Local celebrities won’t be the only ones taking to the floor in their sequined and fringed best at Friday’s "Dancing with the Hawaii Stars" fundraiser. Three pros from ABC-TV’s hit dance competition also will be on-hand at the benefit for the Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children.
Dancers Tristan MacManus, Sasha Farber and Emma Slater, who all competed on the recently wrapped Season 17 of "Dancing with the Stars," will perform at the fundraiser, set for 7-10 p.m. at Dole Cannery’s Pomaikai Ballrooms. Slater and Farber will showcase their talent in an exhibition number, while MacManus will help judge the competition and perform as well.
The local celebrity dancers in the competition are fashion designer and two-time "Project Runway" contestant Ari South; musician Duncan Kamakana, a former contestant on NBC’s "The Voice"; Country 97.5 FM deejay Makani; and KITV weather anchor Moani Nabarro.
They will dance two numbers, one at the beginning of the program and one at the end, with other entertainment in between. The first dance will be performed together for easy comparison, while the second involves separate routines in different dance styles.
Joining MacManus on the judging panel will be fashion designer and pageant coach Amos Kotomori and City Councilwoman Kymberly Marcos Pine.
The benefit is the brainchild of Arthur Murray Dance Center’s Gisella Anelle and Rodney Schultz, who wanted to raise money for Kapiolani Medical Center after Anelle gave birth to the couple’s daughter there in March 2012. Although their child was born without complications, they learned about others at Kapiolani who weren’t so lucky and how the hospital is trying to expand its intensive care unit for newborns, including making it possible for parents to stay with their infants overnight.
"That really kind of hit home," Anelle said.
The pair hope to make the fundraiser an annual event.
"Dancing with the Hawaii Stars" includes a dinner, silent auction and door prizes. Dancers from the Murray center and other dance studios will perform, with Anelle and her staff doing dances inspired by real-life stories of Kapiolani Medical Center patients and families.
Country 97.5’s Dita Holifield will emcee.
Tickets are $175, with all proceeds benefiting the hospital. VIP tickets of $250 include preferred seating and other perks. Each attendee will receive a voucher for a free private dance lesson at Arthur Murray Studios, located in Honolulu and Kailua.
Tuesday is the deadline to buy tickets; visit dancingwiththehawaiistars.com. For information, call the Arthur Murray studios at 944-0606.
