Community Corner

Stornetta, O'Malley Take First Place in Sonoma's "Dancing With Our Stars"

Newly re-styled event raises $15,000 for Sonoma Community Center.

North Bay Realtor Mark Stornetta and his professional dance partner Elaina O'Malley won first place Saturday in the newly revamped "Dancing With Our Stars" at the Sonoma Veterans' Building

Stornetta, of Alain Pinel Real Estate, and O'Malley, who teaches at Parkpoint Health Club and Fairmount Sonoma Mission Inn, topped a field of seven dance pairs (including one triple) with a steamy salsa number. Their win was based on votes -- at $5 each -- cast by members of the public, both at the event Saturday and in advance online.

"I voted for her," said O'Malley's son Aaron Stanfield. "It was an honest vote; I just thought she's the best."

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A near-capacity crowd of about 250 in the 300-seat auditorium cheered for the dancers and whooped at the judges' quips during the event produced this year for the first time as a fundraiser for the Sonoma Community Center.

"It came out much better than expected," said Community Center Events Manager Tom Montan, referring to the $15,000 raised through ticket sales and votes and the healthy attendance. "This is the first time that the Community Center did it, and it's going to be a big fundraiser for us."

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Judges Steve Page, president of Sonoma Raceway, Suzanne Brangham, a high-profile Sonoma developer, and Suzy Fridell of GlenLyon Winery delivered crowd-pleasing one-liners and reviews on each dance.

Their opinions did not count in the final standings --  they gave each performance a score of "10" -- but that did not stop them from elaborating boldly.

"I looked up 'vivacious' in the dictionary and your name was listed first," Page told pro dancer and Sonoma graphic designer Ginnie Nichols, who performed a cha-cha with "star" partner Bill Hammett. "Well done."

Coming in second were Sonoma real estate lender Gayle Arrowood and her pro partner Dennis Goss, who teaches dance at Napa Valley College and other Sonoma and Napa county locations. They did a West Coast Swing number.

In third place were "Out in The Vineyard" Wine Country tour company owner Gary Saperstein and his professional partner Gabrielle Von Stephens, a clinical esthetician who operates Skin Concepts salon at Sonoma Valley Acupuncture and Herb Center in Sonoma. They performed a foxtrot.

"I voted for Gary Saperstein," said first-time attendee Shelly Eichner. "I thought they were very smooth."

Four runners-up were also named:

--Cotati resident Vera Harvey, a pro dancer who co-produced the highly successful "Dancing With the Stars at the Raven" in Healdsburg and her "star" partner Gary Edwards, past president of the Sonoma Valley Rotary. They did a medley of dances including East Coast Swing, foxtrot and polka.

--Christy Coulston, vice president and premier client services officer with and Carole Yox, a retired school teacher from schools in Marin County and Vallejo, and their professional partner Teresa Hernando, hospitality director at Cline Cellar and Jacuzzi Family Vineyards. They did a tap number.

--Nichols and Hammett, a past president of the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation and of Sonoma Valley Rotary and a consulting engineer. Nichols, a liver cancer survivor, missed participating in the dance event last year due to her illness, but exhibited her remarkable recovery in her performance Saturday.

"I think the jazzercise and the dancing helped in her healing," said her mother Janet Rosevear. "We're just so thankful that she's better."

Fridell told Nichols: "We're so glad you're back dancing."

--Sonoma Theater Alliance Executive Director Jaime Love and her pro partner Dave Williams, who teaches salsa at Sonoma Valley Adult School and Vallejo Community Center. They performed a salsa number.

Emcees for the event were Fridell's husband Squire Fridell, also of GlenLyon Winery, and Jean Arnold-Sessions.

Montan said he consulted with Harvey to follow the successful Healdsburg model in transforming Dancing With Our Stars.

"The event used to be a sit-down dinner," Montan said. "We reduced the ticket prices to make it more accessible and added more of a dance show."

Montan was put in charge when the Sonoma Community Center took over the event from the Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation. He said the money will help pay for recent renovations to the main theater at the community center and for programming.

Dancing With Our Stars was videotaped by SunTV technician Richard Burnham. He said people may check the website, www.SunFMTV.com, to see if the show will be airing later this year, or to see if DVDs will be made available for purchase.

Saperstein, a leader in the Sonoma LGBT community, said he had never before done ballroom partner dancing and that it was very difficult for him at first. He said he trained for nine months, meeting with Von Stephens once per week.

"I almost quit in the first month," he said. "I said, 'I can't do this thing -- no way.'

"Then all of a sudden, it clicked in," he added. "When you get to that point and learn a dance, it's very fun and rewarding."

For more details about the contestants click here.


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