April 2, 2026
26-44
Jessica Pope
Communications and Media Relations Coordinator
Õ¬Äи£Àû Announces Dancing Stars, Pros, and Upcoming Scholarship Fundraiser
|
| Õ¬Äи£Àû’s Music Scholarship Alliance and Golden Circle Scholarship and Support Fund Board will present Dancing with the Valdosta Stars 2026 at 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, at the James H. Rainwater Conference Center. Eight couples — one local “star” paired with one local “pro” — will dance for the Audience Favorite Award and help raise much-needed funds for music, theatre, and dance scholarships. Early voting has already started, and anyone can participate by text or by making an online donation at . Online voting ends at noon on competition day. Text voting ends after the final dance. |
VALDOSTA — Valdosta State University’s favorite dance competition is gearing up for another season of memorable routines and making dreams come true.
Õ¬Äи£Àû’s Music Scholarship Alliance and Golden Circle Scholarship and Support Fund Board will present Dancing with the Valdosta Stars 2026 at 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, at the James H. Rainwater Conference Center. Admission is $125 per person or $1,200 for a table that seats 10 people. Limited $1,500 sponsorship tables are also available.
Eight couples — one local “star” paired with one local “pro” — will dance for the Audience Favorite Award and help raise much-needed funds for music, theatre, and dance scholarships. They are:
• Elisa Ray dancing with Nemo Rico. Text DWTSV9 to 71777 to support this team.• Amanda Hoch dancing with David Cooper. Text DWTSV3 to 71777 to support this team.
• Debbie Paine dancing with Joe Mason. Text DWTSV7 to 71777 to support this team.
• Carla Holmes dancing with Mattis Ahlgrimm. Text DWTSV4 to 71777 to support this team.
• Chris Jones dancing with Melissa Pihos. Text DWTSV5 to 71777 to support this team.
• Dr. Daniel Bennett dancing with Blair Andersen. Text DWTSV2 to 71777 to support this team.
• Estel Powell dancing with Elinor Fenimore. Text DWTSV8 to 71777 to support this team.
• Kevin Noviello dancing with Carol Berthos. Text DWTSV6 to 71777 to support this team.
During the competition attendees will receive a token to drop in their favorite couple’s ballot box; these tokens are valued at $125. Additional votes may be cast by dropping cash or checks into a favorite couple’s ballot box at the event.
Early voting has already started, and anyone can participate by text or by making an online donation at . Online voting ends at noon on competition day. Text voting ends after the final dance.
Dancing with the Valdosta Stars has raised more than $575,000 for scholarships since it started in 2012.
Call the Õ¬Äи£Àû College of the Arts Outreach office at 229-333-2150 for more information or visit to purchase tickets or tables.
Newsroom
- Office of Communications Powell Hall West, Suite 1120
-
Mailing Address
1500 N. Patterson St.
Valdosta, GA 31698 - General Õ¬Äи£Àû Information
- Phone: 229.333.5800
- Office of Communications
- Phone: 229.333.2163
- Phone: 229.333.5983