‘Dancing with Your Community Stars’ brings fundraising for Iron County’s CJC

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Tyler Allred and his fan favorite Cha Cha won him and partner Emily Burton the title of Overall Grand Champion Winner at the annual “Dancing With Your Community Stars” Thursday night in the Heritage Center Theater.

The Iron County Children’s Justice Center (CJC), a nonprofit organization working with abused children, hosted the event in partnership with SUU’s Ballroom Dance Company (BDC).

The competition showcased eight community stars (in addition to one star’s sister) in a dance showdown with their trained ballroom dance partners.

Community celebrities and partners who danced in the event included:

Rich Nielsen with Danielle Kramer did the salsa
Janette Stubbs and Dave Handy did the Viennese waltz
Tyler Allred and Emily Burton did the Cha Cha
Monica Torres and Rene Guzman did the tango
Megan Talbot and Daniel Keetch did the lindy hop
Steve Schofield and Haley Powers did the foxtrot
Ryan Miller and Allison Ing did theater arts
Jen Hinton and Becki Bronson, and Joseph Argyle did the character jive

Ben Batty, Harold Haynie and Randie Lipski judged the competition, with Iron County Commissioner and Reigning Champion Mike Bleak as master of ceremonies. After judges gave their scores, audience members voted in the lobby for their favorite duo.

While ballots were counted and awards were determined, SUU’s BDC had three performances by their beginning, intermediate and tour teams, followed with a speech by Bleak and a video about Iron County’s CJC.

During his speech, Bleak said in his many years as a law enforcement officer in Iron County, he has seen the worst of humanity, who typically seem to target children.

“I know all too well the crucial importance of the Iron County Children’s Justice Center,” Bleak said. “To our local children who are victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and neglect … the (CJC) gives them a voice and a stopping point to stop the problem, and a starting point to start the healing.”

The night continued with local band Jaded Swine’s rendition of Linkin Park’s “One More Light”, and specialty awards for contributors to the CJC.

The competition wrapped up with Allred’s new title and the announcement of other winners: