Derrick K. Ramsey Kentucky Secretary of Labor, Former Football Player and Lee Ramsey
Derrick decided to participate in DWLS because he believes competition is a good thing. “I thought it would be fun,” he said. “But more importantly, the money will help others.”
Derrick’s competitive spirit may be a big help in the competition, but he can’t rely on his natural dance skills. “Because of my two right feet, I am learning how to move one out of the way,” he said. He’s never taken professional dance lessons because, as he put it, “They wouldn’t allow me in the studio!” He’s practicing three times a day to get the steps perfect. Derrick will be dancing with his wife, Lee, who will certainly bring the couple’s dance score up a few points with her beautiful smile.
Because Derrick likes to win, he thinks he’ll have some tricks up his sleeve to ensure he takes home the trophy. “I am going to tell all the competitors that the event’s date has been changed,” Derrick joked. Nice try!
Derrick said he’s happy to be back in Kentucky. He enjoys theatre, sporting events and he is an avid walker. He enjoys listening to old school music, jazz and R&B. When he’s out on the town, his go-to dance move is “The Bump”.
Dr. Laura Justice, Dentist, Justice Dental
“I love to dance, and have always wanted to take ballroom dance lessons,” Laura explained. “This was a perfect opportunity to learn while helping with a great cause.” She took one lesson years ago, but never continued due to timing. She’s not letting anything get in the way of her lessons with partner Chip. She joked, “I am excited to see if I can actually remember the steps I learn without my poor partner dragging me around the stage!”
Laura is a transplant from Eastern Kentucky. She moved to Lexington to attend Transylvania, then dental school at UK. “I have loved living in Lexington for the last 37 years,” she said. She has a daughter named McKenna and a son named Justice.
“I am a little anxious about my debut,” she admitted. “So I am going to focus on having fun with the dances and competing with my older sister, Libbi.”
When she’s not making Kentucky’s smiles beautiful, Laura enjoys skiing, cycling, group exercise, photography, travel, painting and enjoying all forms of art. The multi-talented maven enjoys all types of music and says her staff loves it when she breaks out her pop and squat dance move. She hopes her dance partner can keep her in line when the big day comes!
Missy Ward, Radio/TV Personality and Paul Bernstein, Owner/Video Production Specialist, Lexscape Productions
“I decided to participate in DWLS because I love to dance, although I am very clumsy. I thought I could build further awareness and raise money for Surgery on Sunday and Rotary.
I love Lexington and the giving heart of this community.” She joked, “And I think they ran out of people to ask.”
Missy was a radio personality for 25 years. She worked as a morning show cohost with country great Karl Shannon and her friend, Kruser. She was also the host of the Motorvation Motorcars show for 11 years.
To prepare, Missy is scheduling massages and footbaths
between her samba lessons. She knows the road ahead is a rough one, though. “Have you seen those outfits? I won’t be able to eat until May,” Missy joked.
Paul joined the event because he got an offer he just couldn’t refuse. “Hunter Lisle was nice enough to offer me a personal invitation, so it sounded like fun,” Paul said. He has taken lessons at Arthur Murray in the past. He admits, “I have never danced in front of a crowd like this: I probably will be nervous.” Maybe his experience producing videos for music legends like Carrie Underwood, Dwight Yoakam, Naomi Judd and John Michael Montgomery will help him get on his dancin’ shoes!
Don Hart, Financial Advisor, Public Address Announcer, UK Women’s Basketball and Volleyball and Sheltina Hart,
Laboratory Technician, Baptist Health Lexington
Don is active with the Rotary club, and he’s thrilled to represent the organization during this year’s DWLS. He also serves on the executive committee for the Rotary’s Lexington Rodeo (which he invites everyone to come see!) “I decided to participate when Rotary volunteer organizer David Williams pointed out that I had a connection to both sports and Rotary and should represent the club. The fact that I can’t dance didn’t bother him, so it doesn’t bother me,” Don said. “Actually, it’s a distinct honor to be asked, a privilege to participate and a great cause to support!”
On top of his professional work and service in the Rotary, Don is active with Commerce Lexington, a deacon in his church, a coach for Upward Basketball, an election official for his precinct and he does occasional voiceover work. He also has two tween sons. Will he be too busy to learn the steps before the competition? His wife and dance partner, Sheltina, will try to keep him on task.
Does Don have a secret weapon that will pull him through? He joked, “Gosh, I’m just hoping my poor friends vote for me. And I’m hoping my rich friends vote often!”
Alan Stein, President/CEO, SteinGroup, LLC, Founder, Lexington Legends and Terri Stein, Co-Owner, Scout & Molly’s of Lexington, Vice President/Business Development Officer, Central Bank & Trust Co.
