Dr. Ayaz Ramji and Bold Dance Productions Co-Owner Kim Schick perform their routine at Swinging with the Stars. (Ian Gustafson/paNOW Staff)

By Ian Gustafson

That's entertainment!

Swinging with the Stars raises over $100,000 for Hopes Home

Mar 8, 2020 | 7:15 PM

It sure was swinging at a packed Plaza 88 as the dancing stars glittered across the stage as they wowed the crowd and the judges.

Swinging with the Stars in Prince Albert Saturday night brought out the beats, moves and energy for a night of dazzling entertainment for a special cause.

Seven pairs featuring one celebrity and one professional dancer competed to raise money for Hopes Home.

Organizer of the event and Regional Fundraising Manager for Hopes Home Mickey MacGillivray told paNOW they’re still unsure of the grand total of the event, but she said it’s over $100,000.

“It’s amazing,” she said.

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Before the event MacGillivray said she was nervous to get things started.

“I’ve been like a kid at Christmas all day I just want it to start and for P.A. just to see how hard these dancers have worked and what we’ve put into it and obviously raise money and awareness of Hopes Home,” she said.

Power 99’s Chelsea and Randy Krammer perform their routine at Swinging with the Stars. (Ian Gustafson/paNOW Staff)

She explained the dancers practiced multiple times a week since November. There were two ways for the participants to win: one was the people’s choice award which goes to the couple who raised the most money and then the judge’s choice based on the dancer’s performance.

B&B Asphalt Operations Manager Todd Kulczycki and Bold Dance Studio Instructor Lauren Williams won the people’s choice award after raising $43,000.

The judges of the event were Malcolm Jenkins, Jenna Baldrey, Ivan Trudel and Zack Evans. The winner of the judge’s choice award were the RM of Prince Albert Reeve Eric Schmalz and Bold Dance Productions Co-Founder Brooke Wozniak.

paNOW talked with Kulczycki before the event and he said it was too late to be nervous.

“Very foreign, I’m not a dancer, I’m not musical. I thought I was athletic [but] I soon came to realize that dance and athleticism are two completely separate things,” he said. “A lot harder than I thought.”

He said the night was 100 per cent all about Hopes Home.

“They create an environment for these children that essentially is an alternative for them being in a hospital,” Kulczycki said. “Anytime we can get these kids a little bit of a more normalized environment that have the proper healthcare and the equipment to look after them I think it’s healthier for them.”

Dr. Ayaz Ramji, who is a local pediatrician, was paired up with Bold Dance Productions Co-Owner Kim Schick.

Ramji told paNOW he had no idea how to dance prior to this event.

“So, I’ve come leaps and bounds and she’s been an amazing teacher,” Ramji said. “It’s been an amazing few months.”

Schick added compared to when they first started, he has improved tremendously.

“Such a great experience and I think it’s really great for P.A. for the community too for this cool night where everyone gets to dress up, the atmosphere it’s really fun,” Schick said.

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Ian.gustafson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @iangustafson12