Participants in this year’s Dancing for the Arts fundraiser rehearsing ahead of the Nov. 7 competition at the Davis Theatre in downtown Concord. Photo courtesy of the Cabarrus Arts Council.

The spotlight will shine on some familiar faces in Cabarrus County next weekend as local celebrities trade their everyday routines for dance shoes, competing for bragging rights while helping raise $100,000 to support the arts.

The Cabarrus Arts Council will host its 2026 Dancing for the Arts fundraiser on Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Davis Theatre in downtown Concord, bringing together local personalities and professional dancers for an evening of entertainment, friendly competition and community support.

With less than a week until showtime, the contestants have already raised more than $24,000 toward the event’s fundraising goal.

Inspired by the popular television competition Dancing with the Stars, the event pairs local celebrities with experienced dancers who spend weeks rehearsing and perfecting their routines before performing in front of a live audience.

But unlike the television show, where contestants compete primarily for judges’ scores and audience votes, Dancing for the Arts places fundraising at the heart of the competition.

Participants compete for the event’s Grand Prize, which is awarded to the contestant or team that raises the most money to support the arts in Cabarrus County.

The event is designed to celebrate the performing arts while generating financial support for the Cabarrus Arts Council and its efforts to promote arts and cultural opportunities throughout the community.

Fundraising competition underway

With less than a week remaining before the event, participants have already raised $24,822 toward the Cabarrus Arts Council’s $100,000 fundraising goal, according to figures posted on the organization’s fundraising website as of Monday morning.

That represents approximately 25% of the overall goal. Each of the 10 competing acts has an individual fundraising target of $7,500, with supporters able to contribute directly to their favorite contestants through individual fundraising pages.

The fundraising target follows a successful 10th anniversary celebration in 2025, when Dancing for the Arts attracted a sold-out crowd to the Davis Theatre and raised $77,042 to support the arts throughout Cabarrus County.

Participants in last year’s event raised more than $77,000. Photo courtesy of the Cabarrus Arts Council.

Leading this year’s fundraising competition is the father-daughter duo of Andy and Emmi Wheeler, who have already raised $8,637. They are partnered with professional dancer Mariah Brewer.

Supporters can contribute to any of the competing acts through individual fundraising pages, with all donations helping the Cabarrus Arts Council advance its mission of supporting the arts throughout the community.

Meet the 2026 dancers

This year’s competition features 10 local acts representing a diverse cross-section of the Cabarrus County community, including business owners, medical professionals, nonprofit leaders and community advocates.

The 2026 lineup includes:

