Tri-Valley Stars to Dance to Raise Funds for LVPAC - Independent Magazine | MAY 2018 - Livermore Valley ...
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F EAT U RE
Tri-Valley Stars to Dance to
Raise Funds for LVPAC
by Carol Graham
Faith Alpher, Bob Carling and Juliette Goodrich will compete in Tri-Valley Dancing with the Stars.
6 Independent Magazine | MAY 2018
David Lewis, Karla Brown and Mony Nop round out the cast of Tri-Valley Dancing with the Stars.
A
n ill-fated attempt to competitor in each of us will come to Dancing with the Tri-Valley Stars
breakdance at his high- the surface.” offers all the glamor, moves and music
school reunion isn’t Which is just the way audiences like of the popular TV show upon which it is
keeping Dave Lewis it. The irst-ever “Dancing with the Tri- modeled. Dancing with the Stars began
from seeking his inner Valley Stars” takes place on Saturday, in 2005 and was recently renewed for
Patrick Swayze. May 12, at 8 p.m. All are invited to cheer its 28th season. Mirrorball Trophy?
“I jumped at the opportunity to be on – and vote for – the dancers at the Check. Sparkly gowns? Check. Spray tans?
the sixth and inal contestant,” declares Bankhead Theater in Livermore during Maybe.
the NBC News Radio sports anchor. “All this gala fundraiser. “We thought this would be a great
six of us have been competitive in our “This event is the perfect balance way to engage the community,” says Scott
respective positions: politicians compete between fun and a true competition,” Kenison, executive director of Livermore
for votes, comedians compete for laughs, Lewis adds. “The experience represents Valley Performing Arts Center (LVPAC).
businesspeople compete for the market, living a more adventurous life — to “We’ve looked for opportunities to put
and broadcasters compete for audiences. try new things and take a chance. Let’s local talent and familiar faces on the
While this event is fun, I’m certain the dance!” CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
MAY 2018 | Independent Magazine 7
Bankhead stage, and this is another step Juliette Goodrich, a KPIX anchor, says,
in that direction. I’m looking forward to “I have never had dance experience, so
Faith Alpher: seeing all the contestants shine.” this should be fun and challenging, to
I’ve always been
The weekend prior to the say the least. Before agreeing, I asked my
confident, but now
I’m learning to be performance, the Utah Ballroom Dance kids and all three said, ‘Mom, you have
courageous. Company professionals will roll into town to go for it.’ I’m in the news business and
to begin working with the locals. we are naturally competitive to get a
story or interview. We thrive on that. As
“On Sunday, the stars will meet their for the dance competition, I’m looking
professional partners and ind out which forward to the whole process of learning
dance they’ll be learning,” Kenison says. a dance under a deadline, performing it,
Bob Carlling: “Over the course of the week they’ll and seeing how I do. I have no idea if I
I hope the audience learn a 90-second dance, rehearse have dance skills. (Oh wait, my kids say
is entertained, for the competition, and be itted for
has an enjoyable I don’t!) But I don’t plan to have secret
costumes. On the evening of the show, training like Davis Lewis. Game on!”
evening...
they’ll perform their dances in front of
the audience and a small panel of judges. With a lifetime devoted to sports,
While the winner is being determined, Lewis admits to being competitive,
Utah Ballroom Dance will perform a adding, “Especially with some of the
dance showcase. At the conclusion of the unnamed contestants talking all-in-fun
evening, the winner will be awarded the trash to ‘bring it on.’”
Karla Brown:
I want to do well Mirrorball Trophy.” Lewis is learning ballroom
as a representative A video highlight reel with fundamentals at Arthur Murray in
of the City of
commentary will also entertain the Livermore, and has taken to watching
Pleasanton. videos on YouTube instead of ESPN.
audience.
“The stars of the Tri-Valley are folks Mony Nop, a survivor of Cambodia’s
who work to make this a better place to Killing Fields, served a Livermore police
live and work,” Kenison says. “We can of icer for 17 years before becoming a
already tell from their enthusiasm that realtor, motivational speaker, nonpro it
we’ve chosen fun, friendly competitors. founder, and author.
