Celebrity dancers announced for 2018 Star Dancing Gala; Mike Johnston set to emcee
newsroom@vaildaily.com
Special to the Daily
Lift the curtain and set the stage for Eagle County youth at the 10th annual YouthPower365 Star Dancing Gala.
The highly anticipated gala is being re-made with a Shakespearian twist, promising to surprise and delight attendees with amazing performances when it returns to the Vail Valley Jet Center in Gypsum on Tuesday, July 17.
With the theme “Set the Stage,” the Star Dancing Gala celebrates and supports the successful public-private partnership between all of Eagle County’s schools and YouthPower365, which provides extended learning opportunities for more than 4,200 young people.
This year’s event is divided into three acts — the first being cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, starting at 5:30 p.m. During the second act, attendees will dine on a five-star dinner while watching dance performances featuring the celebrity dancers and notable local professional dancers. Young local dancers who take part in Celebrate the Beat and the Vail Performing Arts Academy will also perform before the live auction begins. During the final act, attendees will dance the night away with DJ Carve.
Former Colorado State Senator and current Colorado gubernatorial candidate Mike Johnston will emcee the event again this year.
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The dancers have been hard at work rehearsing and raising money to help support YouthPower365’s mission: “To provide extended learning year-round that inspires, educates and empowers the youth and families of Eagle County from cradle to career.” Help support its endeavor by voting for your favorite dancer today at http://www.stardancinggala.com.
Local celebrity dancers
The event’s local celebrity dancers are hard at work both on and off the dance floor.
“We have a great lineup of local celebrity dancers this year who are incredibly dedicated to helping the children in our community through their dancing performances,” said Melisa Rewold-Thuon, Executive Director of YouthPower365.
The public can support the cause by purchasing votes of $10 or more for their favorite dancers online at vote.stardancinggala.com.
Without further ado, here are the celebrity dancers you’ll see steal the show at the Star Dancing Gala:
Doe Browning
Having danced at the first Star Dancing Gala in 2009, Doe Browning will return to the stage for the 10th anniversary. Over the years, Browning has made a significant impact on the Vail Valley community through her commitment to philanthropy, supporting the Bright Future Foundation, the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, Vail Art in Public Places, Bravo! Vail and others. She’s also a longtime supporter of YouthPower365, having served on its Board of Directors.
Amanda Precourt
Along with being the visionary behind YouthPower365’s Girl PowHER program, Amanda Precourt serves on the boards of The Depression Center at Anschutz Medical Center and the Denver Art Museum. She owns AJP Realty & Design LLC, a residential development and design firm.
Sophia Walder
A current student at the University of Southern California, Sophia Walder is an avid dancer and volunteered countless hours bringing her love of dance to others as an ambassador at the Vail Dance Festival, co-founder of Dance Education Outreach for local students and as a student teacher at the Vail Valley Academy of Dance. She’s performing at the Star Dancing Gala in honor of her late father, David Walder.
Yvette Frampton
As the mother of three children, Yvette Frampton is dancing at the Star Dancing Gala to show her kids it’s important to step out of their comfort zone and try new things. Frampton vacationed in Vail with her family as a child and met her now husband, Vail native Chris Frampton while attending college in North Carolina. She serves on the Davidson College Board of Trustees and the Advisory Board for the Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine at the Anschutz Medical Campus. She earned her MFA in film directing from New York University, and her short films have screened at film festivals around the world.
Erik Garcia
After graduating from Battle Mountain High School in Edwards, Erik Garcia earned the coveted full-ride Guardian Scholarship to attend Colorado Mesa University. Garcia, who participated in YouthPower365 programs when he moved to the valley in middle school, now works at R.A. Nelson and gives back to the organization by volunteering. A passionate soccer player, Garcia volunteers his time as a coach for COPA and Academic Soccer and coaches for the Vail Valley Soccer Club. As a husband and father of three, when Garcia takes the stage on July 17, he hopes to show his children that hard work pays off.
John Dawsey
John Dawsey has lived in Eagle County for more than two-and-a-half decades. He and his wife, Yvonne, are grateful to raise their two children, Ryan and Catherine, in the valley. When Dawsey isn’t working as the vice president and general manager of Colorado Mountain Express, he enjoys golf, skiing and biking; he appreciates that Vail is full of like-minded people who share a passion for the outdoors and are committed to making this community a wonderful place to live, work and play.
Reed Eberly
Growing up in Indiana, Reed Eberly developed a love for traveling with his family, including trips out West. His career path lead to a profession in the securities business as he continued to maintain a passion for adventure and travel. Eberly and his wife, Jane, moved to the Vail Valley from Chicago in 2010. He’s on the advisory board for Roundup River Ranch, and is a strong supporter of the Vail Valley Foundation, having seen firsthand through friends and associates the positive benefits of the YouthPower365 programs. Eberly enjoys spending time with his children and grandchildren and has a passion for bridge and Trivial Pursuit — challenge him if you dare.
Travis Coggin
Travis Coggin grew up in Eagle County, skiing, playing hockey and soccer. He graduated from Vail Mountain School and then attended the University of Colorado at Boulder. After living in Jackson, Wyoming, Aspen and Chicago, he moved back to Vail in 2012 and immersed himself in the community as a Vail Town Council member and board member for the Vail Valley Young Professionals Association.