Dancing with the Concord Stars

<strong>Dan Andrus and Gayle Braley</strong></p><p>What do an attorney and a fire chief have in common? Well, for Gayle Braley and Dan Andrus, it’s willingness to participate in this fundraiser! We’re going to assume that Andrus has a good background in dance (if you worked in close proximity to a fire pole every day, you wouldn’t practice your Magic Mike moves?). And, while the jury is still out, we’re thinking there will be no objections to Braley’s dance moves. Before you can pass the bar, you have to learn how to dance on one!

<strong>Mike Cashion and Amy Currie</strong></p><p>If dancers were judged on how much fun they have on the dance floor, Mike Cashion and Amy Currie would be shoo-ins to win this year’s competition. “I’m honestly worried that we won’t be able to keep straight faces because we have so much fun dancing,” said Currie, who works at Community Development Finance Authority. The real question is: Will martial arts instructor Cashion pepper in some karate chops?

<strong>Gary Tasker and Jennifer Pfeiffer</strong></p><p>Gary Tasker and Jennifer Pfeiffer work together at Tasker Landscaping, and they both graduated from NHTI. If that wasn’t enough to make them a strong team, they have one more special bond – they are father and daughter! Gary said his previous dancing experience was limited to wedding and social events, and that his ability improved in direct proportion to the cocktails he consumed.  Well, there is a cash bar at this event, so look out, competition!

<strong>Lisa and Scott Schermerhorn</strong></p><p>Initially, Scott Schermerhorn wasn’t sure if he was going to dance in this year’s competition. Sure, his wife Lisa had already agreed to be in the show, but he was apprehensive – until he learned that Lisa was going to be paired with another dancer. Their son Max asked, “Hey Dad, are you really going to let some strange guy manhandle your wife?” Within seconds, Scott was officially on the dance card.

<strong>Rick Bartlett and Amelia Miller</strong></p><p>Regardless of which team wins the Dancing With the Concord Stars competition, we’re sure we’ll hear all about how this particular team did. After all, Amelia Miller, better known as Mya, is the star of WJYY’s Wake Up Crew, so she’ll be hitting the airwaves bright and early to report the results. Hopefully her dance partner, Rick Bartlett of H&R Block, doesn’t find the whole experience too taxing.

<strong>Joe Kasper and Becky Kinhan</strong></p><p>“All I can say is bring a fire extinguisher – we’ll heat up the dance floor!” Joe Kasper of Northeast Delta Dental is bringing a little swagger to the competition. And his partner, the Chamber’s Becky Kinhan, is equally confident, calling their chemistry “In a word: SMOKIN’!” Even though Kinhan says her dancing ability is limited to the polka, “Cotton-Eyed Joe” and bad ’80s interpretive dancing, the duo is still sure to put on a show not to be missed when they hit the dance floor.

<strong>Kris Lucas and Shawn Tewksbury</strong></p><p>Kris Lucas teaches at NHTI, so she’s got a special tie to this event. However, as she told us: “It is way easier to invite students to step out of their comfort zones and take risks than it is to be the risk-taker!” She’ll be dancing with Shawn Tewksbury of Page Belting Co.,  who described his dancing ability as average at best. Judging by that form, though, his dedication to practice has been paying off. Lucas is still looking for some payback after Tewksbury showed up to a rehearsal on crutches and told her he had just come from getting x-rays. It was all a prank, but if you see Lucas stick out a foot and trip Tewksbury during a lindy hop, you’ll know why.

<strong>Joe Kenney and Wendy Keeler</strong></p><p>Joe Kenney of Provident Bank told us that dancing not only moves him out of his comfort zone, it “moves him down the street from his comfort zone.” Luckily for him, he’s partnered with Realtor Wendy Keeler, who should be able to help him move with ease! She’s performed in a dance number before, in a Rotary Club variety show a few years back. Plus, their dance theme, “Ken and Barbie,” should be perfect, anyway – compared to a couple of plastic dolls, everybody looks like they are alive with rhythm! Keeler said she is eagerly anticipating the contest, although they will be facing off against some talented teams. “There is some really tough competition in the show,” Keeler said. “Everyone looks great!”

<strong>John Thomas and Susan Lynch</strong></p><p>Former first lady of New Hampshire Susan Lynch and John Thomas of Lincoln Financial Group know a little something about putting on the ritz. As you can see from the photo, the fundraising has already begun! The proceeds from this event go toward NHTI improvements to make the college a more effective place to for students to learn. Things like technology and equipment for the technical majors like nursing, hiring new faculty and providing financial aid for students all start with a few dips and twirls. 

<strong>Jeremy Woodward and Erin Girzone</strong></p><p>If ironman Jeremy Woodward and fellow fitness guru Erin Girzone have one thing on their side, it’s stamina. It’s hard to imagine these two workout maniacs running out of steam in a mere dance competition. Girzone has prior ballroom dancing experience (“I can’t sing and don’t play an instrument, so dancing is my way of being musical,” explained Girzone). Woodward’s mother is actually a dance instructor, but he said he never danced until he started training for this event. Believe it or not, the duo is being trained by Gen’s Dance Studio, run by none other than Gen Woodward herself!

<strong>Ed and Nadine Ferrero</strong></p><p>Ed Ferrero of Patterson Dental and his wife Nadine of Eastsail Yachts are a natural team and a perfect fit for this event. One of their sons just graduated from NHTI, and they are excited to help raise money for the school’s President’s Fund for Excellence. They describe their dancing ability as similar to watching the path of a fruit fly – does that mean they’ll be getting airborne? When asked to describe their chemistry, they said: “After 27 years of marriage our chemistry borders on volatile.  Oh, wait, did you mean on the dance floor?”

<strong>John Duval and Stephanie Mills</strong></p><p>Concord police Chief John Duval and chiropractor Dr. Stephanie Mills form a duo that we like to call “Baby’s Got Backup.” They both confess to having minimal ballroom dancing training prior to this event, but they are ready to take on all comers. Duval said they are taking their training seriously – with a little fun along the way, of course. “It’s a wonderful community event that raises money in a fun and entertaining way,”said Duval. “I’m sure everyone will be fabulous!” said Mills.