Stage set for Strictly Fundraiser
THE DANCE FLOOR at The Riverside Park Hotel is set to sparkle this Thursday night as the first night of Strictly Come Dancing - The Pub Edition gets underway in an explosion of colour. The first heats take place on Thursday night with a total of ten local pubs represented - The Riverside, Treacy’s Hotel, Dawson’s, Donohoe’s, Toss Kavanagh’s, Holohan’s, The Bailey, Bellefield GAA Complex and Rackard’s - and all money raised goes directly to Slaney Search & Rescue.
Organiser Alan O’Brien says that a huge amount of hard work has been put in by the couples taking part, in terms of fundraising and ensuring their routines are ready to rock. On Thursday night, the couple with the most money raised will go directly to the final on August 16, along with the six highest scorers. The bottom three will face a nerve-racking dance-off to book a place in the final. Each couple will perform two dances and those who make it through will be able to pick one of these, as well as performing a dance selected by the public, which they will have just a week to learn!
Alan promises a major production and has enlisted the help of local videographer James McCormack to record interviews and rehearsal footage, along with a short documentary on the beneficiaries Slaney Search & Rescue.
‘The couples have been working on this for the last seven weeks,’ Alan said. ‘They’ve been doing three hours a night, three nights a week and have also staged fundraisers in each of the pubs they’re representing. It’s been a huge effort and we’re hoping we’ll get a big crowd.’
After the dancing the party continues with music from The Backbeats this Thursday and KJO the following week. Tickets are priced at €10 for competition only, €8 for dance only, €15 for the full night and €25 for a family ticket. To purchase contact The Riverside Park Hotel or Alan on 0872617446.