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AUBURN, Mass. — Undaunted by the snowfall, the performers from Auburn's Dancing With The Stars were turning up the heat on the dance floor Saturday night, with the successful event helping raise thousands of dollars for Auburn Youth and Family Services.
Held inside the showroom at Motorsports International, the fourth annual event brought together a variety of stars from the community, with town officials, business owners and local dancers shining in constellation to bring light to the vital organization.
"It's just so heartwarming to have all these people come out on a night like tonight to support Auburn Youth and Family Services and the work that we do," said Sally D’Arcangelo, the organization's executive director, who was thrilled to see around 350 people come out for the event.
"When we started this four years ago I never imagined that it would become the event that it has," she said. "I'm eternally grateful for all the people that came out, all the volunteers that contributed to this event and worked so hard to put it together, the dancers, judges and Sally and John Heaney."
Auburn's Assistant Department of Public Works Director Jeff Mitchell and Selectboard member Denise Brotherton set standards high with their opening waltz and cha-cha, and dance teacher Heather Gough and area UPS store owner Alexander Diaz raised temperatures with their fiery number.
Auburn Fire Chief Stephen Coleman and Worcester teacher Michelle Duclos brought a change of latitude with their exciting beach-themed dance, while Ben Champagne, of the Arthur Murray Dance Studio, paired up with local pediatrician Dr. Nancy DeTora for a thrilling swing routine.
Additionally, Auburn High School teacher and football coach Sean Sullivan and dancer Kat Damian took the audience on a trip around the world with their multi-cultural performance, and Auburn resident Paul Mackintire and native Nadine Zon brought a little country to the night, raising the bar with a series of difficult maneuvers.
Auburn Police Officer Anthony Donahue and dancer Sarah Nugent classed up the evening with a waltz that transformed into a freestyle routine, and David Bellerose from Britton Funeral Homes and dance teacher Caitlin Foley cheered up the audience with their Spartan-inspired jazz dance.
In the end, while Building Commissioner Nicholas Antanavica may have lost his pants as part of his routine with Carrie Callahan, the high-energy duo stole the show and won the hearts of the judges to win this year's event.
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