A MUCH-LOVED dance floor battle is shimmying-up to bring back glitz, glamour and a sparkle that has been missing from Ballarat.
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The Ballarat Foundation will today launch flashy charity event Dancing with our Stars.
Reality television stars and Ballarat businessmen Taite Radley, from The Bachelorette, and Masterchef's Tim Bone are among a star-studded ensemble battling it out to be Ballarat's dance champion.
The Ballarat Foundation chief executive officer Andrew Eales confirmed there would be many new ways for the community to engage with the stars on their fundraising journeys and, in particular, when they hit the dance floor in March.
Mr Eales said the event was going to be very different to last year's inaugural championship and what had been planned for this year, which was cancelled amid the pandemic. But it was going to be special.
"This is such a fun event and the fundraising component is so vital to helping the community," Mr Eales said. "We don't think there's a better time to be launching this event and to give our community something to look forward to.
"We do hope to have an audience at Civic Hall for the event. We've also been focusing our energies on engaging people who will not be at Civic Hall on the night, we're planning a very exciting coverage and exciting opportunities to get involved.
"We've been planning for all contingencies for a while now and we're so excited to find a way to get the event coming together."
IN OTHER NEWS
The inaugural Dancing with our Stars raised more than $12,300 to support The Ballarat Foundation's suite of programs, including L2P driving, Ballarat Reads and Volunteering Ballarat. Funds raised also support the foundation's grants distribution program.
The Ballarat Foundation delivered $829,000 in community impact programs to help break cycles of disadvantage.
Ten stars are ready to shine for next year's big dance:
- Tim Bone, Tim's Toasties
- Daniel Nestor, McGrath Ballarat
- Taite Radley, Sweaty AF Gym
- Rob Croucher, GROW Ballarat
- Kevin Vanderkley, Hearty Homes
- Rochelle Kirkham, The Courier
- Paula Nicholson, Ballarat Arts Foundation
- Danielle Coltman, ABC Homes
- Alicia Wang Sheludko, Sovereign Radiology
- Anita Godfrey, BGT
Each star will be paired with a Ballarat dancer to help teach and guide their moves.
Mr Eales said the foundation was grateful to each star who was prepared to have a go and represent a wide cross-section of the community.
"This event is very unique for Ballarat, very different, but nonetheless, when people do get involved, the make a significant impact," Mr Eales said.
Dancing with our Stars will swing into action at the Civic Hall on March 20. Further details for live streaming are yet to be announced.
Canberra Hotel owner Malcolm Roberts is reigning dance champion, while Buxton's Mark Nunn set the standard as highest individual fundraiser, tallying more than $26,000.
For more details about the stars and how to support them, visit dancing-with-our-stars.raisely.com.
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