Who: TC celebs, dance fanatics, and supporters of Susan G. Komen for the Cure
What: Dancing with the Twin Cities Celebrities
Where: Minneapolis Hilton
When: Saturday, March 13, 2010
Why: Because it is a fantastic idea—take TC celebrities, put on some dancing shoes, and watch the donations roll in!

How did it take so long for someone to come up with idea? Hats off to Arthur Murray Dance Studios to throw a little cha-cha-cha into the charity circuit’s usual cocktail-silent auction-dinner routine. The first annual Dancing with the Twin Cities Celebrities attracted some of the Twin Cities’ best-known do-gooders to the Hilton last Saturday. We spotted restaurateur Thom Pham planting a kiss on fellow competitor Julia Cobbs of Lori & Julia fame (Lori was there for support), Colleen Kruse chatting cohost and contestant Christopher Reuvers, and the two Jasons, Matheson (FM107/Fox 9) and DeRusha (WCCO), making the rounds as part of their official judging duties.

Other contestants included Miss Minnesota Brooke Kilgarriff, who I had—by total coincidence—seen performing “Hero” during a rebroadcast of the Mrs. Minnesota pageant while at the gym earlier that day. Of course I had to compliment her on her amazing vocals (she made it to the top 60 on season 5 of American Idol, after all), to which fellow dancer, John Hansen of Twin Cities Live!, quipped that we should hear him sing. “Sing us a little ditty!” I challenged. “Naw, that’s OK, she’s much better.”

John’s lovely TCL cohost Elizabeth Ries emceed the evening and looked smashing in a hot-pink gown. I also caught up with the stunning Sarah Hicks, principal conductor for the Minnesota Orchestra Pops and Presentations. She had been practicing her cha-cha since January. “She’s used to dancing on stage,” said Sarah’s friend and fellow MN Orchestra staff member Lilly Schwartz, comparing her conducting skills to those of a ballroom dancer. “It’s a little different,” laughed Sarah. Boxing champ Caleb Truax was a little more secretive about his practice schedule, but his professional partner Kelly Lyle assured me he was going to be great.