GREENSBURG – Thursday evening’s Greensburg Meals on Wheels, Inc. fundraiser “Fun with the Fifties” was one for the record books!
What has become the annual not-to-be-missed local dancing fundraiser broke records, snagging more than $29,432.70 to help feed the residents of Decatur County inexpensive and nutritious meals, delivered to their home.
The evening’s festivities were emceed by Brook Thies and Tabra Garrity, past winning dancers themselves. The pair ably kept the audience engaged throughout the event. Between the dancers’ presentations, donated items were auctioned by WRBI’s Brent Lee.
Judging the event were Robin Carmer, Katrina Hawkins, Carson Miller, Bryson Abplanalp, Tiffany Gramman and Bridgett Weber, all of them dancers in past iterations of the fundraiser.
The choreographer for the evening’s exhibitions was Ella Koors.
First in line to compete were Megan Gehrich and Rocky Miano (sponsored by Painting the Town), dressed as '50s greasers and dancing to “You’re the One that I Want” from Grease. Judges scored Gehrich and Miano with five 9’s and one 10.
After the greasers came Donna and Joe Johannigman (Stone's Family Restaurant of Millhousen), garbed as colorful oversized chickens dancing (appropriately) to “I Love Fried Chicken.” The Johannigmans scored six 10’s, a perfect score that qualified them to participate in the final dance-off.
Becci Schutte and Josh Sweezey (Haseya Yoga Healing and the Decatur County Sheriff’s Department) performed a mesmerizing pas-de-deux representing trust, loneliness, darkness and light. A vast departure from the evening’s '50s theme, this couple scored three 10’s and three 9’s.
Next up were the North Decatur Chargerettes Katie Morman, Macy Kinker, Abigail Bruner, Chase Christianson, Hannah Johnson, Kail’c Ruble and Jocelyn Jackson boogying to “Jailhouse Rock.” This group scored five 10’s and one 9.
Matt Tatman, Heavenleigh Howard, Kassidy Hadley and Izzy Slagel (TATCO and Hickory Creek of Greensburg) danced next to “Good Golly, Miss Molly” by Little Richard. This group scored six 10’s - another perfect score!
Sophia Sullivan and Drake Ertel (Bruns Gutzwiller, Jac-Cen-Del Drama and the Tree County Players) performed a '50s jitterbug to "Great Balls of Fire.” Sullivan and Ertel received six 10’s for their efforts, the third perfect score of the evening!
Finally, dancing for the Tree City Fall Festival were Ericka Reed and Dennis Fogle. This pair danced a disco number while dressed in matching “Napoleon Dynamite” wigs, jeans and T-shirts emblazoned with “Vote For Pedro.” Reed and Fogle scored the fourth perfect score of the evening!
Wrapping up the evening was the dance-off between the four groups receiving a perfect score. All four groups gathered on stage, two at a time, to dance a freestyle number to the emcee’s choice of music.
After the final judge’s deliberation, Joe and Donna Johannigman were chosen as the winning dancers.
