Dance-competition reality TV shows are quite the global phenomenon these days, with shows like Strictly Come Dancing in Britain and Dancing with the Stars in the US drawing tens of millions of viewers, some of whom develop attachments to particular competitors as passionate as soccer fans do to their favorite teams. If you haven’t caught the bug yet, maybe it’s time you found a local dancefloor hero to cheer on. How about, say, the Ulster County executive?
That’s right: Mike Hein will be strutting his stuff, along with his wife Christine, at Saugerties’ Diamond Mills Hotel this Friday, April 13, competing for the “Dancing with the Stars Ulster-Style” crown. The Heins’ challengers will include Bill and Patti Calderara, Drs. Jim Corsones and Gina Carena, Nadine Ferraro and Tim Hurley, Crystal Jacob and B. A. Feeney III, Lauren Sheeley and Peter Frank and Egidio and Elisa Tinti.The head judge this year will be Linda Freeman of Got2Lindy Dance Studios. Also on the judging panel will be Kristen Backhaus, Shannon Harris, Greg Helsmoortel, Terri Hlavaty, Alan Roberts and Michael Spoto.
Dancing with the Stars Ulster-Style is a benefit for the United Way of Ulster County. Ticket prices are $60 for adult general admission, $75 for VIP seating, $30 youth aged 12 to 18, $10 for children under age 12. There will be a deejay keeping everyone on the dance floor between performances; hors d’oeuvres will be served, and there will be a cash bar. The event runs from 7 to 10 p.m.
For more info and tickets, call (845) 331-4199 or visit www.ulsterunitedway.org. The Diamond Mills Hotel is located at 25 South Partition Street in Saugerties.
Join the family! 
