Architect wins 2016 Dancing With The Stars - Fort Mill

Drawing inspiration from Michael Jackson, Phantom of the Opera and Star Wars, local Fort Mill celebrities and professional dancers teamed up to raise more than $45,000 for middle and high school athletics.

The fifth annual Dancing With The Stars – Fort Mill was held at The Pointe Arts and Recreation Center Saturday, drawing a crowd of more than 400 people, said event co-chair Lisa McCarley.

“It’s not just a show, it’s a social gala,” she said.

Dancing with the Stars is the Fort Mill School District Athletic Board’s biggest yearly fundraiser for local sports. Since the school board was able to once again include middle school athletics as a budgeted item this year, proceeds from Saturday’s event will be split 50-50 among middle school and high school programs, McCarley said.

“We appreciate all the support we get from the community,” she said. “All the people that step up to make this event what it is are amazingly talented.”

The night’s big winner was co-owner of Moseley Architects’ Dan Mace, who joined this year’s competition late after Tega Cay City Manager Charlie Funderburk had to withdraw due to injury.

Mace and his partner Gabriela Sevillano of Dance Center USA took home both the Dance Champion trophy, honoring the couple with the highest dance scores, and the Mirror Ball Trophy, which is given to the night’s overall winner for dance points, crowd appeal and fundraising success.

“I’m shocked,” Mace said. “It’s like a bucket list item. It’s for a great cause.”

Sevillano said she was just happy for her partner.

“I’m very proud of Dan; he did an amazing job,” she said. “He wanted it, he saw it and he succeeded in it.”

The duo was the only couple to receive a perfect score of 30 for the night for their freestyle performance set to the “Phantom of the Opera.” Other dances included a Michael Jackson “Thriller” piece featuring school board member Michele Branning and her partner Willie Frazier and a rock and roll dance by Chuck Boozer and Sevillano.

The night also featured the Springfield Middle School Dance Team in a Star Wars-themed performance and young guest dancers Lydia McCarter, 7, and Andre Ziskind, 8 and Lauren Cookman and Jason Long.

Wayne and Cynthia Vinson also took to the dance floor. The couple began dance as a hobby and fell in love with it, using it as a way to grow closer after an accident left Wayne blind, said Tommy Schmolze, the night’s master of ceremonies.

Judge Patti Mercer, former Mrs. South Carolina International and a previous contestant of Dancing with the Stars – Fort Mill, said it takes time and effort to have a successful performance.

“It’s a lot scarier dancing in front of your peers and community,” she said. “Every year, the dancers get better and better.”

For the first time, many members of the school board were able to attend Dancing with the Stars and support one of their own, McCarley said. In past events, most board members were at an annual conference.

“It’s nice to have them there this year,” she said.

Branning said she is glad to have been a part of supporting school sports.

“It’s been quite an experience,” she said. “I’m so glad I did it. Athletics are near and dear to me.”

This story was originally published February 15, 2016 at 3:04 PM with the headline "Architect wins 2016 Dancing With The Stars - Fort Mill."