On Nov. 8, the 13th annual Dancing with the Rexburg Stars will take place at the Madison High School gymnasium. This is a fundraising event hosted by the Madison Education Foundation in conjunction with the Idaho Ballroom Academy. 

The event will bring together eight community “stars,” each paired with a senior from Madison High School who dances for Idaho Ballroom Academy, to compete for the top spot in front of a panel of judges and a lively audience.

Half of the scoring comes from judges, while the other half is determined by the audience.

The lineup for this year’s Dancing with the Rexburg Stars features local professionals from schools, health care and community organizations.

This year’s star dancers include:

— Jacob Curtis, chief medical officer at Grand Peaks Medical

— Jarin Drainey, principal of South Fork Elementary School

— Pete Noel, school resource officer with the Rexburg Police Department

— Robert Tietjen, professor of business at Brigham Young University–Idaho

— Tammy Brown, independent senior sales director for Mary Kay Cosmetics

— Abby Lamb, labor and delivery nurse at Madison Memorial Hospital

— Hayli Peterson, coach at Madison Gymnastics Center

— Merilee Sorenson, fifth-grade teacher at Madison Middle School

“This has become a really great community event to bring everybody together,” said Carolyn Broadbent, board member of the Madison Education Foundation and chairperson of the event. 

Broadbent explains that over the years, this event has raised more than $50,000 in grants for teachers in Madison County.

Any teacher in Madison County who is a member of the Madison Education Foundation is able to access these grants to fund hands-on learning experiences for their students. 

“That money has funded everything from rockets and robots to hands-on science experiments with edible algae and oil spills,” Broadbent said. “It’s the kind of learning that sticks with kids forever.” 

The event not only highlights local talent but also celebrates past winners.

Last year’s winner, Ariel Loveland, will return this year as a judge. Loveland, an orchestra teacher for the Madison School District, made her winning performance memorable by having at least 100 of her students play live during her routine.

“I knew I wanted to include them because I was dancing on behalf of student fundraising,” said Loveland. “They totally rocked it.”

Loveland said she is eager to cheer on this year’s participants from the judges’ table. 

“It takes a lot of courage to participate and perform,” Loveland said. “I love gathering as a community. We live in a great place.”

Among this year's cast list is Rob Tietjen, a BYUI business professor who will take the stage with his daughter Lizzy, a Madison High School senior who has danced with the Idaho Ballroom Academy for six years. 

“I think it will be fun to learn and memorize an actual dance routine,” Tietjen said. “I danced way back in high school. We did Footloose, a waltz and a foxtrot, but it’s been a long time.” 

Tietjen explains that, although it has been a while since he has danced, he is beyond excited to be able to dance with his daughter. 

The event will begin at 7 p.m. in the Madison High School gymnasium.

In addition to the competition, audience members will enjoy performances from local school groups, choir members and Idaho Ballroom Academy teams, including its special needs and competition teams.

Tickets are $5 each and are available online or can be purchased at the door.