Profiles by Amanda Harper | Photography by Phillips Mitchell
Dresses proviced by Bella Rose | Tuxes provided by Geno’s Formal Affair
Julie: Anchor, Lex18
Andy: Structural Engineer, Brown & Kubican
“I’ve always known I wanted a career in journalism. I started making my own newscasts and talk shows in grade school,” Julie explained. “In doing so, I managed to break nearly all of my mom and dad’s video cameras. Come to think of it, I might owe them some money…” This vivacious WLEX Sunrise Anchor enjoys Broadway show tunes, going to the theatre, baking, traveling and playing board games.
Andy grew up in Louisville and moved to Lexington to attend UK. His firm is currently working on the structural design of Rupp Arena and Commonwealth Stadium! In his spare time, Andy enjoys mountain biking, grilling and going to Keeneland every chance he gets.
Julie thought that participating in DWLS sounded like a fun challenge. “I’m excited to learn some real dance moves,” she explained. “I’m more of a step and clap type of dancer!” Andy, meanwhile, said that his celebrity half and girlfriend is very persuasive, so he’s on board. His secret weapons? “Julie’s beautiful smile and my tendency to be a perfectionist,” he claimed. “If I fall, it’s part of the choreography,” Julie said. “If I don’t fall, I decided to change the choreography last minute!”
Frank: Professor, Poet, Playwright
Taunya: Associate VP, Research
Commercialization at UK
Frank, the current Poet Laureate of Kentucky, says that he joined Dancing with the Lexington Stars because he thought his wife would enjoy it. She says she joined because he wanted her to be his partner! She is excited to see how her husband, a former athlete, will respond to the challenge of a different kind of competition.
Frank is an award-winning writer and multidisciplinary artist who enjoys travelling, playing golf and reading. “Like golf, I wish I had started taking dance lessons years–no, decades–ago,” he explains. Taunya and Frank both credit their instructor “Stephen King–not the novelist” as their secret weapon.
Taunya, who enjoys dancing, traveling, golf and reading, says that it’s been a long time since she danced in front of an audience, though she has taken dance lessons before. “I’m working to get my stamina up for the swing dance routine,” she explains. “It’s going to be fast!” Frank says her dancing skills are good enough to keep him from being too nervous about the competition.
Frank is channeling Gregory Hines to prepare for the event. He says he’s excited to see if he can still enjoy dancing while competing under pressure.
Radio Personality
DeAnn admits that she loves to dance, so choosing to do DWLS to support Surgery on Sunday was easy. Fitting it into her busy schedule, however? That’s a challenge! She cohosts the Officer Don & DeAnn Mornings show on 98.1 The Bull and serves as the “Out & About” reporter for WKYT-TV.
When she’s not at work, DeAnn loves travelling, reading, being a taxi for her two children and spending time with her family at the lake. She stays busy with her two girls, from Volleyball to Gymnastics to participating in impromptu dance parties. “I’m sure I embarrass them, but that’s part of the fun, too!” She adds, “My parents were the same way, and I survived!”
DeAnn is enjoying training—when she can make it to practice! She says her parents had her take lessons at Hall’s School of Dance in middle school, though she hasn’t danced in public since wowing the crowd at The Family Dog in Richmond, KY “a few years back.” She’s currently working on a way to incorporate the Harlem Shake and the Officer Don Shuffle into ballroom dancing: will she succeed? “I am all about a challenge,” DeAnn says.
Jonathan is The Recovering Politician! He was elected twice to statewide offices, authored three books, graduated with high honors from Harvard college and law school, co-founded a national grassroots reform movement (No Labels), contributed to The Daily Beast, played on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, reached the final table at the World Series of Poker and with his summer camp sweetheart, raised two daughters. Whew! He’s now an attorney and is taking advantage of the free dance lessons with his wife to raise money for a great cause. He also just started a venture called Second Act Strategies, which performs crisis management simulations.
