WATCH: Dakari Pickens Prepares for 10th Annual ‘Dancing for the Space Coast’ Set for June 1 at Clemente Center
By Space Coast Daily // May 25, 2024
Pickens is a senior at Titusville High School
ABOVE VIDEO: Dakari Pickens Prepares for 10th Annual ‘Dancing for the Space Coast’ Set for June 1 at Clemente Center
Dancing For the Space Coast is presented by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, and sponsored by L3Harris, Space Coast Daily and Florida Tech
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – With less than a week to go, the 2024 ‘Dancing for the Space Coast’ dancers are beginning to prepare for their final dance routines with their dance instructors for the charity event on June 1 at Florida Tech’s Clemente Center.
With a sold out crowd ready to pack inside the Clemente Center this year, one of the dancers in this year’s event is Dakari Pickens, a senior at Titusville High School. He has been involved in Best Buddies for four years and has been an officer for three years.
Dakari is involved in the National Honor Society, Student Government Association (SGA), Band, and the School Spirit Squad. He is also a member of the percussion section of the band and plays the xylophone and symbols. Dakari is a member of SGA and dance with the TSA dancers of Terrier Sound and serve as their squad captain.
“I love Titusville High School not only for my sense of pride and school spirit, but because of how inclusive our school is for every individual thanks to Best Buddies,” said Dakari.
Best Buddies is a non-profit international organization with programs for Intellectually or developmentally disabled individuals.
Some of the programs they support are leadership, one to one friendships, employment, and inclusive living. He has benefitted from their one-to-one friendship program and their leadership program. His peer buddy is Kayla Walsh, and they have been paired in a one-to-one friendship for four years. One-to-one friendships spend time together at club activities as well as personal time to get to know each other and connect outside of school.
After his freshman year, he was asked to be the buddy director and represent his fellow classmates which was an honor for him, he says. He was elected to this position by his fellow officers and has learned a lot about being a good leader like, leading by example, communicating clearly, and helping wherever it is needed. It also enabled him to meet new friends, promote inclusion on the campus, and encourage other students to be involved in their school, like Best Buddies.
After high school, he plans to attend the BLAST Program and continue his Best Buddies journey as a member of the Best Buddies Brevard Citizen’s Program and continue to spend more time with his buddy Kayla.
In the future, He hopes to find a job helping others in education or a local medical facility.
“I am honored to represent not only my school at the Sheriff’s Gala on June 1st, but specifically Best Buddies because it has taught me so much about giving back to others and promoting kindness and inclusion in our community,” said Dakari. “Best Buddies enabled me to find my strengths and use my abilities to empower others.”
CLICK HERE to donate to Dancing for the Space Coast’s charity in Dakari’s name.
To sponsor the event and/or attend the event, reserve your table today.
The 2024 edition of Brevard County’s biggest social and philanthropic event of the year will showcase featured dancers, Diana Chaves, Grace Han, Terri Clark, Tracy Hudson-Frantzis, Richard and Christine Hunt, Tammy Kammerdener, Tom Kelce, Cinthia Kettering, Tracy Latshaw, Dakari Pickens and Emily Anne Thomason.
Known as the largest fundraising event in Brevard County, Dancing for the Space Coast is a unique competition and fundraiser that benefits worthy non-profit organizations on the Space Coast.
Last year’s event raised more than $400,000 for Habitat for Humanity of Brevard, Women’s Center of Brevard, Family Promise of Brevard and the United States Law Enforcement Eternal Flame.
This year, Dancing for the Space Coast will raise money to benefit the Aging Matters, Spacecoast Discovery, Space Coast Basket Brigade/Best Buddies, and The Brevard County Public Safety Charity, which was established to assist Brevard County law enforcement officers and firefighters in their time of need.
“As Sheriff of Brevard County, it gives me great pleasure for our agency to host Dancing for the Space Coast,” said Sheriff Wayne Ivey.
“Dancing for the Space Coast is an exciting event that teams up local celebrities with dance professionals, in a competition to benefit Brevard County nonprofit organizations. Each competitor dedicates their time and talents taking dance lessons and also diligently raises money as part of the competition.
Bragging Rights On the Line
Each celebrity dancer will be matched up with a professional dancer as they compete in a ballroom dance – and for bragging rights as the best dancer in Brevard.
On the evening of the competition, each dance pair will compete in a choreographed ballroom dance that will be scored by a panel of judges. During the show, couples will earn scores based on several technical skill factors, but the judges’ scores alone don’t decide the dancer’s final score.
Leading up to the actual performance, the dancers will have already scored 60 percent of their points through their fundraising endeavors to benefit needy charities.
CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS
BRAGGING RIGHTS ON THE LINE
Each celebrity dancer will be matched up with a professional dancer as they compete in a ballroom dance – and for bragging rights as the best dancer in Brevard.
On the evening of the competition, each dance pair will compete in a choreographed ballroom dance that will be scored by a panel of judges. During the show, couples will earn scores based on several technical skill factors, but the judges’ scores alone don’t decide the dancer’s final score.
Leading up to the actual performance, the dancers will have already scored 60 percent of their points through their fundraising endeavors to benefit needy charities.
SPONSORSHIPS, TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE
Several corporate sponsorship levels are available, including the Grease Sponsor for $25,000, the Flashdance Sponsor for $15,000, the Footloose Sponsor for $10,000, and the Saturday Night Fever Sponsor for $5,000.
Tables are available at the following levels: Front Row VIP Dinner Table, $5,000; Second Row VIP Dinner Table, $2,500; Third Row Dinner Table, $1,750; and Fourth Row Dinner Table, $1,250. Individual seats can be purchased for $150 per person.
Click here to purchase individual tickets
Dancing For the Space Coast is presented by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and sponsored by L3Harris, Space Coast Daily, Orion180 Insurance and Florida Tech.
For more information or to make a donation in the name of your favorite dance pair, log on to DancingFortheSpaceCoast.com or call 321-505-8752.