Amanda Reed, an attorney and partner at Reed & Thompson, PLLC, where she specializes in estate planning and real estate closings. Reed, whose previous dance experience consisted of a brief stint taking tap lessons at age 6, is partnered with professional dancer Jenny Grice.
Amir Myles, an entrepreneur who operates a youth athletic development company and leads a nonprofit serving middle and high school students. An active community supporter, Myles admits that while he enjoys dancing, rhythm is not necessarily his strong suit. He is partnered with Skyla Caldwell.
Amos McClorey, a retired union president with Philip Morris USA and former CEO of Logan Daycare who remains active in community service. He serves on the North Carolina NAACP State Executive Board and is an elder at First Christian Church. Despite having no previous dance experience, McClorey is taking on the challenge alongside Zaria Franklin.
Andy and Emmi Wheeler, a father-daughter duo bringing different levels of dance experience to the competition. Andy is an owner-operator at TechMedIQ and serves on the Cannon School board, while 13-year-old Emmi, an eighth-grader at Cannon School, has nearly 12 years of dance experience. They are partnered with Mariah Brewer.
Betsy Cunningham, vice president of strategic engagement at BG Staffing and an active community volunteer who serves with Cabarrus Rotary, Meals on Wheels and a planning and zoning commission. Cunningham admits she has no formal dance experience but claims to have mastered the shopping cart and pencil sharpener dance moves. She is partnered with Zaria Hamilton.
David Hobson, a cardiac surgeon with Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute who performs much of his work at Atrium Health Cabarrus. A downtown Concord resident and father of twin boys, Hobson is stepping outside his comfort zone for the fundraiser. He is partnered with Michelle Trombley.
John and Kym Selden, a husband-and-wife team with careers in dentistry and pediatrics. John owns Inspired Dentistry of Charlotte, while Kym is a pediatrician and medical director at Novant Health Pediatrics Concord. Kym previously served as co-captain of Duke University’s Dancing Devils, while John has no formal dance experience. They are partnered with Glenna Wilson.
Joslyn Blackburn, founder and CEO of Gold Key Real Estate Group, affiliated with Keller Williams Realty Unlimited. A longtime Cabarrus County resident and community advocate, Blackburn is also a former professional gospel singer. She is partnered with Justin Mann.
Krushani Patel, a local entrepreneur who owns Kiddie Academy of Harrisburg and Red Chillez Indian Restaurant and is developing Union Sky, a rooftop restaurant in downtown Concord. She is also involved with Healthy Cabarrus, the Cabarrus County Early Childhood Task Force and Historic Cabarrus. Patel is partnered with Lucinda Stewart.
Robin Dicka, director of nursing and branch manager for Adoration Home Health’s Charlotte office. A longtime community volunteer, Dicka serves as vice president of Residents of Historic Concord. Her formal dance experience consists of one year of ballet lessons as a child. She is partnered with Chris Firth.

While some contestants bring years of dance experience to the competition, others will be performing choreographed routines for the first time, adding an element of unpredictability to the evening.

The event also benefits from the participation of four dance studio partners: Dance Dreams, Legacy Dance Company, Monroe City Dance Academy and Dance Expressions.

An evening of dancing and celebration

Dancing for the Arts is more than a traditional stage performance, with organizers planning an evening of food, entertainment and dancing that will continue until midnight.

Festivities will begin at 5 p.m. with a gala reception and cocktail buffet at the Cabarrus Center, located at 57 Union St. S. in downtown Concord.

The reception will continue until 6:30 p.m., giving guests an opportunity to socialize before the main competition.

At 7 p.m., attention will shift next door to the Davis Theatre, located at 65 Union St. S., where the Dancing for the Arts showcase will take place.

The two-hour performance will feature the participating acts as they demonstrate their newly acquired dance skills before the audience.

Following the competition, guests will return to the Cabarrus Center for a Dancing Under the Stars after-party, scheduled from 9:30 p.m. until midnight.

The celebration will give audience members and performers an opportunity to share the dance floor and conclude the evening together.

Tickets and new VIP experience

Tickets for the Nov. 7 fundraiser are $160 per person.

This year’s event also introduces a new VIP experience, available as a $40 add-on to the regular ticket price.

The upgrade includes a specialty beverage served in a commemorative keepsake cup created specifically for the event, exclusive access to a VIP lounge and a gift bag containing items to help guests cheer on their favorite performers.

Nonalcoholic beverage options will also be available.

Unlike traditional VIP seating packages, the upgrade is not tied to a particular seat or section of the Davis Theatre, allowing guests to enjoy the additional amenities regardless of where they sit during the performance.

The VIP experience must be purchased separately from the event ticket.

The Cabarrus Arts Council also offers accessible seating and accommodations for guests with disabilities. Those requiring assistance can contact the organization at 704-920-2787 or info@cabarrusartscouncil.org. Advance notice may be necessary for certain accommodations.

With 10 acts preparing to compete, the Nov. 7 fundraiser promises an evening that combines the excitement of live performance with an opportunity for the community to support the arts.

And while the performers will be competing for the Grand Prize, the event’s broader purpose remains raising money to strengthen arts and cultural opportunities throughout Cabarrus County.

For additional information about Dancing for the Arts, ticket availability and opportunities to support individual contestants, visit the Cabarrus Arts Council website.

The Cabarrus Compass

Local personalities to take the stage Nov. 7…