GDC Hosts Popular Ballroom Dance Competition Benefit “Dancing With The Giordano Stars” Tonight!

Giordano Dance Chicago (GDC) hosts its wildly anticipated “Dancing With The Giordano Stars 2023 – All Stars” ballroom dance competition benefit 7-11 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5 at Park West, 322 W. Armitage Ave. The annual event, patterned after the hit ABC series “Dancing With The Stars,” benefits GDC’s Jazz Dance/Science & Health program in Chicago Public Schools, jazz dance advocacy, and youth mentorship programs. The emcee for the evening is CBS2 Chicago News anchor, Ryan Baker. The evening Star Host is Candace Jordan, Associate Publisher of Chicago Star Media and author of the “Candid Candace” blog.

For this year’s “All Stars” edition, a troupe of former “Dancing With The Giordano Stars” contestants from the past 15 years vie with a group of Chicago A-listers, each with their Giordano professional dance partner for a shot at winning the coveted disco ball. The stakes are higher than ever with each couple performing only one dance for one chance to impress the guest judges and snag “Best Male Dancer” or “Best Female Dancer” honors.

Guest judges will include Irma Suárez Ruiz, Artistic Director, Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater; Kevin McGirr, Dance Aficionado/Benefactor; and Lauren Warnecke, Dance Critic for the Chicago Tribune.

The slate of men (and their GDC dance partners) includes Matthew Bozzo (with Sasha Lazarus), Joe Brown (with Katie Rafferty), Gorman Cook (with Erina Ueda), David Prange (with Ashley Downs) and Mario Sullivan(with Amanda Hickey).

The slate of women (and their GDC dance partners) includes Susan Flynn (with Adam Houston), Nicole Klotz (with Zachary Heller), Pat Manus (with Cesar G. Salinas), Stacie McClane (with Fernando Rodriguez), Tina Monaghan (with Ryan Galloway) and Sheri Passalino (with Rosario Guillen).

The evening will begin with spirits and light fare provided by Inspired Catering & Events and will be followed by the competition. The audience will also be treated to a special guest performance by Richard Weinberg, former U.S. Pro-Am 9 Champion, with partner Vasylyna Barabash. Open dancing for all guests completes the festivities.

Very few single tickets remain. For tickets or more information visit giordanodance.org or call 312.922.1332.

America’s original jazz dance company soars into their 61st season with energy and momentum. Giordano Dance Chicago (GDC) is an iconic cultural institution with deep roots in Chicago and partnerships around the globe. Entering her 39th season, Nan Giordano has led the company as Artistic Director, responsible for commissioning innovative choreographic works and mentoring thousands of aspiring dancers. The company is one of few in the world that has a foundational technique (NGCP©) with certified teachers in 36 states and 8 countries. Their Jazz Dance/Science & Health initiative is a robust arts integration program in which GDC company dancers use a dance-centric framework to teach state-mandated elementary school anatomy and nutrition curriculum within the science classroom. For more information about GDC visit giordanodance.org.