A native Lexingtonian, Alan Stein is a card-carrying member of the Shag Dancing and Beach Music Preservation Society of South Carolina. He’ll bring those beachy moves to the Dancing With the Lexington Stars event, but he’s also excited to learn some new steps. He’s also thrilled to be helping further the great work of the Rotary while spending some “close” time with his new bride, Terri. The two recently honeymooned in Rio de Janeiro, where Alan picked up some samba moves. Terri, who grew up watching her father dance, is excited to finally learn how he did it, with style!
Alan, who claims he has no shame, has been doing all he can to prep for the DWLS competition. That includes deep knee bends, eating tons of seafood and taking dance lessons when he
can. “This is harder than baseball, but I like the curves,” he joked.
As for the pressure of the competition, Alan’s not sweating it. “I don’t get nervous,” he boasted. “In fact, I was the 1964 Jitterbug Champion of the Margaret Hall School of Dance (with my partner, Mary
Weidemann!)” Maybe he’ll bring home another dance trophy over fifty years later!
Matthew Laurance, Actor, Radio Personality
Matthew joined the ESPN Sports Radio 1300 team after spending 27 years as an actor. He acted on Beverly Hills 90210 for 9 years! He also appeared on Eddie and the Cruisers, Saturday Night Live and St. Elmo’s Fire. He is a cohost of the ESPN afternoon show and hosts pregame and postgame call-in shows for UK games. He spent 10 years as a sideline announcer for the Duke Men’s Basketball team prior to moving to Lexington. He also hosts Backspin Golf. All of that on top of being a husband to his beautiful wife Shannon and a father to their two boys, aged 12 and 9.
“I love this state and city. I was honored to be asked to support a great charity and show my sons you’re never too old to take a risk,” Matthew said. He also admits that he’s got one rival in the competition: “I want to see if I can withstand the mental pressure of competing with Alan Stein.”
When he’s out and about, Matthew leans on the simple soul moves of Al Green to wow folks on the dance floor. With zero professional dance lessons under his belt before now and no experience dancing in front of crowds, Matthew admits he’s very nervous. He said he has one secret weapon in his back pocket that will help him perform his best: “My ability to laugh at myself.”
Passion was a 4-time All-American with the University of Kentucky and is in the UK Athletic Hall of Fame for her
accomplishments in Track and Field. In 2000, she was an Olympic Bronze Medalist in the 4x100 Relay. Even with those incredible credentials, Passion
admits she’s a bit nervous: “I have run in front of a crowd of 100,000+
people before, but I have never had to dance in front of a crowd like this and be judged for my dancing, so yes, I am a little nervous,” she explained. “But I am most certainly looking forward to the challenge and the excitement.”
Passion decided to join this event to help her community. “I have been blessed in so many ways and participating in DWLS and giving a portion of my time will allow me to be a blessing to
others,” she said.
Her competitive spirit is going to be an asset during the event. “I am a competitor and no matter what it is I am doing, I want to do it to the best of my ability and most importantly have fun while doing it,” she
explained. “I am most excited to push myself beyond my limitations. Who knows, this can become a new hobby for me!”
Leslie Nichols-Carter, Owner, Silver Springs Farm Eqwine & Vineyard, Former Player/Assistant Coach UK Women’s Basketball
Can a UK Athletics Hall of Famer take home the DWLS trophy? Leslie isn’t sure, but she’s definitely willing to try: “I am not much of a dancer, but it is for a good cause,” she said. “I am excited about learning the techniques and fundamentals of ballroom dancing.”
Her husband will be cheering her on from the sidelines and hopefully helping her stay focused. “I am very nervous because this is definitely out of my comfort zone. But that is a good thing!” She added, “Aaron, my partner, has convinced me not to worry.”
When she’s out and about, Leslie admits that she’s a fan of dancing in groups rather than solo. “Any line dance will get me on the dance floor and then the fun begins,” she said. “It gets a lot of people to get up and dance.”
A fan of gospel and R&B, Leslie enjoys volunteering, spending time with her family on the farm, traveling and watching or talking sports. Born and raised in Lexington, Leslie is a proud native of the city and is pleased to be doing something to give back to the community she loves. When it all comes down to it, Leslie plans to not take herself so seriously and instead enjoy fundraising for Surgery on Sunday and Rotary.
With twelve years under his belt as a personal trainer, there’s no doubt that Josh has the athleticism that dancing requires. But since he’s never taken any lessons before now, he’s relying on his workout bod: “I could flex my muscles instead,” he joked. He may whip out a double-bicep pose or two during his routine, so look out!
Josh says he’s not nervous to dance in front of a crowd, which could work to his benefit in the competition. “I’m excited to get out in front of people and perform,” he said. “And I’m excited to participate because it benefits Surgery on Sunday.”
