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WILKES-BARRE — For one especially exciting moment on the Kirby Center stage, it looked as if Michele Casey was about to jump into the arms of her husband, Dr. Shawn Casey, to imitate that iconic, perpendicular lift that Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze made famous in the 1987 movie “Dirty Dancing.”
Michele stopped short, making the change in momentum seem like a little joke. But even without the lift, the Caseys won the friendly dance competition that took place Thursday evening to celebrate Dance Theatre of Wilkes-Barre’s 10th anniversary.
Organized by Dance Theatre of Wilkes-Barre owner Gina Malsky, the celebration included 10 celebrity couples who danced to benefit 10 different charities. More than 600 people in the audience, plus perhaps others who voted online, were able to “vote” for the best dance with donations, $1 per vote.
Thanks to the Caseys’ effort, the Pittston-based Miles for Michael, which offers financial assistance to families battling cancer, won the lion’s share of the more than $25,000 Malsky calculated was raised by the event.
Among the highlights of the celebration, which was emceed by Eddie “Day” Pashinski, was a performance by former local residents John and Kathleen Pacovsky, who re-enacted John’s painting of Absinthe advertisements.
Kathleen Pacovsky, the former Kathleen Godwin, had been the model after whom he patterned the little green fairy who shows up in each ad. She showed off her various poses while he pantomimed painting — and the ads themselves appeared on a large screen.
Dancing to support the Riverfront Parks Committee, Steve Husted and Bridget Giunta Husted wore robes and pajamas as they danced a humorous routine to the “Good Mornin’ ” song from the 1952 movie “Singin’ in the Rain.”
Dancing to support Paint Pittston Pink, which aids breast-cancer research, Jim Corcoran and Cassandra Coleman Corcoran performed a Gloria Esteban-inspired salsa that ended with their 3-year-old son, Jimmy Corcoran IV, bringing them a limbo stick and having no problem walking underneath it.
Local ophthalmologist Dr. Harvey Reiser and his wife, Kathy, heard a few cries of “Encore!” from the audience after they danced a waltz, complete with fancy armwork and a dip, to support the Greater Wilkes-Barre Association for the Blind. “They did a great job,” their 23-year-old daughter Ashlyn said at intermission.
Eventual winners, the Caseys then danced their Swayze/Grey piece which, Michele explained during intermission, they had intended to include the famous lift. “We did it 100 times in practice,” she said, until one unfortunate rehearsal when he dropped her and broke his wrist. That’s what kept the lift out of the show.
Dancing in support of the Jewish Community Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania Early Childhood Education, Mitch and Taly Kornfeld performed a lively routine to a Motown medley that included bits of “Sugar Pie Honey Bunch,” “My Girl” and “My Guy.” Near the end of their performance, in a “Dancing With the Stars” kind of move, Taly pulled off Mitch’s top and cast it aside, revealing his sleeveless undershirt, accented by black suspenders. Snazzy spats also accented his outfit.
Inspired by the musical “Chicago” Dr. Anthony Bruno and attorney Danielle Bruno danced to the “Cell Block Tango,” starting out with a grill of portable prison bars between them. Danielle seemed to be channeling Catherine Zeta-Jones from the 2002 film, and at one point Anthony jumped over a moving chair she pushed at him. They danced to support Little Eric’s Foundation.
With umbrellas and tap shoes, Dr. Glen Tellis and Dr. Cari Barone Tellis reminded the audience of the most famous number in “Singin’ in the Rain.” Their dance supported the Performing Arts Training Academy.
To support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Tatiana Medico Zambino and her brother, Lorenzo Medico Jr., performed a jive to “Rock Around the Clock.” He swung her to his left side, and to his right and then upwards, in a move that seemed as if it would have allowed her feet to touch the ceiling, if they were in a smaller room.
The final couple, Gina Malsky and her husband, Leo, added county/Western appeal to the program with a Johnny Cash medley that featured Leo singing as well as the couple dancing.
Audience member Mike Kelly, of Dallas, said he was so impressed with Leo’s singing he had to split his votes between the Malskys and the Reisers.
But no matter who voted for whom, all 10 charities will benefit, and everyone from the dance school’s current students and teachers to the celebrity dancers and even the Kirby staff had a chance to dance on stage.
“We had fun,” Gina Malsky said.
