Jessica LackUT dancers took their turn in the spotlight as 20 students performed in a live “Dancing With The Stars” at the St. Pete Times Forum last Tuesday.
The spin-off in Tampa is a part of the “Dancing With The Stars” tour.
Two couples with a UT connection won the stop of the tour.
UT Sophomores Jon Howard and Amber Rehman, and Senior Jamie Stringer and USF student Leroy Mobley shared the victory after the audience roared with applause.
Under the direction of UT dance professor Deborah Loran, 10 couples did the Cha Cha and the final two couples danced against each other on stage after intermission.
Many of the dancers from other seasons of the show also appeared.
Some of them were last season’s winner Cheryl Burke, actor Joey Lawrence from season and Lisa Rinna from season 2.
According to Susan Taylor Lennon, Chair of Department of Speech, Theater and Dance, the opportunity was one that UT dancers could not pass up.
“It was something that dropped out of the sky and it’s a great chance to display the talent that UT has so much of,” she said. “It speaks well of our professional faculty members especially Deborah Loran who was asked to do this.”
Loran also agreed that the opportunity came unexpectedly.
“It happened because another local school who was supposed to be in the competition dropped out,” she said. “A friend of mine called me last Thursday and I got a call from the producers of the show.”
“I was excited beyond words,” Loran added.
Loran, who is well-known in the international ballroom dance community, has judged dancers at numerous championship ballroom dance competitions, including many of the dancers who were featured in the show.
Howard and Rehman both said the competition was about having fun.
“It was intimidating at first, but it was fun,” said Howard. “It was a once in a lifetime experience.”
Rehman said the most surprising part of the competition was when the couples were asked to do the rumba.
“I’ve never even heard of that dance,” she stated. “We just went along with the music.”
Howard said that though they were both were inexperienced with the dance they still “kept on their toes.”
“I didn’t even have the right dancing shoes,” he said. “I even stepped on her heel and everyone saw when I made a face. But I just followed her lead and everything went fine. She could’ve won with anyone.”
The couple admitted that they had very little time to prepare for the competition, but they were still grateful to be a part of such an experience.
“We want to thank Deborah Loran for all her hard work and dedication and for giving us this opportunity,” they said.