Dancing with the Horry County Stars

MYRTLE BEACH -  Dancing with the Horry County Stars fund raiser that began last year, raising 92,000 dollars from a standing room only crowd is set to hold this fundraiser again this year. 

This season’s event will be held Saturday evening, November 21, 2009, 7:00 pm until. 

The event will be held at Marina Inn at the Grande Dunes, benefiting Business Education Expectations/ Early College High School and The Long Bay Symphony. 

The idea was spawned for the first season when Marsha Griffin, BE2 Consultant, attended a similar event that was held in Brunswick County in late August of last year, benefiting Brunswick County Community College.  The idea grew as she recruited Brunswick County dance participants, but Horry County residents, Jennifer Hall and Karen Deese to assist her in what became a mammoth, but worthwhile project. 

Partnering with The Long Bay Symphony was originator Griffins’ brain child, knowing that live music would be a challenge, but would be well worth it.  It was indeed a challenge last year, but as arranger Marc Chesanow came to the rescue, we laid down a great pattern for this second year’s effort. The Academy of Dance, owned by Karen Deese dancers will again open the show and will set the tone for 19 Horry County Stars and their professional dance partners.  Tango, jive, waltz, samba, foxtrot, as well as other ballroom favorites will fill the evening with excitement.  The Long Bay Symphony has again assembled a top notch dance band, all comprised of sitting symphony members while arranger Marc Chesanow will again arrange and perform all the music for the evening,  yes, the two free dances will be inclusive!.

With a still uncertain economy Marsha Griffin was thrilled beyond words when South Atlantic Bank called her and ask to be Shining Star sponsor, then low and behold who steps up but State Farm, Bobby Kelly and Boling Century 21 to be Twinkling Star Sponsors, what more could an event planner ask for, of course no one understands the power of education as the economic development engine like Horry County, thank heaven!

This year has a stellar cast of stars let’s do a casting call:  PJ Browning, Publisher The Sun News, Zade Conner, America Athletic Club, Charles Evans, Conductor, The Long Bay Symphony, Melissa Downs-High, Comptroller, South Atlantic Bank, Carey Graham, Developer, Landsouth, Mary Ellen Greene, Horry County School Board Member, Monica Hardee, A.O. Hardee Construction Company, Deborah Harwell, WRNN, Palm Adobe Communications, Laura Hibbit, Principal, Hibbits Insurance Company, Amanda Kinseth, Reporter, Channel 15, Alys Lawson, Mayor, Conway, SC, Neil McCoy, Burroughs & Chapin, Jimbo Newton, Hair Stylist, Salon Edge, Jamie Richard, Teacher, Early College High School, Holly Schrieber, CFO, Coastal Carolina National Bank, Richard Singleton, Commercial Real Estate, Coldwell Banker, Chicora, Denny Starr, Personal Trainer, Cinzia, Co-Star Ruby, In Style Network and Michael Wells, Attorney, Coastal Law. Of course for each star there is a professional dancer and we are humbled by the volunteer hours that each of these professional dancers has given.  As each of these stars dance for education and culture, there is indeed a twist, we have a dancing skills winner as well as a winner for who raises the most money, the citizens of Horry County can all help this part of the competition as you can go online and vote for your favorite star, pro or judge, ten dollars buys a vote, all proceeds going to Horry County K-12 Foundation and The Long Bay Symphony.  Our website is www. horrycountybe2.com click on learn more and then VOTE, you can vote using Visa or Master Card, we need to average $1500 dollars per day in order to meet our 100,000 dollar goal for online voting before we kick open the events doors on November, so vote it up PLEASE!

Tables for twelve are available for $3000.00 and include two bottles of champagne, a seat, full buffet and open bar (wine and spirits), single tickets are available for $125.00 per person. You may buy tickets and tables online http://www.horrycountybe2.com