Going dancing with the Idaho Falls stars

Wednesday night community leaders and “stars” will lace up their dancing shoes for the Relay For Life’s Dancing with the Idaho Falls Stars.

Practice for the competition began Monday afternoon. Participants learned what song and dance they will perform with students of the Extreme Ballroom Company.

Both Ammon Mayor Dana Kirkham and Idaho Falls Mayor Rebecca Casper are new to the fundraiser.

“I’m not a particularly great dancer and I’m a horrible fundraiser,” said Kirkham. “It’s still a good cause.”

Casper took some dance classes in college, but for her, the cause hits close to home.

“I, myself, have a sister who’s battling breast cancer and I have an aunt who is a breast cancer survivor,” said Casper. “It just seemed like the right thing to do.”

Event co-chair Jodi McMurtrey said the Relay For Life is making more and more money every year.

“The first year we raised a little over $4,000,” said McMurtrey. “Last year we raised a little over $23,000, all for the American Cancer Society.”

Dancing with the Idaho Falls Stars is Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Civic Auditorium. Admission is $1 and attendees are encouraged to bring spare change to donate/vote for their favorite dancer.

The participants include:
Rebecca Casper, mayor of Idaho Falls
Dana Kirkham, mayor of Ammon
Blair Taylor-Folsom, Rex and Tiffany Redden Foundation
Amanda Gardner, Jiffy Lube
Kevin Hansen, Revivify Marketing
Arantza Zabala, Idaho National Laboratory
Natalie Hebard, EITC Foundation
Whitney Cooley, Mountain View Hospital
Jo Ann Cummings, Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center
Tahri Molifua, Ball Ventures
Trent Jeppsen, Teton Cancer Institute
Krisi Staten, Idaho Falls Downtown Development Corporation