Lisa is a mother, Women’s Health Counselor, founder of the grassroots non-profit, Girl’s Rock!, serves as a hospital and support group chaplain, and trains yoga teachers in the Kentucky region and abroad. She enjoys crafting, photography, movies and the Tuba! Lisa says she is a fan of the DWTS TV show, and getting to raise funds for Surgery on Sunday sealed the deal. She’s hoping to learn a few dance routines that they can perform together at the next family wedding.
“I’m not nervous, because as a recovering politician, I am still addicted to the spotlight, and I don’t mind making a fool of myself,” Jonathan explains.
Lisa says, “This new adventure in dance is a fantastic way to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary.”
Rice: Physician/Commissioner of Health, Lexington-Fayette County Health Department
Mireille: Housewife
Rice has retired three times and survived cancer twice–and still goes to work every day. He’s held many jobs within the healthcare system, including serving as Chief of Staff to the Surgeon General, though he says that for him, he “can make a more meaningful difference by being a local health department director because that is where the action is.”
Mireille grew up in Guatemala, was a semi-professional ballet dancer in Guatemala and Central America, studied in Canada and speaks English, Spanish and French. She’s planning to just have fun with Dancing with the Lexington Stars. “My husband volunteered and decided that he and I ought to dance together since we have been dancing together for nearly 50 years,” she explains.
Rice, who enjoys taking photos of people having fun and listening to classical music and Dixieland Jazz, says they’ve danced in front of crowds before, but usually at social and government events. He’s not nervous, but he is struggling. “If I have to follow the organized moves, then I will look like a giraffe on ice skates,” he jokes. Mireille, on the other hand, says: “I am a Latin American lady and we are dancing salsa aren’t we?”
Ellen: First Lady of UK Healthcare; Lexington Arts Advocate
Ellen previously worked with bone marrow transplant and breast cancer patients. Since moving to Lexington, she has been involved with the Lexington Philharmonic and UK Art Museum. “I am well known as mom to therapy dogs Bonnie and Clyde, who are quite famous themselves at Children’s hospital and Markey Cancer Center,” she explains.
Ellen says she’s excited to participate in this year’s Dancing With the Lexington Stars because it’s for a wonderful cause. She’s interested in learning how to dance with someone other than her husband, Dr. Michael Karpf of UK Healthcare. She says she is doing some serious dance training because she has never taken dance lessons before, but she’s not nervous. Her secret weapon? “I’ve got rhythm,” she explains.
When she’s out and about, Ellen’s go-to dance move is to Boogie Oogie Oogie. Her favorite kind of music is rock and roll. Ellen’s hobbies include playing tennis, skiing and gardening. This community leader and First Lady of UK Healthcare is going to give it her all during the Dancing With the Lexington Stars competition on May 10th!
Richard: Radiation Oncologist
Anita: Registered Nurse
Richard and Anita moved from Michigan to Kentucky eight years ago. Lexington quickly became home for the couple. “We have developed meaningful relationships with colleagues, neighbors, church members and a small German community,” Richard explained.
Richard, who enjoys golf, Pilates, cycling and ballroom dance, says that he and his wife have taken dancing lessons on and off since moving to Lexington. Nerves may cancel out the couple’s experience with Argentine Tango, however. “We have never danced in a competition like this before,” Richard said. “I must admit there are some butterflies!” Still, this couple is eager to dance: “We are very happy to participate in DWLS in support of this wonderful cause,” Richard explains.
Born and raised in Germany, Anita moved to the United States in 1974. She currently works in UK Hospital’s main operating room orthopedics area. Anita likes to bike, run, read, dance, travel and spend time with her family and friends. She believes that she and her husband have the competitive edge, but her lips are sealed. “My secret weapon is secret and shall stay secret! Otherwise it would not be a secret anymore,” she explains. “PS - I am really good at keeping secrets.”
