The power of dancing for the benefit of Mentor Rhode Island was on display in all its glory with shimmering, slides, splits and even a cartwheel Friday night at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet.

Fact is, the event is so popular that MentorRI was in the difficult spot of refunding about 100 ticket sales in order to comply with a 400-attendance cap. Nonetheless, the major fundraising event first held at the West Valley Inn 15 years ago, raised $102,000, MentorRI president and CEO Jo-Ann Schofield said.

As she has done for years, Heather Gersten of Lite 105 served as master of ceremonies. She celebrated the return of an in-person and maskless competition. Channel 10’s Mario Hilario who has danced in the competition and usually opens the show with a performance with friends and professional dancers shared the role of MC interviewing dancers. He explained there wasn’t the time to select and choreograph an opening routine. Serving in the role of judges were Matt Raiche and his daughter Harper, Roxana Herzog and Jill Fain.

Eight celebrity dancers were paired with professional dancers from The Dancing Feeling who worked for hours to choreograph and perfect their routines. The results delivered polished performances that had the audience cheering and the judges with the task of selecting the best technically performed and most entertaining performances. A third category, “the People’s Choice” was determined by a dollar per vote with the money going to MentorRI.

Over its history Dancing with the Stars of Mentoring has raised more than $1 million for the program that pairs a volunteer one hour a week with a student who has been identified as benefiting from a mentor. Most mentors take time off from work to meet with their mentee at school.