Nine people who have been spending the summer months learning how to dance will take the stage for charity this weekend in Tupelo.
Dress rehearsals for the 19th Dance Like the Stars event are currently underway with the show taking place Saturday at 6:30 p.m. inside Cadence Bank Arena and Conference Center. This year’s participants, each representing a local Boys & Girls Club, will vie for the title of “Grand Champion,” which goes to the dancer who raises the most money.
Denise Benjamin Meek, a banker by trade, is representing New Albany. She and other participants have gone through 25 dance lessons since the beginning of summer to ensure their moves are on point for the charity event.
“I spent some time at the Boys & Girls Club in New Albany and the kids let me know real quick that I did not have any rhythm,” Meek laughed. “So, I definitely needed the 25 dance lessons to be able to perform my dance tomorrow night.”
Meek added that while she’s excited to showcase what she’s learned, the best part about being involved with this year’s Dance Like The Stars has been getting to know the children involved with the Boys & Girls Club of New Albany.
“This whole experience has been great. Learning the dance of course, but what I have gotten out of this the most is spending time with those kids and having fun with them,” Meek said. “It’s really done my heart some good.”
To donate to the event and vote for Meek as the best dancer, click here.
Other dancers participating are Robert Bass, Georgia Kate Conner, Katie Scott Haywood, Michael Holloway, Candance Hunt, Anthony Knight, and William Teer.
The dinner preceding Dance Like the Stars is already sold out. However, general admission tickets to watch the show are still available for $20. In 2023, the event raised a total of $241,288.
