Dancing with the Stars of Mentoring!

Mentoring stars steal hearts

Kelcy Dolan
Posted 5/5/15

She may not have stolen the show, receiving an honorable mention, at Thursday’s Dancing with the Mentoring Stars at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet, but as the “proof mentoring works,” Christina …

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Dancing with the Stars of Mentoring!

Mentoring stars steal hearts

Posted

She may not have stolen the show, receiving an honorable mention, at Thursday’s Dancing with the Mentoring Stars at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet, but as the “proof mentoring works,” Christina Markrush stole everyone’s heart.

Before she danced she said in a brief video mentoring changed her. She said as a mentee for 18 years she went from a shy girl without much self-esteem to volunteering to dance in front of a crowd of more than 450 people.

The fifth dancer in the competition, Markrush and her partner, Ryan Burniston, came out on the dance floor in a cardboard car with “Love Shack” playing.

Elaine Belvin, who was Markrush’s mentor growing up, was tearful after the performance sharing how proud she was of her former mentee. She said that now Markrush is “paying it forward” as a mentor of two young students.

“She started a shy little girl who wouldn’t look me in the eye. Now look at what she can do,” Belvin said. “I am very honored to have her in my life and to be a part of hers. She is making a lot of difference in this world.”

Jo-Ann Schofield, president and CEO of the Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership (RIMP), said, “Mentoring is all about helping someone to grow into their best self. Sometimes is just takes that one extra person being there as a cheerleader and support to make a huge difference.”

The night was also one for remembrance as Robert Weygand toasted the late Peter Koch, recalling his dedication and love for the mentoring program. Koch was the first winner of Dancing with the Mentoring Stars held nine years ago.”

Weygand said, “On a night like tonight, he would love that we were celebrating mentoring and he would get the opportunity to do what he believed in, giving back to the community.”

There were three winning couples: Aaron Guckian and Rachael Capodanno, Vince Burks and Kathy St. Jean and Lindy Matarese and Josh Morgenstein. Burks and St. Jean won Judges Choice for their technical skills. They danced to a remix of One Republic’s “Love Runs Out.”

Guckian and Capodanno won most entertaining for their dance to “I Want You Back” by the Jackson 5. Guckian was clad in a neon plaid suit and a costume afro.

The People’s Choice winner, Lindy Matarese actually started her first practice on crutches. She has had several knee surgeries in the last three months. Watching her dance to Christina Aguilera’s “Show Me How You Burlesque” you would never have known.

Dancing with the Mentoring Stars raised $110,000 for the organization, making it one of the most successful since it was started.

“People love to dance, whether it’s at a wedding or out on a Friday night, it’s something that’s universal,” Mario Hilario, co-host of the event from NBC10, said. “To see people really out of their comfort zone and being so impressive, it’s inspirational really.”

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