“Dancing With Our Stars,” returns April 1 to CCAE

“Dancing With Our Stars,” which features local Escondido community members, will return April 1 to the California Center for the Arts, Escondido. Tickets are now on sale and event sponsorships are available.

In an evening of “glitz and glamor” ten prominent community and business leaders tango, salsa, samba, cha cha and waltz their way across the dance floor to compete in the California Center for the Arts, Escondido’s 2nd Annual “Dancing With Our Stars” Fundraiser on Saturday April 1.

Community stars including the San Diego Opera’s Priti Gandhi, Escondido Assistant City Manager Jay Petrek and Palomar Health Foundation President Jean Larsen will be paired with professional dance instructors from across San Diego County.

Celebrity Judges include Elizabeth Alvarez, KUSI Morning News Anchor, Rita Brandin, Sr. V.P. Newland Communities, Tommy Sablan, KYXY Radio Personality, and Kevin Svetich, who won the Judges Award from “Dancing With Our Stars 2016.”

Dance couples will compete in the Center’s 1,500-seat concert hall, emulating the format of the popular reality show, “Dancing with the Stars.” Emcee will be Dallas McLaughlin, the Emmy-nominated writer of the Aquabats! Super Show! and host of KPBS’s Film Indiego.

VIP tickets can be purchased for $175, and include premium seating, a VIP dinner reception with hosted beer and wine and early bidding for premium silent auction items.

General admission tickets, which range in price from $27-$55, can be purchased online at www.artcenter.org/events or by calling 800-988-4253. Tickets include a post-show party with D.J. and dancing under the stars.

Proceeds benefit the Center’s education and outreach programs, which serve over 75,000 people each year, including Center Stage performances for youth and Art Discovery field trips (art, drama, dance and music) for K-12 students. Proceeds also benefit free community events such as Second Saturdays (galleries and museums open for free activities), 4th of July festival, Holiday Tree Lighting & Winter Wonderland Festival.

This year’s sponsors include BMW/Mini of Escondido, Newland Communities, and Skaja, Daniels, Lister, & Permito LLC. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. More information is available at www.artcenter.org/event/dancing-with-our-stars/ or by calling 760-839-4124.

Featured dancers and instructor partners will include:

Leon Brooks, San Diego County Planning Commissioner

Kimberly Callahan, Fred Astaire Dance Studio Rancho Bernardo

Joseph Collins, Marketing Specialist, Wawanesa Insurance

Allysia Junious, PGK Dance Project

Dr. Christy Fortney, Owner, Hidden Valley Orthodontics

Jose Jaimes, Tierra Caliente Academy of Arts

Priti Gandhi, Opera Singer, San Diego Opera

Dan Gibbons, Mary Murphy Champion Ballroom Academy

Miles Himmel, Producer, KFMB Radio

Danae Gill, Fred Astaire Dance Studio Rancho Bernardo

Rorie Johnston, CEO and President, Escondido Chamber of Commerce

Dominique Dawson, Arthur Murray Dance Studio

Jean Larsen, President and Chief Philanthropic Officer, Palomar Health Foundation

Joe Callahan, Fred Astaire Dance Studio Rancho Bernardo

Jay Petrek, Assistant City Manager, City of Escondido

Rubi Jaimes, Tierra Caliente Academy of Arts

Rosa Ruiz, Realtor, RE/MAX UNITED

Juan Galindo, Arthur Murray Dance Studio

Erik Skaja, Capt. Escondido Police Department

Jahnine Lopez, Tierra Caliente Academy of ArtS