Most of the contestants in the third annual Dancing with the Seymour Stars fundraiser had little to no dancing experience.
But that didn’t stop them from taking on the challenges of learning fancy footwork and perfecting routines for next Saturday’s event.
One participant who is used to being on stage is Katie Stam Irk, who was crowned Miss America on national television in 2009.
As a wife, mother of two, real estate agent and public speaker, Irk said dancing isn’t one of her specialties.
“This may be the only time anyone will see me dancing publicly,” she said.
She and her father, Keith Stam, choir director at Seymour Middle School, will perform a wedding reception dance compilation.
Singing may run in the family, but Stam said he hopes to surprise the audience with their dancing ability.
Even if they lose the competition, Stam said he still wins.
“I’m dancing with my daughter,” he said. “If we get the prize or not, I’m still a winner.”
He’s also enjoying the exercise of dancing and raising money for the Boys and Girls Club of Seymour and Seymour Main Street.
Tickets for the 2 p.m. matinee performance at Celebrations are 20 if purchased in advance at the Boys and Girls Club or $25 at the door. The evening performance is sold out.
The winner of the show is not determined by dancing ability but by who can raise the most money in votes. All dancers raise money on their own beforehand and then receive votes from the audience after the performances.
Donations are tax-deductible.
Anyone unable to attend the show can still vote for their favorite dancers with $1 equaling one vote. All donations can be made at the Boys and Girls Club.
Matt Nieman, youth minister at Immanuel Lutheran Church, said he is relying on partner Katrina Hardwick’s background in dance — she has participated in Dancing with the Seymour Stars the past two years — personality and smile to win over the judges.
“I don’t even dance at wedding receptions … after beer,” he said.
The routine they are planning is what Nieman calls “eclectic, unconventional and offbeat.”
“Actually, we will have country, modern, ballroom, hip-hop and interpretative,” he said.
Hardwick said she always has fun when she’s dancing, whether it’s teaching a Zumba class or dancing around in her living room with her young son.
“If there’s a beat and I can dance, then it’s all good,” she said.
Dr. Kris Williams said he doesn’t necessarily like dancing, but he’s always willing to participate in something fun, especially for a good cause.
He will perform a “spectacular” but top-secret routine with his wife, Stacey Williams, a mother of two and part-time instructor at Ivy Tech Community College.
“It’s a tribute to a dance legend,” Stacey Williams said.
With no dancing history, Kris Williams plans to rely on his wife getting him through the routine.
Stacey Williams took ballet when she was little and was in show choir in high school, getting the opportunity to sing and dance in musicals.
“And I’ve been on lots of wedding reception dance floors,” she said.
She’s also a fan of the chicken dance, she said.
“It’s awesome. Growing up in Jasper then living here, it reminds me of good German celebrations,” she said.
The Williamses said that, no matter what happens, it will be a good story they can share with others, and it’s something they will never forget.
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Kris Williams and Stacey Williams
Day job (What you do when you’re not dancing)
K: Doctor.
S: Mostly stay-at-home mom with three little boys, part-time teacher at Ivy Tech.
Family: Sons, Mason, 6, Kameron, 4, and Tyler, 2.
What’s your dance background?
K: None.
S: Ballet when little, like every little girl; show choir in high school, musicals and lots of wedding dance floors.
What kind of dance will you be doing for the competition?
K: Spectacular.
S: It’s a secret, but it’s a tribute to a dance legend.
What’s your favorite dance and why?
K: Anything easy that involves me holding an adult beverage.
S: The chicken dance because it’s awesome. Growing up in Jasper, then living here, it reminds me of good German celebrations.
What’s your least favorite dance and why?
K: Anything difficult … with no said beverage.
S: The Macarena. Ugh.
Why do you think you’re the next Dancing with the Seymour Stars winner?
K: I just really want it.
S: Kris has an irresistible blue steel stare that will hypnotize donors.
Why do you like dancing?
K: “Like” is a strong word.
S: It instantly puts you in a good mood, and you can almost forget you’re exercising.
What do you hope to get out of this experience?
K: Raise money for two great causes.
S: A good story, supporting good causes.
Who would you like to see compete in the next Dancing with the Seymour Stars?
K: Dr. David Hartung.
S: Dr. David Hartung or Justin Blomenberg.
Keith Stam and Katie Stam Irk
Day job (What you do when you’re not dancing)
Stam: Seymour Middle School choir teacher.
