Footwork frolic: Stepping out and up for good time, causes

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Angie Mellencamp and Dr. Nate Otte have spent the past couple of months rehearsing what they hope is the winning routine in this year’s Dancing with the Seymour Stars.

There have been many mishaps, trips, falls and a few bruises while trying to nail each flip, lift and all of the fancy footwork, but there have been plenty of laughs and good times along the way, too.

“It’s been a blast,” said Mellencamp, a coach and owner of a local gym.

“And a good workout,” Otte, an optometrist, added.

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All of their hard work culminates Saturday as they take to the stage along with eight other couples at Celebrations, 357 Tanger Blvd., Suite 101, Seymour, to vie for the title and bragging rights of winning the fifth annual Dancing with the Seymour Stars.

The sold-out evening show begins at 7 p.m. Tickets still are available for the matinee show at 2 p.m. and may be purchased on the Seymour Main Street or Boys & Girls Club of Seymour websites, by calling the Boys & Girls Club at 812-522-2434 or by visiting MainSource Bank in Seymour. The cost is $20 in advance or $25 at the door.

Contestants this year are Rick Meyer and Beth VonDielingen; Otte and Mellencamp; Shane Crouch and Andrea Hall Crouch; Dr. Matt Pierce and Katrina Hardwick; Matt Nieman and Angie Tracey; Dr. Elton Chambers and Montica Chambers; Jeff Nolting and Michelle Schaefer; Dr. Paul Rennekamp and Angie Rennekamp; and Aaron Floyd and Sarah Arnold.

There will be special performances by Mr. Jackson County Dr. David Hartung and Katrina Hardwick and the Yaasss Kweens.

Winners of the event are not determined by dance skills but by how much money they can raise in votes. Last year’s winners were Becky Boas and her son, Brad Boas.

Each couple will perform their dance routine, and the audience will cast votes for their favorite dancers with their checkbooks, credit cards or cash. For those who can’t make it to the show or who want to vote now, online voting is available for the first time at seymourmainstreet.org or bgcsey.org.

All money raised from the event goes to support the work of Boys & Girls Club of Seymour and Seymour Main Street.

Last year’s show raised $92,078. In just four years, the fundraiser has brought in around $340,000.

Montica Chambers, a stay-at-home mom, isn’t sure how to describe her dance moves.

“Well, I cheered in high school and worked for the National Cheerleaders Association in college, so mostly cheer/dance, but if there’s a DJ playing some hip-hop, the freestyle comes out,” she said.

Convincing her husband, Dr. Elton Chambers, to be her dance partner wasn’t easy, but there’s no one she would rather dance with, she said.

“It’s making fun memories with my husband and supporting two great causes,” she said.

As for winning, Elton said he thinks they have a shot.

“My wife should win based on skill, and I try really hard,” he said.

Paul Rennekamp, a local veterinarian, and his wife, Angie, a teacher with Seymour Community School Corp., are excited to step out of their comfort zone of animals and kids to spend an evening dancing and entertaining.

When she was a kid, Angie danced jazz, tap and ballet at Tammy’s Dance Studio in Seymour for 10 years and then taught dance there for four years.

Although his background in dance is limited to square dancing in high school physical education class, parties at Purdue University and doing the Macarena at wedding receptions, Paul said he has three goals for himself in participating in Dancing with the Seymour Stars.

“Raise money, entertain the crowd and not embarrass my kids,” he said.

As for winning, the couple said there are no losers.

“I think that all the candidates are winners for all their hard work and dedication to this wonderful cause,” Angie said.

VonDielingen, an emergency room nurse at Schneck Medical Center, said she and her dance partner, Meyer, an officer with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, wanted to do something fun, showing the way dance and music has changed over the years.

“We have songs that were released as early as 1956 to as current as 2017,” she said of their routine. “It’s really stepping out of my comfort zone, for sure, and proving to myself I can do this and have a good time.”

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What: Fifth annual Dancing with the Seymour Stars

When: Saturday, 2 p.m. matinee and 7 p.m. performance

Where: Celebrations at Shops at Seymour, 357 Tanger Blvd., Suite 101, Seymour

Cost: Tickets to the matinee are available for $20 if purchased in advance and $25 at the door. The evening show is sold out. Matinee tickets can be purchased on the Seymour Main Street or Boys & Girls Club of Seymour websites, by calling the Boys & Girls Club at 812-522-2434 or by visiting MainSource Bank in Seymour

Benefits: Boys & Girls Club of Seymour and Seymour Main Street

Dancers: Rick Meyer and Beth VonDielingen; Dr. Nate Otte and Angie Mellencamp; Shane Crouch and Andrea Hall Crouch; Dr. Matt Pierce and Katrina Hardwick; Matt Nieman and Angie Tracey; Dr. Elton Chambers and Montica Chambers; Jeff Nolting and Michelle Schaefer; Dr. Paul Rennekamp and Angie Rennekamp; and Aaron Floyd and Sarah Arnold

Online voting is available at seymourmainstreet.org or bgcsey.org.

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