First Dancing Under the Stars

The First DUTS event was held on Friday, February 12, 2010 at the Omni New Haven Hotel in New Haven CT. The Ronald McDonald House of Connecticut co-sponsored this fundraiser called Dancing Under the Stars with Kids for Kids Dancing for Life, a North Haven-based nonprofit raising money and support for sick and needy children. All money raised was used for supporting the 12-bedroom Ronald McDonald House in New Haven where families of children being treated at nearby hospitals can stay and receive meals and even clothes for a suggested contribution of $15 per night.

For $75 a ticket, DUTS attendees received a dinner and dessert and watched two rounds of dance performances by seven couples.

The local Celebrity Dancers were:

• Desiree Fontaine, of WTNH
• April Capone, East Haven Mayor
• John McKenna, financial account executive for Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield of CT
• Beata Lwanczuk, Richard Penna Hair Salon of Hamden
• Robert Falanga, Richard Penna Hair Salon of Hamden
• Grisel Carrano , Richard Penna Hair Salon of Hamden
• Larry Lazaroff of Arnold’s Jewelers of North Haven

Dance professionals from Dance In Rhythm included: Karen Pfrommer, Sue Woods, Peirs Stonehart, Laurant Mullen and Eric Turcio.