Easterseals Marketing Director dances way to third place in charity contest

WHEELING — After two months of weekly rehearsals, Easterseals Marketing Director Betsy Bethel-McFarland and her pro partner danced their way into the second runner-up spot at the 14th annual Dancing with the Ohio Valley Stars to benefit Augusta Levy Behavioral Services at the Capitol Theatre on Saturday, Nov. 1.

Betsy, who had never attempted ballroom dancing before September, learned the cha-cha and quickstep from partner Mike Kittle of New Martinsville, a freelance professional who learned his moves at Fairmont State University, competed nationally, and taught ballroom dancing at the Lewis Wetzel Center. 

The pair rehearsed in space donated by the YWCA Wheeling for two hours every Thursday for eight weeks. They added a couple Sunday sessions in the weeks before the show to perfect their moves.

A panel of three judges (locals Walker Holloway and Dottie Hanson, and Jill Ruff of Marietta Dance Academy) deemed their two-minute dance to "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" by The Proclaimers third place in the annual contest that models itself after the popular TV show and serves as Augusta Levy's largest fundraiser. 

Eleven couples performed individual routines on Nov. 1, some backed by dancers from local studios. The pro dancers hailed from Studio MC, Dynamic Dance Force, Take a Bow and Rysing Star, along with the Lady Miners Dance Team. 

Betsy and Mike's routine kicked off with a 15-second performance by six members of the Macdonald Pipe Band of Pittsburgh, including Betsy, who is the band's director. Mike wore a kilt for their routine, which included classic dance moves executed in ballroom style (i.e., with the couple dancing together face to face). A notable exception was Betsy's surprise cartwheel midway through the performance.

Taking home the mirror ball trophy were star Tino Kayafas of Emmanuel Insurance and pro Lydia Boyd from Studio MC, who performed a red-hot jive to "Perm" by Bruno Mars. First runner-up were star Dr. Daniel Shats and pro Tiffany Scott, also of Studio MC, who performed a jive to "Johnny B. Goode" by Chuck Berry.

Additional awards were presented to star Zach Heslop and pro Alex Mitchell for best costume; star Brent Clyburn and pro Cassidy Sansone for most entertaining, and star Lea Ridenhour and pro Caleb Cooper for best choreography. Lea Ridenhour won the People's Choice Award for most money raised for Augusta Levy.

A video of the show is available on YouTube recorded by John Marshall High School students with WJMH Media. 

An amateur video of Betsy and Mike's dance can be viewed at this link.

"Dancing in this event was an honor and turned out to be extremely challenging and equally as fun," Betsy said. "It was exciting to have my Easterseals coworkers cheering me on, along with my family and friends. I'm grateful to have had this opportunity to learn something new and help a great cause! I'm super grateful to my partner, Mike, for putting up with my shenanigans and being so patient and accommodating!"