Irk: Mom, Realtor, public speaker.
Family
Stam: Wife, Tracy Stam; daughters, Heidi (David) Lawrence, Heather (Carlos) Florido and Katie (Brian) Irk; son, Eric (Audra) Stam; grandchildren, Paige, Breanna and Noah Lawrence, Elizabeth, Isabella and Anthony Florido and Charlotte and Rose Irk.
Irk: Husband, Brian Irk; daughters, Charlotte, 2, and Rose, 4 months.
What’s your dance background?
Stam: I was a member of the IU Singing Hoosiers and performed variety shows.
Irk: Seymour High School cheerleading.
What kind of dance will you be doing for the competition?
Wedding dance reception compilation.
What’s your favorite dance and why?
Stam: My favorite dance is the one that I am dancing with my wife.
Irk: The Whip and Nae Nae because it’s fun and you can’t get the song out of your head.
What’s your least favorite dance and why?
Stam: The dougie. Because.
Irk: Twerking, for obvious reasons.
Why do you think you’re the next Dancing with the Seymour Stars winner?
Stam: I’m dancing with my daughter. If we get the prize or not, I’m still a winner.
Irk: Because this may be the only time anyone will see me dancing publicly.
Why do you like dancing?
Stam: It’s great exercise.
Irk: It’s fun to let loose.
What do you hope to get out of this experience?
Stam: The experience is for a worthy cause. I hope to raise a lot of money to help a lot of people.
Irk: I just want to have fun.
Who would you like to see compete in the next Dancing with the Seymour Stars?
Stam: Greg Prange.
Irk: Everyone.
Matt Nieman and Katrina Hardwick
Day job (What you do when you’re not dancing)
M: Youth minister at Immanuel Lutheran Church.
K: Histology tech at Schneck Medical Center and Zumba instructor at Snap Fitness.
Family
M: Not married; no children.
K: 6-year-old son, Tyce; and parents, Rick and Carolyn Ketcham.
What’s your dance background?
M: None. I don’t even dance at wedding receptions after beer.
K: A little tap, ballroom and hip-hop. I have taught for six years.
What kind of dance will you be doing for the competition?
M: Eclectic, unconventional, offbeat. Actually, we will have country, modern, ballroom, hip-hop and interpretative.
K: Hodgepodge of fun.
What’s your favorite dance and why?
M: None. Well, I guess my favorite is the one I watch.
K: I love dance so much, it’s impossible to pick a favorite.
What’s your least favorite dance and why?
M: Probably, after photographing weddings, the dance that goes with “All the Single Ladies.”
K: If there’s a beat and I can dance, then it is all good.
Why do you think you’re the next Dancing with the Seymour Stars winner?
M: Honestly, I know we will be entertaining … winning, though? Not sure.
Why do you like dancing?
M: I don’t really like dancing … Is that bad?
K: What’s not to like? It makes me feel alive.
What do you hope to get out of this experience?
M: Raise money for a great cause, and challenge myself to go outside my comfort zone.
K: A good time for a great cause.
Who would you like to see compete in the next Dancing with the Seymour Stars?
M: Dr. Todd Behmlander, Sean Hildreth or Eric DiBlasi.
K: Sean Hildreth.
Kevin and Laura Cottrill
Day job (What you do when you’re not dancing)
K: Director of bands for Seymour Community School Corp.
L: English teacher at Seymour High School.
Family: Children, Harrison, 14, Will, 12, and Katie, 9.
What’s your dance background?
K: High school show choir and one semester of ballroom dance more than 25 years ago at IU.
L: Never had a lesson. I learned through experiences in cheerleading, show choir and singing at Purdue.
What kind of dance will you be doing for the competition?
K: Undecided.
L: Something upbeat and fun.
What’s your favorite dance and why?
K: Slow dancing with my wife, and I also enjoy the polka. It’s an aggressive and active dance, and it’s fun.
L: I love dancing to any song with a great beat. I would love to learn salsa or other Latin dances.
What’s your least favorite dance and why?
K: Freestyle or anything that I have to make up on the spot because I’m 6-foot-5 and you can’t hide 6-foot-5 on the dance floor.
L: Dancing alone.
Why do you think you’re the next Dancing with the Seymour Stars winner?
K: If we win, it will be because of my lovely wife. She enjoys dancing, and I like when she dances around me.
L: The Boys and Girls Club and Seymour Main Street are the winners. We are honored to support them.
