Dan and Sharon Millians were awarded the mirrored ball trophy as the 2013 Dance Champions at this year’s Mayor’s International Dinner benefitting Sister Cities. Dan is a retired teacher who taught at Country Day School in Arlington and Sharon an attorney at Kelly Hart & Hallman. They performed a spicy salsa to the Miami Sound Machines’ Conga. Close behind in 2nd place were Frank Shiels, Sr. VP at Frost Bank and Connie Blake,  interior designer with GL Seaman Co.  Gordon Rhodes and wife Julie Rhodes’ understudy, Abi Abel, rounded out the top three.

Gordon and Abi also won Best Costume for rapper/hip hop—styled garb including a gold jacket and pants worn by Gordon over a fishnet t-shirt!  Gustavo Pena and Anne Cox were awarded the Most Likely to Go to Broadway trophy for a beautiful waltz to The Commitments, Never Loved a Man.

The event was Chaired by David Parker, Vice President of AT&T and hosted by Mayor Betsy Price. Dancing with the Sister Cities Stars was a huge success raising nearly $180,000 to support Sister Cities’ programs.

The surprise of the night was a gift of song performed by Andy Taft, Gary Cumbie,  Michael Bennett, Owen Daniel, David Parker, Commissioner Roy Brooks and Alison Edwards.  The audience jumped to their feet and sang along to the Coca Cola inspired song, “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing”.

Another crowd pleaser was the African Hip Hopsters. These brave guys and gals danced to live African drum music performed by the Mondo Drummers led by Eddie Dunlap and wowed the crowd with their hip hop skills. They included: Councilwoman Kelly Allen Gray, Andrea Ballard, Dr. Jennifer G. Brooks, Kelly Campbell, Jason Lamers, Clint Riley, Renee Snoke, Robert Sturns and Alan Young with a surprise ending including Mayor Price herself.

Eighteen incredible couples entertained the audience with their various renditions of disco, swing, waltz,  salsa and a free-style routine that had them “bustin’ a move”. Regardless of talent, they were all entertaining with their flamboyant and sometimes reckless performances. They included: Jim & Gloria Austin; Jerod Butler & Renee Glass; Bill & Julie Fairley; Tre Garrett & Renita Smith; Randle & Teresa Harwood; Courtland Kilpatrick & Morgan Albert; Dan & Sharon Millians; Brandon & Carley Moore; Frank & Martha Newman; Todd & Sandy Olsen; Gustavo Pena & Anne Cox; Gordon & Julie Rhodes; Joe Rians & Christen Glennon; Ramon Romero & Anette Soto;  Dennis O’Neill & Stacy Robinson; Frank Shiels & Connie Blake; Jeff & Shelly Whitfield; and    Joshua Willis & Tracy Williams.