HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-10-12, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2017.
Locals in crunch time for Dancing with the Stars
Finishing touches
Les Cook, left, and Melissa Boven, both of Blyth, are in the midst of their final rehearsals for
the Victim Services of Huron County's annual Dancing with the Stars fundraiser. Cook began
his time with the event years ago as one of the "stars" but then took to dancing and became
one of their dancing experts. Boven joins a number of stars like Deb Finch of Blyth and Caley
Doran, formerly of Cowbell Brewing Company, among others. (Denny Scott photo)
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
Huron County Victim Services'
Dancing with the Stars fundraiser
will feature some local talent this
year including avid dancer and nine-
year event veteran Les Cook of
Blyth and his partner star Melissa
Boven.
Boven, a massage therapist who
has her own clinic room at her home
in Blyth and also works in Wingham
and Brussels, was paired with Cook
and the duo plan to perform a salsa
to Christina Aguilera's Candyman
and an East Coast swing dance to
Elle King's Ex's and Oh's.
Boven explained that music and
dance have always been something
Almost time
Deb Finch of Blyth and Herb Runstedler are another local
couple of a star and a dancing expert who will hit the floor
for Dancing with the Stars this weekend. The pair have
been working on their moves for months in anticipation of
the event. (Photo submitted)
she has been interested in.
"It's fun and I've always wanted to
do swing dancing and wanted to
learn it," she said. "Les showed me
some other different dances and
that's what led to us looking at the
salsa."
While not new to the activity of
dancing, Boven is new to formal
dancing and new to dancing lessons.
The desire and opportunity to learn
is a familial connection.
"I wanted to do swing dance
because the music reminded me of
my grandmother," she said. "I would
visit her and we would go for a drive
and she had that kind of music in the
car."
Boven's mother-in-law goes to the
fundraiser every year and takes
dance lessons.
"She told me I should participate
and she talked to Les and before I
knew it, I was on the list," she said.
No one had to twist Melissa's arm,
however, as she loves music, loves
dance and knows the importance of
Huron County Victim Services.
Cook agreed, saying that the
fundraiser is very important to the
organization.
"Melissa has been a quick study
and a quick learner," Cook said.
He said it was great to work with
someone in Blyth as, in the past, he
has sometimes been paired up with
people outside of the village. Being
able to practise with someone in
town has allowed for more frequent
time in the dance hall.
"The organizers usually pair us up
with someone local, but getting
someone right in the village is
great," he said.
Deb Finch of Blyth is another star
in the competition and is paired with
formal dancer Herb Runstedler.
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Finch said she is excited at the
opportunity to participate in the
event for several reasons, not the
least of which is the work that Huron
County Victim Services does.
"I've always admired the Victim
Services group and what they
provide for the community," she said
in interview with The Citizen. "It's
definitely a valuable asset and I
wanted to support the event."
Finch is the treasurer for the Dave
Mounsey Memorial Fund, a group
that purchases defibrillators for
placement in community facilities,
and has been a part of a similar
program in London every year.
"It's fun to see the event from a
dancer's perspective," she said.
Finch has no experience with
formal dancing, though she says she
may have `sauntered' across the
dance floor once or twice at a
local buck and doe, and said that
learning has definitely been
enjoyable for her.
"It's been very, very fun and very
rewarding," she said. "I love pushing
myself outside my comfort zone.
I'm definitely learning a new skill
I'll be able to take forward with me."
Finch said she hopes to convince
her husband to join her on the dance
floor going forward once the event
has finished.
Finch and Runstedler will be
performing a foxtrot to Marilyn
Monroe's Diamonds are a Girl's
Best Friend and the Charleston to a
version of rapper's will.i.am's Bang
Bang.
Being ready for the event is no
easy task according to Finch, who
said that, while she has been looking
forward to the big night since the
very beginning, she is working hard
to be ready.
"Over the last month or so, we've
been edging up to six hours a week
of rehearsing," she said. "We're
trying to finesse the routines and
work out the bugs."
She said that, while rehearsals
were getting longer, they were still
enjoyable.
"I'm definitely enjoying spending
the time together with my partner
and getting to know him and
developing that friendship," she said.
"There's a lot of laughter and I find,
a lot of nights, I'll go home and have
`dancing feet' when I'm trying to get
to sleep."
Dancing with the Stars is the
primary fundraiser for Huron
County Victim Services. The event
includes the couples competing for
top spot as well as other fundraising
efforts such as an auction.
The other four pairings include
star Jeanette Sears paired with
dancer Wayne Bos, Caley Doran
paired with Reanna Ramaker, Devin
Sturgeon with Bonnie Walter and
Patty Coulter with Bill Gulutzen.
For more information, visit Huron
County Victim Services presents
Dancing with the
Stars on Facebook or visit
www.victimserviceshuron.ca
The fundraiser takes place Oct. 14
at the Knights of Columbus Hall in
Goderich. Tickets are going fast and
are available through the Huron
County Victim Services' office at
519-600-4108.
A dress rehearsal of the evening is
also being held on Oct. 13 and is
open to the public. Admission for the
dress rehearsal is by donation.
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