Organizers of the annual Look Who’s Dancing competition, hosted by the New Mexico State University DanceSport Company, are looking for celebrity contestants for its ninth season.
Look Who’s Dancing pairs local celebrities with NMSU DanceSport Company members to compete in a professionally judged dance competition, which will be held at the Pan American Center in November. Participants don’t have to know how to dance in order to sign up, said Hannah Cole, director of NMSU DanceSport.
Look Who’s Dancing is the principle fundraiser for the NMSU DanceSport Company, a creative, athletic, and competitive performance dance team that is a part of the NMSU Dance Program, in the NMSU College of Education’s Department of Kinesiology and Dance. Cole said the event helps provide the team the opportunity to represent NMSU at three regional and national dance competitions each academic year. All profits from the ticket sales of Look Who’s Dancing help fund competition expenses, show production and scholarships.
Celebrity contestants are given hours of free private dance instruction with a trained student partner.
“There are added health benefits too,” Cole said. “Many celebrities report benefits such as weight loss, increased confidence and they just enjoy life in greater ways.”
Cole said there are also opportunities for business and self-promotion through the extensive advertising done on behalf of Look Who’s Dancing via print and radio.
“By participating in Look Who’s Dancing, I was able to expose my business to a huge audience and definitely got recognized out in the community from all of the publicity,” said Kelli Burchell, co-owner of The Emerald Isle Boutique and the Season 6 People’s Choice winner. “It truly was a life-changing experience.”
Not only do participants learn to dance, but they help raise funds through sponsorships and advertising while promoting the vision of NMSU DanceSport and having fun, Cole said.
“Anyone in Las Cruces could be our next celebrity,” Cole said. “We consider a celebrity to be someone who has the courage and generosity enough to want to make a difference for NMSU DanceSport.”
The Look Who’s Dancing selection committee will accept nominations by email through April 10. Send a photo, brief bio, the reason you want to be a part of the competition and contact information to dancesport@nmsu.edu.
Information from NMSU