Charlotte Ballet raises $1.8M for local charities

DANCING WITH THE STARS OF CHARLOTTE

Charlotte Ballet raised $1.8 million in donations as part of its annual Dancing with the Stars of Charlotte gala.

Charlotte Ballet raised a record high in donations at its Dancing with the Stars of Charlotte fundraising gala. 

The event, which started in 2013 to support local nonprofits, raised $1.8 million this year, bringing its total to more than $13 million. The showcase features six community leaders paired with professional dancers from across Charlotte, where they spend weeks preparing to take the stage. Teams perform and raise money with donations counting as votes toward their charity choice.

Donations are still being accepted at charlottevalley.org. The annual Dancing With The Stars of Charlotte competition is April 24 at Carolina Theatre.

“Charlotte cares about itself and cares about its people, and it was great to see that in action and be a part of it,” participant Joseph Hetzer said.

Participant Molly Shaw added: “The community as a whole rewards passion and organizations and individuals who are willing to really fight and stand up for something.”
Competitors said part of the impact is the willingness to put themselves before the public. For many, stepping on stage without prior dance experience shows the community the importance of stepping out of comfort zones for a cause.

“I kind of viewed this as a time where I was putting myself out there physically and mentally that I would cast that aside and say, ‘hey, I’m putting myself out there,” participant Alston Mann said. “It's really important that you put yourself out there to support us in what we're doing.” 

Mann said before the gala, he was not familiar with Charlotte’s arts scene, but the experience gave him an opportunity to see into a world completely different from his own. Events like DWTSC increase visibility and support.

“It was so unique to have my eyes opened to a scene that, frankly, I'm just not that plugged into and get to see the inside of it and get to see the people that are working so hard to bring these cultural elements to Charlotte,” Mann said.

Samantha Riester, a Charlotte Ballet dancer, said the company has always been generous.

“They are always willing to fundraise and support and not just our own charity, but everybody else's charity that was raising money as well,” she said. “They do such a great job of reaching out into the community and trying to get us to raise as much money as possible for these great causes.” 

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