Why do you like dancing?
K: It’s great exercise, and it can be a lot of fun. My wife likes it, too.
L: Dancing fills my heart with great joy.
What do you hope to get out of this experience?
K: I hope to spend some quality time with my partner. The process will be good for us. We’ll have a positive and fun experience, and I’m sure that I will embarrass our children.
L: Kevin and I get very few opportunities for date night, so we are thrilled to spend time together learning a new skill that will potentially embarrass our children.
Who would you like to see compete in the next Dancing with the Seymour Stars?
K: Greg Prange or Fred Hines.
L: Greg Prange.
Scott Gray and Meredith Henry
Day job (What you do when you’re not dancing)
S: Security and support tech at Seymour Community School Corp.
M: School social worker at Seymour-Redding Elementary School.
Family
S: Wife, Jana; children, Tyler and Lindsey.
M: Husband, Brad; children, Greer, Gus and Gwen.
What’s your dance background?
S: None.
M: Wedding receptions, high school cheerleader.
What kind of dance will you be doing for the competition?
S: Not sure.
What’s your favorite dance and why?
S: Fast because I like to keep moving.
M: Freestyle. I like to do my own thing.
What’s your least favorite dance and why?
S: Slow dancing.
M: Slow because it’s boring.
Why do you think you’re the next Dancing with the Seymour Stars winner?
S: I have a great partner, and we have the moves.
M: Just wait and see.
Why do you like dancing?
S: Keeps me fit and puts my mind at ease.
M: It’s just so fun … and I like to have fun.
What do you hope to get out of this experience?
S: To enjoy this experience by meeting other people and helping out the cause.
M: Raise money for the Boys and Girls club and Main Street, to have fun and to make new friends.
Who would you like to see compete in the next Dancing with the Seymour Stars?
M: Mindy Roeder.
Brent Byers and Nancy Fleming
Day job (What you do when you’re not dancing)
B: Food broker and dance instructor/owner of Dance Street Studio in Columbus.
N: Retired from Seymour Community School Corp., trail riding one of my horses, gardening.
Family
B: Wife, Ronda Byers.
N: Husband, Paul; one son; one daughter; two grandsons; one granddaughter.
What’s your dance background?
B: Dance instructor and owner of Dance Street Studio in Columbus for seven seven years and college theater.
N: Took many lessons growing up, second grade through high school, which was years ago. Took clogging lessons a few years ago.
What kind of dance will you be doing for the competition?
N: Have to wait and see.
What’s your favorite dance and why?
B: Hustle. Fast and free-flowing.
N: Rock ’n’ roll or jitterbug. That’s what it was called in my era.
What’s your least favorite dance and why?
B: Fox trot. Slow and boring.
N: Tango.
Why do you think you’re the next Dancing with the Seymour Stars winner?
B: My partner is a great dancer and active community member.
N: I will try to do my best to raise funds and do a great job.
Why do you like dancing?
B: It can be the musical expression of life.
N: I have always loved to dance.
What do you hope to get out of this experience?
B: Help raise funds for a very worthy cause.
N: Fun and raise funds for two great nonprofits.
Who would you like to see compete in the next Dancing with the Seymour Stars?
N: Mary Ann Pardieck.
Tom Lewis, Liz Copeland and Patti Terrell
Day job (What you do when you’re not dancing)
T: Senior director of finance and supply chain for Kremers Urban Pharmaceuticals; owner of Kindred Spirits Liquor Store in Bedford and TLC Mini Storage in Seymour.
L: Gymnastics and tumbling coach.
P: Secretary at Seymour-Redding Elementary School.
Family
T: Wife, Michele Lewis; three children, Grace, 11, Bailey, 16 and Mariah, 18.
L: Husband, Josh Copeland; child, Marley, 4.
P: Husband of 23 years, Brian; children, Brilyn, 20, Brandon, 15, Brady, 7, and Bryson, 5.
What’s your dance background?
T: I’m an expert at party dancing.
L: I was a high school and college cheerleader, but I always love to get up and dance.
P: I am practically an expert at doing the wave at baseball games.
What kind of dance will you be doing for the competition?
T: All I know is I’m being told just to show up. Apparently, my dance partners have it under control.
L: A kind of dance that is fun to perform and watch.
What’s your favorite dance and why?
T: The Funky Cold Medina. Oh, you haven’t seen it? Well, it looks a lot like Elaine Benes’ dance from “Seinfeld.”
