Coming soon: Dancing with the Bartlesville Stars

Examiner-Enterprise - 11/12/2021

Nov. 12—Seven seasoned dancers are wearing the floors smooth in an effort to transform seven local "stars" into championship dancers who will be competing in the sixth annual Dancing with the Bartlesville Stars on Nov. 20.

The event is one of the major, and most entertaining, annual fundraisers for the Paths to Independence school, which serves students on the autism spectrum.

The pros include a competitive ballroom dancer, a former dance instructor, a skilled country western dancer, a fitness professional and others with a variety of dance experience.

By tradition, one of the dance couples includes a PTI staff member and student. This year, language arts and social studies teacher Maddie Burchett and senior Malcom Majors have that honor.

"It's a way I can show the judges out there what I've got," Malcom said. "And maybe get to be a better dancer."

Maddie started ballet at 4 and danced in the Bartlesville Civic Ballet for 15 years. She was set to study dance at the university level until a compound leg fracture her senior year took her down. She hasn't danced since, but she's definitely ready.

"I'm excited to dance on the stage again and do it for my school," she said.

After polling students and staff for dance suggestions, '90s hip hop was the clear winner to M.C. Hammer's "U Can't Touch This." Maddie said their performance will be based on all the moves from the original video. They've even gone all out on "matchy-match" costumes.

Maddie said Malcom has taken to dance naturally.

"He wants to continue after it's over. He's really good at memorizing what we're going to do. I think he's going to do an awesome job on the stage," she said.

Bartlesville star Lorront Carney, recently retired director of the Westside Community Center, said that he and his partner have chosen tap dancing for their act.

"This will be a treat, because I have two left feet," he said. "I've never attempted this type of dance."

Said John B. Kane, whose routine will include a little twist: "I've never been a dancer."

Phillips 66 community relations star Jenny Brown and her partner will entertain the audience with a country swing routine.

"I have never done country swing," she said. "I'm completely having to learn."

Other pro dancers include Shannon Fox, Kiyomi Meason, Chapel Potter, Kymie Carman, Craig Williams and Layne Allison. Other stars include Dan Keleher of Keleher Architects; Bartlesville city councilor and Regent Bank president Trevor Dorsey; and homemaker Brittany Dunn.

PTI executive director Clair Bartley and board president Jean Jensen started PTI in 2012. Today it is still the only accredited pre-kindergarten to 12th grade school in Oklahoma that serves children and adults with autism at all levels of functioning. The nonprofit PTI is located in the former Will Rogers School building on East Frank Phillips.

"I've seen the impact, not only on the students, but their families," Keleher said.

PTI recently received a $726,000 challenge grant from the Mabee Foundation and funds raised during the dance competition will help meet the challenge. The school's $5.75 million capital campaign will allow PTI to break ground on a new cafeteria/kitchen facility and other building upgrades including a new entrance, classroom equipment, learning laboratory, playgrounds and more.

The event takes place at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 20 at the Hilton Garden Inn, 205 SW Frank Phillips Blvd.

Visit www.pathstoindependence.org to support PTI and to cast votes for your favorite dancers (each dollar contributed equals one vote) and to purchase tickets for the event, which has sold out early in past years. Find videos of dancers and information for potential sponsors on PTI's Facebook page and Instagram @PTIBville.

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