From top, left, 2019’s Dancing With Our Stars Marquette County Style participants Alex and Liz Kofsky; Brian and Candi Kjellin; Luke and Daniele Miljour; Adrian and Lee Francisco. From bottom left, Kali Berry and Wayne Johnson; Erick and Breck Brooks; Shawn Beckman and Chris Owsley; and Jackie and Dave Martin. The identities of the dancers, as well as the Disney theme for the event, were revealed at a special event Tuesday night. The seventh annual Dancing With Our Stars Marquette County Style event will be held on May 22-23 at Northern Michigan University’s Forest Roberts Theatre. (Photo courtesy of Dancing With Our Stars Marquette County Style)

MARQUETTE — The theme and the participants for 2019’s Dancing With Our Stars Marquette County Style were unveiled at a special event Tuesday night.

“Tonight is kicking off the seventh annual Dancing With Our Stars Marquette County Style event, this year’s theme is the ‘Disney Edition,'” event coordinator Lindsay Hemmila said Tuesday. She anticipates it “may be the most popular season yet.”

The dancing competition is a fundraiser hosted by U.P. Home Health & Hospice in May to benefit the U.P. Hospice Foundation.

Tuesday’s event provided a way for the stars to get acquainted as they learned of the event’s theme and what dance style each couple would perform, Hemmila said, noting that it’s her “favorite night of the whole entire three months of the Dancing With Our Stars because there’s so much excitement.”

The star couples participating are: Kali Berry and Wayne Johnson, who will perform a tango with a “Pirates of the Caribbean” theme; Jackie and Dave Martin, who will perform a musical theater dance with a “Mary Poppins” theme; Liz and Alex Kofsky, who will perform a Congolese-style dance with a “Lion King” theme; Daniele and Luke Miljour, who will perform a lyrical-style dance with a “Mulan” theme; Candi and Brian Kjellin, who will perform a “Cinderella”-themed waltz; Adrian and Lee Francisco, who will perform a hip hop dance with a “Beauty and the Beast” theme; Breck and Erick Brooks, who will be tap dancing with a “Princess and the Frog” theme and Shawn Beckman and Chris Owsley, who will be performing a jazz dance with a “Monsters Inc.” theme.

David Aro, executive director of the U.P. Hospice Foundation, is grateful for all the volunteers and participants who raise funds through the event, he said, as it helps the foundation to provide hospice patients and families with a variety of supplies, services, equipment and respite that they might not otherwise have had.

Examples range from helping hospice patients have special experiences and reunions with loved ones to facilitating the day of their dreams through the “Make-A-Memory” program, along with massages, immersive virtual reality experiences, communication aides and more, Aro said.

But most importantly, Aro said, the event raises awareness of the fact that “hospice is there to help you live your life. It helps manage your symptoms and manage your pain and then that allows you to be able to do more.”

Hospice has touched the lives of several dancers, including star couple Liz and Alex Kofsky.

“It really just hits home for us — the importance of giving someone dignity at the end of their life and also trying to have some fun in having those lasting months with the rest of the family members,” Alex Kofsky said. “So something like hospice is truly meaningful to us. We’re nervous about dancing and getting out there, but we’re willing to have a little fun made of ourselves for a good cause.”

Kali Berry and Wayne Johnson were also “a little bit nervous” but excited to learn from the professionals while supporting a cause dear to their hearts, they said.

“Hospice is something we both care deeply about,” Berry said. “(Wayne is) an administrator for nursing homes in Marquette County, Norlite and Eastwood. It’s a family business so we talk a lot about the continuum of care and how important hospice is.”

The stars will begin practicing for the event soon, and online video updates of the couples’ progress will be provided regularly, organizers said.

The couples will be coached, instructed and choreographed by a group of dance professionals overseen by Dancing With Our Stars Director of Dance Jill Grundstrom. The dance professionals are Camilla Mingay, Katie Bertram, Alexandrea Riley, Maureen “Mo” Sullivan, Kristin Frak, Jenna Neaves, Kimber Schumann and Gracie Fries.

This year’s event will feature two nights of performances, with an opening night held May 22 at Northern Michigan University’s Forest Roberts Theatre.

Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the show will begin at 7 p.m. Attendees will have a chance to watch the judges give their initial thoughts on the performances, and then act as judges themselves by casting a vote for their favorite couple after the opening night show.

The event will continue May 23, with a Red Carpet Event to be held at NMU’s Hedgcock Building starting at 5 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar will be available there.

Starting at 7 p.m. May 23, the dancers will compete once again at the Forest Roberts Theatre and the winners will be announced. Votes from the previous evening, as well as judge’s scores and online votes, will be combined to reveal the winners.

A “Fan Favorite” award will be given to the couple that collects the most online votes now through May 23 at www.uphomehealth.org/DWOS as well as the votes cast at both shows. Organizers said attendees of the two shows will enjoy the same experience, with the exception of the awards and Red Carpet Event May 23.

Tickets for both performances will go on sale Monday. Interested parties can call 906-225-4545 for ticket pricing and to reserve and pay for tickets, which will be mailed. A maximum of four tickets is allowed per caller.

Organizers ask those who are interested in sponsoring the event to contact Lindsay Hemmila at 906-225-4545 or DWOS@uphomehealth.org for the sponsorship levels.

For more information on the U.P. Hospice Foundation, contact 906-225-4545.

Cecilia Brown can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248.