Hometown Life: Dancing for a Cause

There was some serious dancing in the streets of Dearborn at the 11th annual Detroit Historical Society Ball. And it wasn’t just from guest Martha Reeves when the Motown diva took the stage for an impromptu song.

The benefit for the Detroit Historical Museum and Dossin Great Lakes Museum, held at the historic Dearborn Inn, raised $177,000 from the evening. Of that, $13,000 was raised during the highlight of the evening — the “Dancing with Detroit’s Stars” competition of six brave metro-Detroit couples, including Monica Gayle and Dean Greve, Rhonda Walker and Robert Shumake, Carolyn Cassin and John Warren, Joseph and Simone DaMour, Darnell and Shirley Kaigler, and the evening’s winners, Mark and Tiffany Douglas.

For the second year in the row, Evan Mountain, owner of Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Bloomfield Township, and his staff, took on the challenge of choreographing, rehearsing and getting these couples in prime dancing shape. The dedicated dancers started practicing back in August—some taking eight private lessons or more. Mountain wants to keep the momentum going by donating $40 back to the Detroit Historical Society for every introductory lesson booked at his studio. So call now.

Last Minute Gifts

Besides a gift certificate for dancing lessons, why not also support the Detroit Historical Society by buying its 2010 Days of Detroit calendar. Each month of the calendar features a rare photo from an historic event and interesting tidbits for each day. It retails for $12.95 and can be picked up locally at Borders or visiting www.detroithistorical.org.

Continued Happy Holidays to all — may they be stress-free, healthy and low-cal.