DULUTH 鈥� Eric Huie鈥檚 double-win at the Minnesota Ballet鈥檚 Celebrity Dance Challenge lasted more than a night, more than a year, it maybe even lasted five years. In 2010, the stylist from A Touch of Plasch paired with then-company member Suzanne Kritzberg for 鈥淎 Touch of Bollywood鈥� 鈥� quick-paced hip shaking and arm waving that incorporated feats ranging from the Roger Rabbit to a cartwheel.
The duo took both people鈥檚 choice, as voted on by the audience at Fregeau Auditorium, and judges鈥� choice.
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鈥淚t was surprising,鈥� said Huie, who went on to perform the choreography or a variation of it during at least three more dance challenges in addition to other ballet events. He has also served as a judge. 鈥淚t was really wonderful because it鈥檚 voted on by the audience, which means I did an OK job entertaining them. It was great; I鈥檓 not going to lie.鈥�
The ballet鈥檚 13th annual fundraiser pairs 12 pros with regular joes, who show off their skills in two-minute bursts of choreography. The lineup for this year鈥檚 鈥淒ancing with the Stars鈥�-esque event at Marshall 歪歪漫画 in Duluth includes a food truck operator (Jonathan Reznick, Rambler), an evening news anchor (Kristen Vake, CBS3), a musician who has mastered the Rat Pack (Todd Eckart) and more.
All the flare
In recent years, the show鈥檚 celebrities have found ways to bring to the stage more than a well-rehearsed routine: props, other talents, theatrics and wildlife.
Not only did Gabe Mayfield dance in 2017, but the local actor who has performed in shows ranging from the opera 鈥淎mahl and the Night Visitor鈥� to the musical 鈥淟ittle Shop of Horrors鈥� also sang Queen鈥檚 鈥淲e Are the Champions.鈥�
He won the people鈥檚 choice award.
Maxi Childs, known for her lounge style, and tenor Marcus McConico also sang during their performances.
In 2013, Dan Hanger of Fox 21 had promised to share the stage with live animals from the Lake Superior Zoo for his calypso-style dance to music from 鈥淭he Lion King.鈥� Ultimately, he could only secure a ball snake 鈥� which he held Simba-like when the curtain opened. He didn鈥檛 win, though 鈥� Maude Dornfeld did.
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Dornfeld started in frumpy around-the-house wear, but after finding another woman鈥檚 drawers in the laundry, she tossed the basket and threw off her housecoat and emerged as a disco diva for a performance set to 鈥淚 Will Survive.鈥�
鈥淚n my case, I鈥檓 not a really great dancer,鈥� Dornfeld recalled. 鈥淚 was just trying to emphasize my other skills.鈥�
Dornfeld won both audience and judges鈥� choice that night. It was the first time, she said, she鈥檚 ever won anything 鈥� a point that has become an inside joke at her house. The sweet taste of victory lasted a year, until she returned for the All Star event.
鈥淚 went from double winner to 鈥榤ost enthusiastic,鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淭hat was a huge ego crusher.鈥�
How to win this thing
Huie, who also won the 2014 All Star Celebrity Dance Challenge, said the best performances come from dancers who, regardless of ability, are having fun.
鈥淚 love somebody who is committed 100 percent to entertaining,鈥� he said, 鈥減eople who seem to be enjoying the whole process.鈥�
Andrea Kuzel of Superior Ballroom Dance Studio agreed. As a dancer and teacher, her first instinct is to look for technique and technical perfection, she said.
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鈥淥ne of the biggest things to remember is that it鈥檚 a fundraiser and the entertainment value of things,鈥� she said.
Bret Amundson, dean of the 歪歪漫画 of Arts and Letters at the College of St. Scholastica, also claimed both prizes for a dramatic, contemporary tango with partner 鈥� both in life and onstage 鈥� Alex Loch, who isn鈥檛 a company member but is company-adjacent.
The 2016 performance, set to Nancy Sinatra鈥檚 鈥淏ang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)鈥� against a moody backdrop included dips and rolls.
For Amundson, the key to winning was easy.
鈥淲ell, my secret is my partner, right?鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd practice.鈥�
