Glitter, glamour and goodwill: GDC’s 'Dancing With The Giordano Stars' is a record-breaker

Giordano Dance Chicago (GDC) held its highly anticipated 17 ^th anniversary “Dancing With The Giordano Stars 2024” ballroom dance competition on Oct. 10 at Park West. This popular annual event, patterned after the hit ABC series "Dancing With The Stars,” raised more than $226,000 to benefit GDC’s Jazz Dance/Science & Health outreach program, company operations and jazz dance advocacy and mentorship programs. This was GDC’s most successful “Dancing With The Giordano Stars” event ever. Emcee for the evening was Lisa Fielding , Anchor/Reporter, Newsradio WBBM.

The evening began with spirits and light fare by Food for Thought . GDC dancers opened the evening’s program, performing a sneak peek from Ray Leeper’s “Red & Black,” premiering at the company’s upcoming Harris engagement, followed by a dancing introduction of all of the contestants with their GDC dance partners. Then it was time for the 10 couples to perform their one dance for one chance to impress the guest judges including Ray Leeper , choreographer for the ABC TV show “Dancing with the Stars,” Emmy-winning director, choreographer and master educator Al Blackstone , and this author.

The slate of male contestants (and their GDC dance partners) included Tom Ferguson Gomez, Interior Designer at Tom Ferguson Interiors, ltd. (with Sasha Lazarus), Asad Khan, Insurance Broker (with Analysse Vance), Steven Lafayette, Ophthalmologist at the Wheaton Eye Clinic (with Erina Ueda), Matt Roma, Financial Advisor at CIBC Private Wealth US (with Talia Luzzo) and Dr. Tian Xia, CEO of RevitTx (with Amanda Hickey-Newcom).

The slate of female contestants (and their GDC dance partners) included Megan Allen, Pediatric Optometrist/Assistant Professor at Illinois Eye Institute (with Adam Houston), Jackie Dugenske, Registered Dietitian (with Simon Schuh), Jill Jaworski , City of Chicago’s Chief Financial Officer (with Skyler Newcom), Maria Ponticiello, Meteorologist at Univision Chicago (with Eduardo Zambrana) and Christine Schaub, Creative Director at Guaranteed Rate (with Fernando Rodriguez).

Megan Allen garnered “Audience Favorite” and “Best Female Dancer” honors. “ Top Fundraiser” honors went to Jill Jaworski , and Tom Ferguson Gomez received “Best Male Dancer” honors.

While the judges tallied their results, guests were treated to a ballroom dance performance by Richard Weinberg and his partner Vasylyna Barabush who recently won first place in the Fred Astaire World Championship. Following the announcement of the awards, open dancing for all guests completed the festivities.

The “Dancing With The Giordano Stars 2024” ballroom dance competition benefit was made possible through the support of Anna Held Floral Studio,Calamos Wealth Management, CIBC, Golub Family Foundation, Huyck Group, Park West, Revittx, Stifel and Wheaton Eye Clinic.

What's next for Giordano Dance Chicago?

GDC’s “Season 62 | SOARING!” fall engagement will be at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, Friday, Oct. 25 and Sat., Oct. 26, 205 E. Randolph St., at 7:30 p.m. The program includes the world premiere of “Red & Black” by Ray Leeper, an encore performance of Al Blackstone’s dazzling “Gershwin in B,” a new staging of the stunningly dramatic “Flickers” by Marinda Davis and more. For tickets visit harristheaterchicago.org.