Dave Lewis:
I jumped at the We think they’ll have a great time “I thought it would be fun to do
opportunity to be preparing for the show, and we’ll have a something way out of my comfort zone,”
the sixth and final great time watching them.” Nop says. “I took lessons from Arthur
contestant. Murray over two years ago, and enjoyed it
The stars are Lewis, Mony Nop, Faith
Alpher, Juliette Goodrich, Karla Brown, tremendously, but discovered that I have
and Bob Carling. two left feet. (Can you say nervous?) The
audience will be thoroughly entertained,
“What’s interesting to me is not just and their hearts will be illed with joy
Juliette that they’re all local luminaries, but knowing they are supporting a great
Goodrich: they have similar backgrounds, so in a cause.”
I have no idea if I sense they compete in other arenas, as
have dance skills.
well,” says Roberta Emerson, marketing Proceeds from the event will fund the
manager for LVPAC. “Two are in real Bankhead’s student-discount program.
estate (Brown and Nop), two have “Making the arts accessible for all ages
coached middle school basketball (Nop is a key tenet of our mission,” Emerson
and Lewis), three are media personalities says. “Discounted tickets, free concerts
(Lewis, Alpher and Goodrich), two are and events, in-school arts opportunities,
children’s book authors (Goodrich and and scholarships for art and music
Mony Nop:
Nop), and two are city council members camps, help support this effort. The six
I thought it would
be fun to do (Carling and Brown).” dancers are all local leaders known for
something way out They also share a lack of ballroom- their support for young people and the
of my comfort zone. arts in our community, so this is a perfect
dancing experience, although their
approaches to learning vary widely. combination.”
CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
8 Independent Magazine | MAY 2018
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 includes more than 100 international Kenison says. “We’ll be posting on social
performances each year. media about the week’s activities leading
Bob Carling, Livermore City up to the event, so people can get in on
Councilmember and former Sandia “I’d like to thank LVPAC and the
Bankhead for coming up with the idea of the excitement and see how the event
Laboratories director, says, “I hope the is taking shape. We’re hoping people
putting locally-known names into a venue
audience is entertained, has an that is both fun and entertaining,” says from across the Tri-Valley and beyond
enjoyable evening, and will return for Karla Brown, a Pleasanton City Council will come out to enjoy a fun evening and
other performances at the Bankhead.” member and realtor. “I’m pleased to join support our stars. There are no losers;
Faith Alpher, a popular radio in the fun, but have never been trained everyone who puts on their dancing
personality on KKIQ, performs comedy, as a dancer, so this is all new. Recently, shoes is a winner.”
stars in her hit one-woman shows: I’ve dropped into a few dance classes Lewis, fortunately, has had plenty of
Through the Eyes of Faith, and Black Girl, around the Tri-Valley to get some idea of time to recover from his breakdancing
Funny World. the different types of ballroom dances. performance.
“I’m so excited to get the opportunity I’ve learned there are a lot of technical “It resulted in one hour of high ives,
to do something way out of my comfort steps and maneuvers to master. I want to and one week of chiropractic treatment,”
zone,” Alpher says. “I’ve always been do well as a representative of the City of he says. “For Dancing with the Tri-Valley
con ident, but now I’m learning to be Pleasanton.” Stars, there will be only one winner
courageous. Whether on or off stage, or General admission tickets are $30- but all six of us will be bold enough
in my Arbonne business, I’m learning that $60, and student and military tickets are to put ourselves out there with some
without courage you cannot succeed.” $17. The Bankhead Theater is located at guaranteed mistakes. We’ll overcome the
Utah Ballroom Dance Company is 2400 First Street. stumbles, smile, and keep going. Win or
the U.S. National Formation Champion “This is an opportunity to see lose, the sparkle and sequins will make
in both Standard and Latin ballroom ballroom dancing on a professional level everyone look great.”
dancing. They’ve received accolades with local talent and all the bells and To learn more, visit lvpac.org, or
for their “Ballroom Fever” tour, which whistles of a ballroom competition,” call 925.373.6800.
RIEN, ADAMS & COX, LLP
39 South Livermore Avenue, Suite 209, Livermore | RAC@rienadamscox.com
San Joaquin Co. 209.832.0202 | Stanislaus Co. 209.847.8076
10 Independent Magazine | MAY 2018
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