L: I love to dance, in the kitchen, at the gym and anywhere.
P: May favorite is the Electric Slide because it’s the only dance I’ve ever done.
What’s your least favorite dance and why?
T: According to my wife, it doesn’t matter because whatever dance I’m dancing, it always looks like I’m running in place.
L: I don’t really have a least favorite. All music has it’s time.
P: The worm. It looks painful.
Why do you think you’re the next Dancing with the Seymour Stars winner?
T: Let’s not fool ourselves. I’m just hoping to stay standing up on my own two feet.
L: Because we are a fun group who loves to laugh and show our stuff.
P: Let’s just say that if you don’t donate to our group, you will wish you had.
Why do you like dancing?
T: In the past, I would have said “because it gives me a chance to let my hair down.” The problem is I no longer have any hair.
L: Dance is the best medicine if you’re stressed, sad or just need a little pick-me-up.
P: Honestly, I’ve never been good at dancing, but it is on my bucket list.
What do you hope to get out of this experience?
T: Free beer and another item checked off of my bucket list.
L: I am just so thankful to be able to take part in this amazing cause to raise money to help others.
P: Ease my lifetime fear of dancing in front of others.
Who would you like to see compete in the next Dancing with the Seymour Stars?
T: Jim Plump, Kevin Gabbard or Paul Nay.
P: JoEllen Simpson.
John Hiester and Michelle Carter
Day job (What you do when you’re not dancing)
J: Taxi driver for four kids and orthodontist.
M: Stay-at-home mom of three and adventure seeker.
Family
J: Children, Alexis, Andrew, Arie and Aidan.
M: Husband, Ray; children, Seth, 18, Louisa, 17, and Liam, 14.
What’s your dance background?
J: Indianapolis dirty dancing champion in 1987, dance dad for 10 years and wedding reception dance expert.
M: Watching Dick Clark on “American Bandstand” and “Soul Train” religiously every Saturday growing up.
What kind of dance will you be doing for the competition?
J: Paso doble, Argentine tango, Viennese waltz and freestyle.
M: Jazzy with a little swing type dancing.
What’s your favorite dance and why?
J: Irish dancing because it gets more impressive with green beer.
M: The twist because it’s a classic and The Carlton, of course.
What’s your least favorite dance and why?
J: Street dancing. Slow and boring dances are a yawnfest.
M: I truly don’t think I have one. I think dancing is a form of art and expression of so many different cultures and time capsules.
Why do you think you’re the next Dancing with the Seymour Stars winner?
J: Because I won in Indy and will take Seymour by storm.
M: I think we would win because we would be the funniest and most humorous couple out there that evening. Everyone likes a good comedic relief.
Why do you like dancing?
J: Awesome exercise and to embarrass my children.
M: I love it when I can find a song that has dynamite lyrics and a beat that won’t stop. It just makes me want to move and find my groove. Great exercise, too. I think it helps my lack of coordination, too.
What do you hope to get out of this experience?
J: Having a great time with awesome friends for a great cause.
M: Other than knowing that we are raising funds and support for a worthy community cause, it’s important to me to complete a challenge that absolutely scares me. Lastly, my oldest son encouraged me to be brave and do it.
Who would you like to see compete in the next Dancing with the Stars?
M: Anyone.
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What: Dancing with the Seymour Stars 2015
Where: Celebrations at Shops at Seymour, 357 Tanger Blvd., Suite 101
When: Sept. 26, matinee at 2 p.m. and evening show at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets: $20 if purchased in advance; $25 day of the show for matinee; $75 for evening performance, with table reservations of eight available; they can be purchased at the Boys and Girls Club of Seymour, 950 N. O’Brien St.
Benefits: Boys and Girls Club of Seymour and Seymour Main Street
Dancers: Miss America 2009 Katie Stam Irk and her father, Keith Stam; Tom Lewis, Patti Terrell and Elizabeth Copeland; Nancy Fleming and Brent Byers; Meredith Henry and Scott Gray; Kevin Cottrill and his wife, Laura Cottrill; Matt Nieman and Katrina Hardwick; John Hiester and Michelle Carter; and Dr. Kris Williams and his wife, Stacey Williams
Information: Any business, organization or individual interested in being a sponsor for the event or anyone wanting to purchase tickets can call the Boys and Girls Club of Seymour at 812-522-2434
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