Out & About: Animal Friends of Westmoreland hosts dance-off, reveals new name
Things got a little rowdy at Dancing With the Celebrities, hosted Friday night by Animal Friends of Westmoreland in Greensburg’s Palace Theatre.
There were boos and cat calls from audience members unhappy with some of the judges’ scores.
After intermission, emcee and AFW Executive Director Kelli Brisbane asked, “Did you have enough of the free wine and beer?”
An obviously underage voice responded with a loud “No!”
It was all in good fun, though, as nine dance duos strutted their stuff in the annual competition that raises funds for the Youngwood-based animal rescue and adoption organization that also has a large-animal sanctuary in Unity.
Celebrity dancers — representing business, education, health care, nonprofits and government — were paired with dance instructors for performances in various dance styles, from ballroom to tango to hip hop.
At stake were first, second and third place judges’ and people’s choice awards.
When the last dance was danced and the last vote tallied, these pairs, with celebrity and instructor listed respectively, prevailed:
• Nate Nevala and Khrystal Ferri, first-place winners in both categories
• Brittany Cooper-Reilly and Laura Johnson, judges’ award second place
• Heather Bach Huber and Markus Gresko, judges’ award third place
• Tracy Showman and Jerry Gresko, people’s choice award second place
• Rodney Little and Sarah Rebitch, peoples’ choice third place.
Also competing were Alicia Belli-Overly and Gary Manges, Ben Huber and Eve Squires, Carly Lutz and Dylan Pal and Zak Shuster and Judy Gresko.
Judges were former judges’ award-winners Aubrey Worek-DeStephen and Jackie Sobel, along with singer Aubrey Burchell, who also sang, showing off the big voice that is taking her to “America’s Got Talent.”
Choreography was provided by Laura Johnson, Susan Yademec Dance Co. and TDI Ballroom. Little and Rebitch adapted their routine from the movie, “Take the Lead.”
The show opened with an aerobics dance routine by Sobel and Worek-DeStephen. Dancers from the Susan Yademec company did a group number and member Mary Planic performed a solo tap routine.
On a serious note, Brisbane announced that the organization is rebranding as Heal Animal Rescue.
The name change is designed to avoid confusion with the similarly named Pittsburgh-area organization, Animal Friends, and to reflect the healing properties that interacting with animals can bring into the lives of humans.
It also reflects the desire of AFW founder and president Candy Valentino to broaden the organization’s reach beyond Westmoreland County.
Brisbane also noted that new grant funding will allow Heal Animal Rescue to hire a staff veterinarian and establish a mobile spay and neuter clinic.
For more information, visit animalfriendswestmoreland.org.
Shirley McMarlin is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Shirley by email at smcmarlin@triblive.com or via Twitter .
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