From Fred Astaire in the 1940s to that endearing Joe Jackson video in the ’80s, dreamy nightlife sequences and elegant dance moves come to mind when we think of “Stepping Out.”
In Leesburg, the familiar phrase reminds us that six local celebrities will entertain the crowd at the 19th annual Stepping Out for Education this month.
The Education Foundation of Lake County’s fundraising version of “Dancing with the Stars” will feature a big-top circus theme and bring its 2025 ballroom festivities to the Venetian Center on Friday, July 25, and Saturday, July 26.
The local celebs in this year’s event include Leesburg City Commissioner Allyson Berry; Justin Allender, a community banker and commercial loan officer at the First National Bank of Mount Dora; West Germeroth, sales and project manager, Lake Jem Farms; Ariel Rolon, project manager at Wharton-Smith; Marlene Straughan, regional executive director for Lake County Schools; and Ericka Wright, assistant vice president and branch manager at Addition Financial.
According to Education Foundation Executive Director Elizabeth Johnson, the good sports will be paired up with a professional dance instructor from Orlando’s Dance It Studio.
“They have to complete 20 hours of professional instruction in ballroom dance so that they’re ready to present, whether it be the salsa, chacha, tango or foxtrot,” Johnson said.
“I think they are all kind of shy and nervous, and have said that they don’t think that their feet know how to dance,” she added with a laugh, but reassured us that they get more confident with training.
At Saturday’s event, an encore dance will feature the 2024 Mirror Ball winner, Terri Pfister Soos, principal at Seminole Springs Elementary.
Each of the six local celebrities and their pro partners will compete to be named top male and female by professional judges each evening. The overall 2025 Mirror Ball winner is decided by the combined audience votes.
Participants will receive 20 hours of professional lessons to help raise money for the teachers and students in Lake County Schools.
According to Johnson, last year’s dance event raised around $100,000 for Lake County Schools.
Earlier this year, in February, the Education Foundation of Lake County was awarded a $101,250 grant, which equates to $33,750 a year for three years.
It was part of a $1.2 million grant from the Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation to the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations to increase student interest in healthcare careers and promote successful participation in high school healthcare career academies, particularly among students from underrepresented rural communities.
The grant funds are going to the expansion of Allied Health Assisting and Nursing Assisting programs for Leesburg High School and South Lake High School, providing students with hands-on learning experiences.
“Our mission is to serve as the connection between the community and the school district and Lake County schools,” Johnson said, “and finding ways to bridge the gap not only in regards to financial dollars, but just resources and experiences. We strive to ensure that we’re able to drive the experiences the students have in the classroom outside the classroom, making sure our teachers have the resources they need.”
Interested in being a sponsor? E-mail edfoundation@lake.k12.fl.us. Visit edfoundationlake.com for more information.
This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: Allyson Berry and other locals to show off fancy footwork at Stepping Out for Education
Reporting by Julie Garisto, Leesburg Daily Commercial / Daily Commercial
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