The 2008 Dancing for Dreams signature event returns to the Lancaster Host Resort on Saturday, June 21 at 6 p.m. All proceeds from the event support students and programs at the Lancaster General College of Nursing and Health Sciences (LGC).

The featured entertainment will be seven professional dancers performing with local celebrities, community leaders and College students, all with no prior dance training.

“Dancing for Dreams is a huge commitment for both the dancers and their partners,” says Susan Graybill, co-chair for the event. “By show time, they will have been practicing together for as much as four months, three times a week.”

The event will also feature a gala dinner, exhibitions by professional dancers, an open dance floor for all to enjoy following the show, and an opportunity to mingle with the professional dancers.

Professional dancers participating in the event include Jessie Foster, Jessie Foster’s Ballroom Dance School, Harrisburg; Rebecca Gentry, Moonlight Ballroom, Mountville; Charlie Harris, Dancing with Style, Lancaster; Mandy Kuhn, Always Time for Dancing, Lemoyne; Oscar Restrepo, Moonlight Ballroom, Mountville; Barbara Snyder, Ballroom on the Square, Manheim; and Kenneth Wilson, Ballroom on the Square, Manheim.

They will be paired with local community leaders, including people from Lancaster General Hospital and the college. The audience will have an opportunity to vote for their favorites to win various awards at the end of the show.

Supporting the College

“Dance is a healthy activity, so an event like this mirrors our commitment to promote a healthier community,” Susan says.

Currently, 730 students are enrolled at LGC in one of nine accredited academic programs offered. Susan says 90 percent of the college’s students receive some financial aid, and some proceeds from this event benefit LGC’s scholarships and financial aid program.

The College has an impressive 96 percent pass rate for nursing licensure exams - the highest rate in Pennsylvania – and a 100 percent job placement rate within three months of graduation.

With a growing demand for qualified healthcare professionals, more people are looking toward a career in a health-related field. In fact, although enrollment has grown over the past few years, demand remains so great that the College is only able to accept about 20 percent of applicants to its programs.

There are 500 tickets available for the 2008 event, and they will go on sale April 1. Tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Remember: Last year’s event sold out quickly!

“It was phenomenal,” Susan says of the first Dancing for Dreams event. “The room was packed and the performances were challenging and interesting. It was hard to believe that these were non-dancers just a few months ago.

“It was a neat experience, seeing people you knew from the community transform into elegant dancers,” she says.

Unique sponsorship opportunities are still available for local businesses who are interested in supporting the college through this event.

• Dancing for Dreams 2008 Event 
• www.lancastergeneralcollege.edu
• Generally Speaking: Dancing for Dreams 2007 Event

 

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