Local community leaders recently got a chance to show off their dance moves, while raising money for education.
The inaugural Dancing with the Emerald Coast Stars, presented by Ascension Sacred Heart in partnership with Fred Astaire Dance Studios Fort Walton Beach, raised $142,232 in support of the Seacoast Collegiate High School Expansion Project.
The dance competition was held at Hotel Effie Sandestin on May 2 and featured a cocktail hour, champagne toast, plated dinner, live ballroom dance competition, awards ceremony and an exclusive VIP after party.
Four local celebrity dancers took to the stage, each paired with a professional dancer from Fred Astaire Dance Studios Fort Walton Beach, competing for the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy while raising funds and awareness for the expansion of Seacoast Collegiate High School in Santa Rosa Beach.
The 2026 competitors included Dr. Lindsey Hoppe, owner of 30A Smiles, paired with Rico Dias Garcia; Whitney Cooley, Scenic Sotheby’s International Realty agent and Southern Sand TV host, paired with Oleksandr Sorokopud; Destin Mayor Bobby Wagner and wife Bekah Wagner, paired with Adina Kairbekova; and Drew Ward, principal of Seacoast Collegiate High School, paired with Sofiya Glotova.
Ward and his partner Glotova won the Judges’ Choice award for technical performance and stage presence.
Cooley and her partner Sorokopud captured People’s Choice, earning the highest number of audience votes and demonstrating overwhelming community support.
“This evening was truly extraordinary,” Callie Cox, director of advancement and donor relations for Seaside School, said in a news release.
“To see our community come together in such a vibrant and meaningful way is a testament to the shared belief in our mission. The funds raised will directly impact the continued growth of Seacoast Collegiate High School and expand opportunities for students across Walton County. We are incredibly grateful to our sponsors, participants and every individual who supported this event,” Cox said.
“This was an unforgettable opportunity to step outside my comfort zone for something that matters so deeply to our students and our school,” Ward said.
“The energy in the room, the support from the community, and the impact we’re able to make through this event is truly inspiring. I’m honored to have been part of it,” he said.
Wagner and his wife were also glad to be part of the event.
“My wife, Bekah, and I pushed ourselves for 10 weeks straight with our instructor, Adina, to learn our routine,” Wagner told The Log.
“While we are very proud of accomplishing our goal of performing a dance song Bekah wrote for a live audience, we are even more proud to have been a part of a fun and unique fundraiser for the kids of the comunity,” Wagner said.
Proceeds from the event will support the Seacoast Collegiate High School Expansion Project, a transformative initiative that includes the development of state-of-the-art educational facilities designed to increase access, enhance programming, and serve more students across the region.
Because of the success of the event, Dancing with the Emerald Coast Stars is set to become an annual event, continuing to bring together the community in support of education and student success.
For more information about Seaside School and the Seacoast Collegiate High School Expansion Project, visit SeasideSchools.net.
This information was provided by Bobby Parker of Parker Gene Creative.
This article originally appeared on The Destin Log: Emerald Coast locals dance to raise money for school project
Reporting by The Destin Log / The Destin Log
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
