Marissa Day ’14 | Managing Editor

Dancing with the Stars may be in its 16th season, but South’s program is just getting started. The second annual Dancing with the South Stars will be held Friday, April 12 in the Main Gym, Junior Class Adviser Carrie Halliburton said. The event will take place at 7 p.m. and tickets will be on sale for $10.

This year, the event will feature five new teachers dancing, with last year’s champion Tom Schultz participating on the judging panel. As of now, there are two male staff members and three female members that are competing in the event. Like last year, the teachers will be working with the Arthur Murray Dance Studio in preparation for the event.

One of the challenges Halliburton and the class councils faced this year was finding available teachers, particularly males. While several were interested in being a part of this year’s show, schedule conflicts along with school and personal events were too hard to move around, Halliburton said.

“We had a little bit harder time finding the male teachers this year,” said Halliburton. “Everybody wants to come see the event but just finding the time to be able to be in the event (is hard); people are busy, we get that.”

Social studies teacher Chris Booth was hesitant to participate, but joined because the event is for charity, he said.

The most challenging part of the event will not be the dancing itself but the crowds, Booth said. After he gets past the initial few seconds, the dance routine just becomes a fun experience.

“Getting in front of a few hundred people, the first 10 seconds will be the most challenging,” said Booth, who did an event like this at his previous school. “I’ve just got to make sure I have fun and not worry about it, once you get passed the first 5-10 seconds everything should be good.”

Halliburton said the biggest change is the program’s partnership with Beaumont Hospital. This year Beaumont will be working with South to promote cardiovascular health, said Beaumont’s Community Affairs Manager Suzanne Berschback.

“We have been doing a program that’s in its third year that’s called ‘Day of Dance’ which is partnering with the community dance schools, and we do a celebration of cardiovascular health by trying to get everybody up and dancing,” said Berschback, who is working with Halliburton on the program.

Having Beaumont as a partner will help spread the word about Dancing with the South Stars to a larger demographic of people, in a professional and unique way, Halliburton said. Because of their partnership, the councils will be able to use nicer posters a bigger stage for the competitors, allowing them more creativity in their routines.

Of the teachers who are participating as contestants, English teacher Sandra McCue said she is both excited and nervous for the event. Although she was hesitant about agreeing to be a part of something outside her comfort zone, she looks forward to challenging herself and helping the school as well.

“I am really looking forward to learning something new,” said McCue. “I like to stay in my comfort zone for things and (dancing is) definitely outside my comfort zone so I’m looking forward to getting an opportunity to challenge myself and to find out what I’m capable of because I haven’t had any real dance success before.”

Although she has had no prior dance experience, Spanish teacher Christine Spada hopes she can bring a unique aspect to her dance. Rather than doing traditional ballroom dance, Spada plans on incorporating Spanish or Latin dance in her routine.

“Being a Spanish teacher, I would like to learn a Latin dance since dance is such an integral part of the Spanish/Latin culture,” said Spada in an e-mail. “I have traveled to many different Spanish-speaking countries, have seen many different dances, and have always wanted to learn these different types of dances.”

While the teachers are planning their dances, the class councils are busy planning other events, Halliburton said. Instead of last years’ bake sale, there will be a larger, more collective sale called ‘A Taste of Grosse Pointe,’ which invites local restaurants and bakeries to bring samples of their food to the event.

In addition, Beaumont will have several health tables and representatives present during the event to meet with anyone interested in getting on track for a healthier lifestyle, Berschback said.

While the councils are working behind the scenes to make this years’ Dancing with the South Stars a success, teachers are planning what they want to do in for their dance routines. Although teachers already have some ideas for what they want to do, some students are giving their input as well, McCue said.

“There were a few students who wanted me to wear a dress and light it on fire and be like Katniss from ‘The Hunger Games’ but I told them that was not a viable option,” said McCue. “They have been giving me good ideas, but I’m not sure I’m going to use any of them.”