Owners, Turner Development / Signature Club of Lansdowne
Natives of Lexington, this couple has been married for 52 years with three children and 11 grandchildren. Together, Ron and Linda stay active in their church and community while spending time with family and friends. They also enjoy boating. They’re the faces behind the beautiful White Christmas House light display on Chinoe each year.
Being a part of DWLS was an exciting prospect for this couple. They said, “We decided to participate so we could assist in raising money for these organizations. We feel very honored to have been asked to be a part of such a fun event!” They’ve never taken dance lessons before, but they’re glad to have the opportunity to do so. “We are having so much fun and wish we would have done this a lot sooner,” they explained. They were surprised by the physical intensity of dancing, but call it a fun way to get in some cardio.
Ron enjoys playing golf when his mind isn’t in work-mode. Linda enjoys playing golf and tennis. They both love 70s and 80s tunes, as well as Christian music. When they’re out and about, Ron typically resorts to Elvis dance moves, so he’s excited to learn ballroom dance technique.
Marian: CEO, God’s Pantry Food Bank
Marian originally moved to Lexington by way of Louisville to attend the University of Kentucky. She and her husband have four adult children and one dog. Marian enjoys traveling–particularly to destinations near water–reading, watching movies, cycling outdoors and boot camp sessions at the gym. This avid UK fan loves volunteering with friends to support causes she believes in.
Marian’s professional life has focused on improving the health of low income Kentuckians through increased access to nutritious food. “I have worked for the Food Bank for nearly 17 years, and have seen tremendous growth in need and outreach,” Marian explains. “God’s Pantry Food Bank serves 50 counties of central and eastern Kentucky with the aim of reducing hunger through community cooperation.”
Marian loves learning new things, and that includes ballroom dancing! She took a few ballroom dance lessons several years ago, but she’s never danced in front of a crowd before, so nerves are definitely a factor! “I am excited to participate in this year’s Dancing with the Lexington Stars because I appreciate the impact funds raised through this event will have on our community,” Marian says. “Vitalie is a fantastic instructor so it will be difficult to fail.”
Howard is a West Point grad. He has a Master’s Degree in Physics and is a retired USAF Pilot and bank director emeritus. Currently, Howard is a dirt farmer who loves fishing all over the world, from the Arctic Circle to South America–and beyond!
Howard is excited to represent the Rotary Club during the DWLS event. To get ready for the event, he helped Joanne pick a dress and together, they’ve been practicing a lot. He’s excited to learn salsa dancing. “I mastered the Lindy years ago,” he explains. “But this style is new to me. Quick, quick, slow!” He may be planning to bribe the judges!
Joanne, who loves playing piano and tennis, was involved with NASA’s Gemini Space Program at the Baltimore Air Force Contract Management Office. She also worked at the Playboy Clubs International in Chicago–which was quite an adventure, to say the least! She has two sons and three grandchildren. Why is she involved with DWLS? “Howard Wiles made me!” She laughs, “I am also a fan of the TV show. Even at the tender age that I am, I fantasize about one day being a ‘star’!”
Reporter / Anchor ABC 36
Belinda moved to the Bluegrass this spring to join the lineup of talent at ABC 36. Originally from the Jayhawker State, Belinda graduated from Kansas State University, where she was the K-State Wildcat Twirler. She danced in modern and contemporary dance companies there, giving her lots of experience in learning dance moves and performing in public. She was a Kansas City Chiefs cheerleader in 2010 and danced backup for Kid Rock. She’s lived in Gainesville, Florida for the past few years where she taught an undergraduate lab at the University of Florida while earning her Master’s in Mass Communication and Multimedia Telecommunication.
With her background in dance, participating in DWLS will be a fun way to be a part of her new community. She says, “I’m excited for the chance to meet new people and put my dancin’ shoes on!” In spite of having performed in front of 90,000 Kansas City Chiefs fans, she’s still got a few jitters. “I always get a little nervous, because I’ve got passion,” Belinda explains. “But you don’t have to get rid of the butterflies; you just have to get them flying in formation.”