PRINTThe stars come out to play
Reflections from the contestants
May 1, 2008 | 12:00 a.m. CST
Dancing with Missouri Stars contestants know more now than they ever thought they would about ballroom dancing. With the fundraiser approaching, they’ve discussed everything from costumes to contestant perks. Read their thoughts on the experience.
Van Allen, co-owner of Hemingway’s
On the perks of being a Dancing with Missouri Stars contestant:
“Well, you get to dance with a pretty woman. The competition — that’s a perk. I mean, I love competition no matter what it is, whether it’s in business or whether it’s on a golf course. Just meeting new people, too. It’s just a different group. They process information differently. Dancers are very artistic. Everything about these people is different than the group that I hang with, so I think that’s a perk. It kind of stretches you and expands you a little bit.”
Scott Croom, personal trainer at Wilson’s Total Fitness
On whether he prefers the salsa or the rhumba:
“I think I like them both so much because the rhumba is very sexual and sensual, and you have to move rhythmically. Your steps have to be just right. Like my instructor Amanda has taught me, the salsa is a club dance — you can just move. That’s what I had a hard time with, because we did the rhumba first and with the salsa she was like, ‘Just move. Be where you’re supposed to be, move your feet, and go.’ So it was really hard for me to move at first.”
Sarah French, 2006 Miss Missouri
On her costume:
“Well, I have one of my outfits already. Being in pageants, I told my instructor Cory that I may just be learning how to dance, and I may not be the best dancer, but I am good with clothes. I got this really great cocktail dress that’s completely covered in these bangle-type sparkle things. When I’m out on the dance floor it’s just going to shine. I’m really excited about wearing that. It’s going to be fabulous.”
Steve Hagan, president of Presser Performing Arts Center in Mexico, Mo.
On whether he’s had any dancing experience:
“I get asked that question by people in Mexico all the time, and my answer is standard — ‘I’ve never danced at funerals. I’ve never danced at weddings. I’ve never danced at bars for fun. I’ve never danced period.’ It has been on my list of to-dos in life, and this is a great way for me to check it off my to-do list. It was absolutely serendipity in order for that to happen in this regard.”
Brenda Hynes, owner and director of Kindermusik
On why she thinks it’s important to support the Missouri Contemporary Ballet:
“Dance and movement are very important. I’m working with young children right now, and we’re doing movement and music. It helps with anything from academic achievement to brain development to behavior management. I feel like children, as well as adults, are going to want to see those performers who bring culture to our lives.”
Richard King, owner of The Blue Note
On if he thinks he has any advantages going into the competition:
“Are you kidding me? I’m looking for a handicap. I figure I’ll be the senior citizen in this little soiree. I have a good sense of humor, and one must have a good sense of humor when going into these things. If there’s any advantage I have, I hope it’s my sense of humor because I doubt I can dance better than the others. Not knowing all the dancers, I’m hoping my sense of humor is better than theirs.”
Yvette Nieto, owner of Grindstone Fitness Studio
On whether Dancing with the Stars has inspired her:
“It’s made me really nervous. I start watching and I go, ‘Oh my God. Look at how hard that is. Oh, I can’t believe she did that.’ I watch it differently now. It definitely means something different now. Before it was entertainment, and now it’s like, ‘Holy smokes I can’t believe someone just did that.’ You know the flip over the back and the kick over the head? It’s kind of fun to watch. It’s a different perspective.”
Jerome Sally, West Junior High School assistant principal
On whether dancing was more difficult than he expected:
“Oh yes, much more difficult. As an athlete, you never break shoulder width. When you’re going forward, you don’t move around too much. It’s been interesting learning to move in this way. Right now I’m working on trying to move my body in a more fluid motion. I’m trying to have more elasticity. I really like to be perfect with what I’m doing. I want to come as close to perfection as possible, and I don’t want to mess up.”
Frank Sovich, co-owner of Marathon Office Interiors
On learning how to dance:
“It’s been hard. It’s a lot harder than you think it would be. The professionals make it look really easy. The Dancing with the Stars TV show doesn’t help any because they make it look really easy. It takes a lot of practice, hard work and concentration.”
Barb Glenn, co-owner of Missouri Cotton Exchange
On her favorite thing about dancing:
“I like the physical conditioning, and actually it’s an art, and I love art. There is an art to it. I like to paint, and I love gardening, and I consider both of those art-inspired, so I think this is an art too. Mastering something no matter where you are in life is kind of fun, and it keeps you young.”