Josh, who loves listening to 2Pac, says his hobbies include working out, watching UK basketball, working out, watching UK basketball, working out… well, notice a pattern? He’s passionate about helping people through fitness, and he loves the Surgery on Sunday organization. To be sure he does the charity proud, he’s training heavily for DWLS. He’s doing lots of deadlifts and squats to be sure he’s in top form when the time comes.
Does Josh have a secret weapon? He teased, “You will see on May 14th!”
Ryan Lemond, Kentucky Sports Radio, Colwell Realty Professionals and Amanda Lemond, Loan Officer, Fairway Mortgage
Ryan admits that he’s not a great dancer. “I tend to embarrass myself every day on Kentucky Sports Radio, so I’m just looking for another way to do it,” Ryan joked of his decision to participate in the DWLS event.
The longtime Lexington TV and radio personality, real estate agent, husband and father of three boys is excited to participate in Dancing With the Lexington Stars with his wife, who he says is a saint to take on the experience with him. “We’ve always enjoyed following the event and thought we would have a lot of fun doing this together,” he explained. “We practice at our house, much to the utter embarrassment of our boys, who are getting a huge laugh out of watching it.”
When he’s not doing The Carlton or listening to “Werewolves of London”, Ryan enjoys UK sports, watching his boys’ sports and traveling. His professional dance experience amounts to dancing on stage at Señor Frog’s in Cancun. He joked, “I used to be a Solid Gold dancer (in my dreams!)” Who knows, maybe his aspirations of greatness will help him clinch the win at this year’s event!
Libbi Taylor, Realtor, RE/MAX Creative Realty
Libbi is a longtime board member of the Makenna Foundation. She is also a board member of The Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival – she is even a former Mountain Laurel Queen! She is on the Board of The Kentucky Association of Realtors and actively involved with Leadership LBAR. She has also been involved with the Miss Kentucky Scholarship Organization and Miss America Organization. All of this, on top of being a former Deputy Chief of Staff for a Kentucky Lt. Governor, an English and American History teacher, coach and cheerleader. With such a diverse background, there’s no doubt that Libbi has lots of experience to pull from for her big dancing debut!
“I’m excited to support Surgery on Sunday and I’m a big fan of their work,” she explained. “I’m also competing with my sister, Laura. We love to dance!” She admits that ballroom dancing is not a type of dance she’s familiar with, but she’s making the best of it. “I had no idea how different it was from other genres… totally different from my training,” she said.
Libbi has two grown children. Her two very large dogs – a Great Pyrenees and an active Labradoodle – keep her on her toes. She loves watching and attending sporting events, listening to music, reading and watching Broadway shows. Maybe she’ll bring some of those big
theatre steps to her DWLS performance!
Camryn Whitaker, Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach, UK
“I’m always up for a challenge,” Camryn said of her decision to participate in DWLS. “I’m excited to learn the dances! I was always involved in sports growing up–never dancing–so it’s fun to try something new.” Camryn has never taken dance classes before, and she admits that she’s really buckling down on the lessons. “I need lots of them,” she joked. But she’s willing to put in the work, because she’s thrilled to support such a good cause.
Camryn grew up in Cynthiana, KY and has been an assistant basketball coach for 10 years. She said, “It’s been a dream for me to be at home, doing what I love at a place I love. The best part: my family is here!” In her spare time, Camryn enjoys listening to country music, going to concerts, watching movies, cooking, entertaining and working out. One thing she doesn’t do a lot of is dancing. “I don’t have any moves, just decent rhythm,” she admitted. She also said she is very nervous to perform in front of a crowd!
Camryn’s secret weapon in the competition might be in the teamwork. “I’m very competitive so I will do my best to try and win,” she said. “Plus, I have a partner who knows what’s going on!”
Craig McIntosh, Electrician and Allison McIntosh, Registered Nurse
A former UK football player, Craig loves to work out, and does personal training on the side. He’ll be bringing that athleticism to his DWLS experience. “We are excited to learn how to dance as a team and to learn dance skills that we can not only use in this competition, but on our own as well,” he explained.
Originally from Agoura Hills, CA, Allison was a dancer for 13 years and was on a dance team in high school. She said, “We are excited to be taking dance lessons together, and being each other’s partner in this competition!”
The dance lessons will be essential to the couple’s success. Craig has taken a handful of lessons before at Arthur Murray Dance Studio, but he admits his go-to dance move is The Sprinkler and he’s nervous, but excited about DWLS. With her dance background, Allison has a few tricks up her sleeve that will help the couple look like pros on the big night. Either way, the two are happy to be together and enjoy learning the steps!
The newlyweds are excited to give this event their all. “We both really have the will to win and we’ll do our best at our dance lessons to try to make that happen,” Allison said. “I am nervous but I think it will be fun!”