Montgomery County’s Dancing with the Stars is returning for its 10th year to raise money for the Montgomery County Youth Service Bureau. The event is scheduled for May 31 at the Knowling Fieldhouse at Wabash College. Doors open at 5 p.m., and the event begins at 6 p.m. Tickets go on sale April 14.
On Saturday, the YSB announced the lineup at a kickoff breakfast. This year’s stars include Jessie Bradley, Bryan Biddle, Andra Storms, Andrew Traylor, Cody Hargis, Jessica McClamroch, Megan Ewoldt, Jeremy Lemus, Ryan VanScoyoc and Alli Coleman. They will be paired with pros Ashley Clute, Katie Wallace, Steve Frees, Kashawndra Cooper, Ashley Kight, Matt Allen, Skylar Stevenson, Kaylynn Keedy Ranspach, Heidi Gambrel and Georgia Taylor.
Bradley, a Purdue University student and the 2024 Miss Montgomery County for the 4-H Fair, spoke about her connection to the YSB.
“The YSB has had an impact on my life because when I was in elementary school, we had two foster family members, and they had a CASA, and she completely changed their lives and ours,” she said. “So I’m really just looking forward to giving back to the YSB.”
Biddle attributed wanting to reconnect with the community as his motivation.
“This is a great way to reconnect with more people in the community," he said. “And what a great cause to be raising money for.”
“I think I’ve reached the age where now giving back is part of my life,” Katie Wallace said. “And if I can give back and raise money for such good programs for kids by dancing, which is what I love to do, then it’s a win-win for everybody.”
This is Wallace’s fourth year participating in the event.
Steve Frees, who has participated in the event for 10 years, commented on his experience.
“We always have so much fun with this group every year,” he said. “It’s kind of like a reunion. We’re all family after a while, and it’s good to see each other. But giving money or working to get money for the Youth Service Bureau is the biggest thing that we work on.”
“I actually attended this years ago, and I vividly remember sitting at the table and telling my mom and dad that I was going to do this one day,” McClamroch said. “I think it’s really important to be an advocate and partner with YSB because of what they do. They are providing vital programs for the youth of Montgomery County.”
VanScoyoc highlighted the YSB’s role in the community.
“When I graduated from the Montgomery County Leadership Academy a few years ago, we got to really be involved in the YSB and learn a lot about it,” he said. “And our youth is our future, and it just kind of goes with our motto: love others, serve others.”
Coleman shared her motivation for joining the event.
“As a stage four cancer survivor and patient who was using a walker and a cane just to get around at this time last year, I consider it to be a great honor to be a part of Dancing with the Stars this year,” she said. “I hope that my performance will bring a lot of hope and good to our community.”
Dancing with the Stars raises funds for the YSB, which provides services such as CASA advocacy, mentorship programs, and youth counseling. Proceeds from the event will support these programs.
