Winner Brock Leah Spears with Amanda Barazza.
Britton Spitler as Brock Leah Spears (Project Manager, ADM) and Dance Pro Amanda Barraza Crowned New Dancing for the Stars Champs
Litsa Spanos honored as Fundraising Champion
[CINCINNATI, OH] – Britton Spitler as Brock Leah Spears (Project Manager – ADM) and dance pro Amanda Barraza (Independent Dance Instructor) received a nearly perfect score of 29, taking first place at the Cincinnati Arts Association’s fifteenth annual Dancing for the Stars on Saturday, April 22, 2023 at the Music Hall Ballroom. Litsa Spanos (President – ADC Art Design Consultants, Inc.) took home the Fundraising Champion Award, as the celebrity who raised the most money for the event through ticket sales and donations – nearly $12,000.
Morgan Owens (Entrepreneur, Author, Consultant, Speaker, and Brand Ambassador) and Josh Tilford (Independent Dance Instructor) took second place, and Fundraising Champ Litsa Spanos and Andrea Stefano (Independent Dance Instructor) placed third.
As CAA’s largest annual fundraiser, the popular annual event raised more than $70,000 in support of the organization’s acclaimed arts education programs, including the Overture Awards – the nation’s largest locally run high school arts scholarship competition.
The remaining five dance pairs included:
- David Kapor (Founder & Managing Partner – Kapor, Davis & Associates, LLC) and Bonita Brockert (Independent Dance Instructor)
- Frank Marzullo (Meteorologist – FOX19 NOW) and Alaine Glick (Independent Dance Instructor)
- Diana Nguyen (Owner – Deluxe Nail Salon & Spa) and Jeremy Mainous (Arthur Murray Dance Studio – Montgomery)
- Tom Parker (Director of External Communications – Lindner Center of Hope) and Melissa Vaughn (Arthur Murray Dance Studio – Montgomery)
- Erin Rolfes (Director of Communication & Media Relations – The Kroger Co.) and Rostislav Toporski (Independent Dance Instructor)
Inspired by the hit TV show Dancing with the Stars, Dancing for the Stars 2023 featured eight Cincinnati celebrities paired with some of the area’s finest professional dancers in a competition program at which the audience vote and judges scores propelled the winners to victory. The competitive dance for the evening was Disco/Hustle, and each dance pair had 90 seconds to woo the crowd and the judges.
Event emcees were Chris O’Brien & Janeen Coyle (“Married With Microphones,” 103.5 WGRR-FM). The competition judges were Douglas Beal (Independent Dance Instructor), Jon Lawhead (Dancing for the Stars 2022 alum), and Amanda Orlando (WARM 98.5 Morning Show host).
In addition, Dancing for the Stars 2023 featured:
- Wine tasting (compliments of Heidelberg Distributing) during a meet-and-greet reception with the stars and the pros before the competition
- Dinner-by-the-Bite provided by A Catered Affair, Metropolitan Club, Moerlein Lager House, Prime Cincinnati, Primo Italian Steakhouse, Skyline Chili, Street City Pub, That’s So Sweet, Vonderhaar’s Catering
- Dance music by popular DJ and 103.5 WGRR personality JD Hughes
- Open dancing before and after the competition
- Entertaining and amazing exhibition dances by the Dancing for the Stars talented pros.
- An inspiring video about the Overture Awards, featuring interviews with the six student winners of the 2023 Overture Awards finals competition.
- Two big screens that featured live video of the competition and engaging video introductions of the stars and pros (interviews and rehearsal footage) before their dances.
- Humorous, astute, and supportive comments from the Dancing for the Stars panel of judges.
- Exceptionally responsive, raucous, and energetic audience reactions, which included large cheering sections holding signs with various messages in support of their favorite Stars.
- Lots of flashy, retro, Disco outfits and big hair worn by the dance celebs and pros.
