3rd Annual ‘Dancing For the Space Coast’ Raises More Than $250,000 For Local Non-Profit Charities

Raised Over $250,000 for local charities

ABOVE VIDEO: Relive the Third Annual ‘Dancing For the Space Coast’ charity event. (BCSO Video)

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The third annual ‘Dancing For the Space Coast’ drew rave reviews from attendees and local celebrities around Brevard County Saturday night, June 3, after a glorious evening of great entertainment for local charities.

The charity event was hosted by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and emceed by Sheriff Wayne Ivey and Cpl. Jay Martinez, the night featured a live auction and live dance performances by dance professionals and local celebrities who competed to raise money for Brevard County non-profit organizations.

Leading up to the event, the local celebrities helped raise money months before the event, while preparing for their complex dance routine in front of a packed Clemente Center.

Each of the nine local celebrities teamed up with a professional dancer of their choosing, and performed a dance routine in front of a sold-out audience on the campus of Florida Tech.

“I love this event,” said former Florida Tech President Dr. Anthony Catanese.

“This is the single biggest event in Brevard County.”

Over 700 attendees gathered Saturday night, June 3, at Florida Tech’s Clemente Center, who all helped raise over $250,000 for charity.

The beneficiaries of Saturday’s event were The Parker Foundation for Autism and Child Development, The Children’s Advocacy Center of Brevard, and The Maxwell King Center for the Performing Arts.

Also, 10-percent of the event’s proceeds will go directly to support the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Charity, Inc., established to assist Brevard County law enforcement officers and fire fighter/paramedics in their time of need.

The grand champion of the third annual Dancing For the Space Coast was Ted and Melissa Parker who helped raise over $44,000, taught by Dancin’ Dance Studio‘s professional dance instructor Heidi Arnold.

Second place, went to Dani Clevens and her instructor Barry Johnson from Melbourne Ballroom.

Third place, went to Natasha Spencer, Senior Vice President of Shelter Mortgage Company and her instructor Primo Garcia from Dancin’ Dance Studio.

“Dancing For the Space Coast is a special event for me as an instructor,” said Heidi Arnold, owner and instructor at Dancin’ Dance Studio in Indialantic.

“You form a bond with these dancers every year and we prepare months ahead of this event so the relationship you build with them extends beyond Dancing For the Space Coast. We do it all for local charities in Brevard County, which makes the event even more special.”

Sheriff Wayne Ivey noted that every team in the event helped raise over $30,000, each.

“The true “Stars” of the evening were the celebrity dancers who each committed their time and energy to raise funds for the event,” said Sheriff Wayne Ivey of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.

“This year’s celebrity dancers included Marc Claycomb, Dani Clevens, Angie Friers, Bart Gaetjen, CJ Johnson, Melissa & Ted Parker, Marilyn Scott, Tyler Sirois, and Natasha Spencer.”

“Each dancer was paired with a ballroom instructor who graciously donated a large portion of their time to support one of the largest and most successful fundraisers of the year,” Ivey added.

The whole event was sponsored by Space Coast Daily, Revolution Technologies, Harris Corporation., Melbourne Athletic Club, C&R Designs Printing, Florida Tech , Classic Wood Flooring, Community Champions, Bansbach Easylift, Eau Gallie Florist, Luke & Associates and Island Lincoln Jaguar Range Rover and Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.

“A big thank you goes out to Barry Johnson from Melbourne Ballroom, Ladonna Campbell from Downtown Dance Studio in Titusville, and Primo Garcia, Heidi Arnold, Lance Sexton, Elena Johnson-Sexton, Brad Stein and Jemira Tejeda from Dancin’ Dance Studio in Indialantic. Without their incredible support this event would not be as successful,” Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey.

The event will be back next year with a whole new lineup of celebrity dancers. Competitors for the 2018 event will be announced at a later date.

IMAGES FOR 2017 DANCING FOR THE SPACE COAST

(Click Image for Full Resolution)

CELEBRITY DANCER PROFILES

RED CARPET INTERVIEWS AT DANCING FOR THE SPACE COAST

SPACE COAST DAILY TV: Dancing For the Space Coast, a unique competition and fundraising event that benefits three worthy organizations in Brevard, is being held at Florida Tech’s Clemente Center tonight.

SPACE COAST DAILY TV: Dancing For the Space Coast, a unique competition and fundraising event that benefits three worthy organizations in Brevard, is being held at Florida Tech’s Clemente Center tonight.

SPACE COAST DAILY TV: Dancing For the Space Coast, a unique competition and fundraising event that benefits three worthy organizations in Brevard, is being held at Florida Tech’s Clemente Center tonight.

SPACE COAST DAILY TV: Dancing For the Space Coast, a unique competition and fundraising event that benefits three worthy organizations in Brevard, is being held at Florida Tech’s Clemente Center tonight.

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