Dancing With The Stars Recap

Courtesy: UNCW Athletic Communications

Release: 03/02/2010

Presented By


Event Winners Patty and Larry George	Judges Choice Award Bill Rudisill and Carson Capps

Event Recap

One hundred and eighty days ago some of our community's most beloved individuals got a scary letter in the mail. This letter was full of rhetoric and clever talking sentences that asked them to do the unthinkable. To dance. And not only dance, but to get up in front of our community and dance on a stage in front of their peers and colleagues to raise support for student-athletes scholarships at UNCW.

In the past six months, countless group and individual meetings with dancers, choreographers, music editors, vendors, and costumers took place. Our eighteen couples spent days on the practice floor, in dance studio's practice rooms, and working on their steps. Routines were put together, ballroom dance shoes were broken, feet, backs and knees were sore. Then a miraculous thing occurred. As the music played, the steps began to fall into place. The dance became easier. The counts more natural.

Fast forward to Friday, February 12, the Hilton Wilmington Riverside Ballroom. Guests are decked out in black tie and ball gown attire. Backstage off the catering kitchen a couple is pacing to take the floor. The video is cued, the lights go dark. It's time. Find the center mark, find the X. The stage lights come up. The music begins. The audience feels the beat. There is clapping. There is cheering. There are standing ovations. Paddles are being raised and emcees are talking. The room is abuzz, ushers are picking up votes, and the judges are prodding the dancers. The dance floor begins to hop with dances ranging from sultry Latin numbers to glamorous waltzes to jive talking disco peddling. In the back of the room, a dedicated group of volunteers are feverishly counting and counting and counting.

All of the practicing and nerves comes down to one winner. Couple number six. This couple overtook the lead in surprise fashion. All the on-line, mail, call-in, and live voting reached a total. A River Landing golf pro, Larry, and his wife, Patty have stolen the show. They beat out a fireman, a police officer, a lawyer, an athletic trainer, a designer, students, a principle, a banker, insurance owners, presidents and CEO's of companies, real estate agents, health care workers, doctors, and a new mom. Their high energy jitterbug routine to jukebox classics, "Sixteen Candles" and "Rock Around The Clock" left the audience clamoring for more.

Larry and Patty George brought friends with them to the fundraiser, friends from River Landing and they walked home victorious with the trophy. Every $10 was counted. Every $10 was added to the next. Over a whopping $110,000 was raised in total.

From the very first dancers meeting to hitting the stage, eighteen couples gave their all to support student-athletes and their education for UNCW Athletics. UNCW Athletics would like to thank and recognize Jeff and Trish Allsbrook, Dave Baker, Crystal Thompson, Mary Barto and James Thor, Adam and Becky Brown, Rhonda Bellamy and John Hollywood, Mark Blackwell and Alissa Lockwood, Tracy Conlon and Chris Jordan, Paula Corbett and Dave Spencer, Cedric & Mary Dickerson, Chandler Follett and Ryan Ricks, Jeff Fork and Nancy Carson, Larry and Patty George, Barry & Beth Key, Corey Barbour, Walter and Beth Pancoe, Bill Rudisill and Carson Capps, Gary and Mary Jo Shipman, and Ralph Quezada and Gena Winstead. It was through their gusto and their supporters that Dancing with the Wilmington Stars "Seahawk Style" was the success it was. Many thanks to all who witnessed the rhythm in the room and for raising your paddles.

Be on the look-out, Dancing with the Wilmington Stars "Seahawk Style" will be back in 2011....we hope to see you on the dance floor.

Special Thanks

A special thank you to all of our sponsors and the many volunteers that assisted with UNCW Athletics first-ever Dancing with the Wilmington Stars "Seahawk Style" fundraiser. We would especially like to thank Sansha, Nancy Carson, Mark Sorensen, Bangz Hair Salon, and Cape Fear Formal Wear.