BETH REXFORD PHOTO
NEWPORT — Dancing with the Newport Stars attracted near-capacity crowds Friday and Saturday nights at the Newport Opera House.
On opening night Friday in the Adult Class, Ben Holobowicz and Renee Patten captured first place; John Proper and Aggie Proper were second and Shannon MacMichael and Steve Patten finished third.
In the Junior Division, Selena Coronis and Mason Martell teamed up to place first.
On Saturday, MacMichael and Patten moved up from third place on Friday to first in the Adult Division.
In the Junior Division two teams tied for top honors. They were Coronis and Martell, also the Friday winners, and Caleb Palmer and Jazzy Durgin who were Best Partners on Friday.
Gavin Lovely and Lyndsey Patten placed second on Friday while Megan Howard and Isaiah Stephens captured Best Costume honors.
Other standouts on Friday in the Adult Division were Larry Eaton and Angie Stephens, Best Footwork; Karen Coutu and Fred Heineman, Most Antimated and Lisa McNamara and Karim Chichakly, Most Creative.
Following Intermission, several Dancing with the Stars Alumni performed. They included Paul Brown, Virginia Irwin, PJ Lovely, Karen Little, Gunter Hubert, Kerry Rochford-Hague, Robert Steele, Chuck Weinstein, Patti Lacroix, Brad Palmer, Kassy Helie, Anna Pysz, Donna Moulton, Beth Rexford and Becky Bates.
Newport Ballroom dancers were Aggie Proper, Karim Chichakly, Steve Patten, Renee Patten, Angie Stephens, Fred Heineman, Luke Bartlett, Jazzy Durgin, Nicholas Kleinschmidt, Mason Martell, Lyndsey Patten, Isaiah Stephens, Meaghan O’Meara and Ali Friend.
Steve Smith was Master of Ceremonies for the evening. Judges were Kevin Onnela, Donna Moulton and Dan Cherry.
Introduction of Event Organizers were Donna Mahair, President, Newport Area Chamber of Commerce and Amy Bailey, Executive Director, Newport Opera House Association.
Special Recognition went to Natalie and Braden Miles, the Newport Ballroom and Dance Studio, for their expertise, choreography and show productions.
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