EFLS Goes Dancing With the Stars Next Month

The Education Foundation of Little Silver hopes to samba its way towards raising money for the district's technology needs at next month's "Dancing With the Stars" event at the Shadowbrook in Shrewsbury.

The March 8 fundraiser will pit seven couples -- made up of both parents and teachers -- against each other on the dance floor with judges and the audience voting on the best dancers and the winners of the silver ball trophy.

The couples -- two of which are made up of teachers -- will compete in a dance-off with performances lasting no more than two minutes apiece. Each pair is sponsored by a local dance school that has provided rehearsal space as well as assistance with choreography and music.

It will be up to the event's three judges -- Little Silver Mayor Bob Neff, dance instructor LB Kass and Patch Editor Amy Byrnes -- to score their performances, which will account for 50 percent of the total.  The audience will determine the outcome using votes received at check in. Audience members will also have the opportunity to purchase additional votes throughout the evening. 

Masters of ceremonies Chris Smith and Bettina Forbes will oversee the competition and announce the winners following the evening's silent auction.

Students from the RBR Academy of Visual and Performing Arts dance department will kick off the entertainment with a performance.  Dancing will be Brianna Napoli, Jaimie Berube, Gianna Pianoforte, Gabriella Redaelli, Abigail Viscomi, and Gabrielle Ward.  Dorianne Murray is the teacher/director and Jessica Berube the choreographer.

The Haven will preform after the competition to accompany plenty of food, drink, chance, silent and live auction opportunities, as well as a children's art auction.  Dessert will be provided by Cupcake of Little Silver. 

Tickets for the event are $75 each and can be purchased on the foundation's web site.

Proceeds go to fund technology needs in the classroom. Last year, the EFLS raised $50,000 and funded a number of teacher-requested technologies, including eight smart boards, which were divided evenly between the two schools.    
 
There are a number of sponsors including Waltz ($4,500) )- ABC Receivables Management (The Shnayderman Family) and The Goodes Family; Foxtrot ($1,000) - Disque Cullen Family Foundation, Red Bank Self Storage, Stratus Technology Services (The Raymond Family), Microsoft (The Wallace Family); Rumba ($600) - Gala Capital Management, Sickles Market, Collex Collision (The Grant Family), BNL Enterprises, Metropolitan Asthma Allergy, PC - Dr. Feryal Hajee, MD Heritage House Sotheby’s International Realty/Amy Almasy and Kim Quigley, The Loftus Family, Little Silver Medicine Pediatric and Family Care Grandview (The Purdon Family); and Jive ($250) - My Optics of Little Silver, Little Silver Home Care (Annie Swartz), Giggles Photography (Kate Quinn) and Rysers.

Dancer and affiliated dance schools include:

• Kara and Jamie Raymond -- Dance Plus in Little Silver
• Jennifer and John Borenius -- Dance Mixx Studio in Shrewsbury
• Carolyn and Eric Wasserfall -- Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Red Bank
• Lori and Bill Lopez -- Kick Dance Studio in Fair Haven
• Tabitha and Joe Pia -- Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Red Bank
• Kristen and Gregg Galante -- Kathryn Barnett School of Dance in Red Bank
• Julie Ford and Mystery Partner -- South Street Salsa in Marlboro