Dance Pair Song Selections
- Britton Spitler as Brock Leah Spears / Amanda Barraza: “Last Dance” by Donna Summer
- Morgan Owens / Josh Tilford: “Bad Girls” by Donna Summer
- Litsa Spanos / Andrea Stefano: “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees and N-Trance
- David Kapor / Bonita Brockert: “Living With a Hernia” by “Weird Al” Yankovic
- Frank Marzullo / Alaine Glick: “Car Wash” by Rose Royce
- Diana Nguyen / Jeremy Mainous: “Barbie Girl” by Aqua
- Tom Parker / Melissa Vaughn: “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond
- Erin Rolfes / Rostislav Toporski: “Le Freak” by Chic
Presenting Sponsor: TriHealth
Event Sponsors: Arthur Murray – Montgomery, Amanda Barraza, Bonita Brockert, Alaine Glick, Harlan Graphics, Punky’s Pixels, Andrea Stefano, Josh Tilford, Rostislav Toporski
Libations Sponsors: Heidelberg Distributing, Ohio Valley Wine & Beer, Pepsi
Event Committee: Doreen Beatrice, Michael Betz, Amal Daoud, Terry Foster, Ginger Loftin, Rosemary Schlachter, Phil Schworer, and Dr. Tracey Skale
CINCINNATI ARTS ASSOCIATION’S EDUCATION & COMMUNITY ENGAGMENT PROGRAMS
CAA’s Education & Community Engagement Department cultivates diverse, inclusive, and accessible arts engagements, seeking to remove barriers preventing arts participation. Committed to a practice of antiracism, the Education and Community Engagement Department encourages the use of CAA venues, develops diverse arts supporters, and fosters an appreciation and understanding of diverse arts disciplines, while encouraging and supporting practicing arts educators and administrators, audiences, and aspiring artists.
SchoolTime presents a series of programs that feature nationally recognized artists at the Aronoff Center and Music Hall. The Artists on Tour program brings a variety of arts experiences directly to schools, community centers, and other organizations. The finest local teaching artists in the region enhance learning with unique programs that vary in culture and art form.
The Arts in Healing Initiative integrates the performing and visual arts in medical and community healthcare settings and other non-traditional settings to promote community wellness and encourage the community to explore the arts as an active part of their healing and ongoing wellness.
The Overture Awards is a program that recognizes and rewards excellence in the arts among Greater Cincinnati students in grades 9-12. Its mission is to encourage arts education as an integral part of a student’s academic experience and to create an environment that encourages training in, and appreciation of, the arts. The Overture Awards is the area’s largest solo arts competition and offers awards in six artistic disciplines: creative writing, dance, instrumental music, theatre, visual art, and vocal music.
Now in its 27th year, the Overture Awards has granted over nearly $1,000,000 to youth and schools in the Tri-state region. The Overture Awards was launched in 1996 by the Cinergy Foundation and Leadership Cincinnati (a Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce program).
CINCINNATI ARTS ASSOCIATION
Founded in 1992, the Cincinnati Arts Association (CAA) is a not-for-profit organization that oversees the programming and management of the Tri-state’s finest performing arts venues – the Aronoff Center for the Arts and Music Hall – and is dedicated to supporting performing and visual arts. Each year, CAA presents a diverse schedule of events; serves upwards of 700,000 people in its venues; features the work of talented local, regional, and national artists in the Weston Art Gallery (located in the Aronoff Center); and supports the work of more than one dozen resident companies.
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Behind the Curtain Cincinnati 
I was thrilled to come across your article announcing the winners of Dancing for the Stars 2023. It’s evident from your coverage that the event was a tremendous success, and I wanted to extend my congratulations to all the winners and participants for their remarkable performances.
Dancing for the Stars has always been an exciting and highly anticipated event, and the 2023 edition was no exception. Your article effectively captured the energy and enthusiasm that surrounded the competition, allowing readers like myself to share in the joy and excitement of the evening.
I applaud the talent and dedication displayed by the winners of Dancing for the Stars 2023. Their exceptional performances must have dazzled the judges and captivated the audience. It’s a testament to their hard work, commitment, and the guidance of their dance partners and choreographers.
I also want to express my admiration for all the participants who took the stage during the event. Dancing for the Stars provides a unique opportunity for individuals from various backgrounds to showcase their dancing skills while raising funds for a worthy cause. Their passion, courage, and willingness to step outside their comfort zones deserve recognition and appreciation.
Beyond the captivating performances, Dancing for the Stars serves a noble purpose by supporting charitable organizations. It’s heartwarming to see the dance community coming together to make a positive impact on the lives of others. I commend your efforts in organizing and promoting an event that combines artistry and philanthropy.
Lastly, I would like to express my gratitude to Behind the Curtain Cincy for keeping the community informed about the exciting world of dance. Your dedication to sharing news, events, and highlights from the local dance scene contributes to the appreciation and recognition of the incredible talent within the region.
Thank you for your coverage of Dancing for the Stars 2023 and for keeping us engaged with the dance community. I look forward to reading more of your articles and learning about upcoming dance events in the future.
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