Way announces next pairing

When it comes to fundraising for a benevolent cause, the Rotary Club of Crowley, Crowley Christian Care and the Community Outreach Corporation just may be unparalleled. The Grand Opera House of the South will be the focus of their attention Friday, May 2, and Saturday, May 3, as they present “Dancing with the Stars in a Caring Way.” 

This exciting event will present 11 couples, the “Stars of Acadiana,” dancing to the beat of a variety of musical and dance styles in order to benefit the hungry and homeless of the area. 

Fridays night’s dress rehearsal, which is open to the public, will begin at 7 p.m., while Saturday night’s festivities will begin at 6 p.m. with a social hour and silent auction, followed by the performance at 7 p.m. and live music and dancing afterward. 

Mary Zaunbrecher and Emily Stoma are working hard as the co-chairs of the event, aided by Brenda Core as the director of choreography. Stoma is also serving as the financial chairperson with help from Troy Breaux. Mitzi and Clay LeJeune are in charge of the silent auction. 

Each week, a different couple is introduced to the public. This week, “Dancing with the Stars” is proud to announce the next couple and their choreographer selected to participate in this year’s gala. 

Patti Lawrence: She and her husband, Lee, are the parents of two adult children, Lisa and Brad, and the grandparents of four. She graduated from Hillcrest High School in Simpsonville, S.C., and Sims College in Columbia, S.C. 

Lawrence is a member of First United Methodist Church, Crowley Garden Club, and Three Ten Club. She is also on the Crowley Beautification Committee. Besides traveling, gardening and reading, she can now add dancing to her list of hobbies. 

Lawrence commented that she is honored to have been asked to work with this group of talented choreographers for such a good cause. Being welcomed as a newcomer to the community, this affords her the opportunity to give back and also to get in shape.

Bryan Borill: He and Judy, his wife, are the parents of two sons, Jake and Josh. Borill is the patient care representative in the Public Relations and Marketing Department of Acadian Home Care – a member of the LHC Group. 

He graduated from Crowley High School and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. 

Borill serves the city of Crowley as a city alderman, is vice president of the Crowley Lions Club, and is a member of the Crowley Chamber of Commerce and the Crowley Town Club, where he is active in the Krewe of Town Revelers. 

He has officiated college football for 20 years as a replay official in college football’s Sunbelt Conference. In 2012, he was selected by his peers to receive the Newman Ramsey Award, which is given to the official who best exemplifies Christian faith and family on the football field. 

Lou Britt: She is the owner of the ballroom dance school, Dance Around the World, in Lafayette. 

Britt trained through the Arthur Murray Ballroom Dance Association and has taught for 30 years. Her ballroom dance classes are featured in the UL Lafayette Potpourri program. Her choreography credits include season one and two of Dancing with Stars with the Academy of the Sacred Heart. Britt has her own Mardi Gras Krewe, the Krewe de Danse, and has choreographed for many krewes throughout Acadiana. 

She is a member of St. Pius Catholic Church in Lafayette. 

Britt is a new addition to the “Dancing With the Stars in a Caring Way” choreography team, and all involved are happy to have her on board.

The success of this worthwhile event is based on raising money through sponsorships, ticket sales and votes for the couple(s) of your choice. 

Sponsorships are still available by calling Stoma at 523-6044 or Zaunbrecher at 207-9789. 

Tickets may be purchased by calling Kim Gattle at 785-0440 or visiting the website: www.thegrandoperahouse.org. Tickets for Friday night are $50; Saturday night’s tickets are $100. 

Voting is underway at www.crowleydancestars.com; each vote is $1 and requires a credit card or PayPal account.