Countdown to the Event
Don't miss out on this DAZZLING evening of community & DANCE, as Waco Stars & their Pro Partners bring the Best of Sitcoms to the stage in support of the Family Abuse Center on October 3rd. Family Abuse Center was founded in Waco, Texas in 1980 and now serves victims of domestic violence in six counties across Central Texas.
It will be an evening of entertainment as local celebrities perform in a dance competition to raise money and awareness for Family Abuse Center's mission. Some of Waco's biggest "STARS" have been teamed with professional dancers "PROS" and have begun training and preparing for an unforgettable show in October. These dancers rely on the community's support for a successful performance and a chance to win the competition on the big night. Your support also helps the staff and volunteers at Family Abuse Center to provide safety, education, and support for survivors of domestic violence.
All ticket purchases will be counted as votes ($1 = 1 vote) if designated towards a Waco Star & Pro at checkout. Purchase event tickets here
Votes may be purchased without tickets here.
General donations (i.e. not designated for a Waco Star & Pro) may be made to Family Abuse Center here.
For sponsorship inquiries, please email our Development Department at Development@familyabusecenter.org.
Meet Our Cast
Star Dena Williams
Dena Johnson Williams is a proud Waco native who was blessed to spend more than 20 years as a stay-at-home mom, raising her four boys - Austin, Beau, Colby and Drake. In 2020, she earned her real estate license, beginning a new chapter of serving her community. Today, Dena is building a thriving business as Waco's favorite line dance instructor through Line Dance with Dena. She has enjoyed sharing her love of line dance through private lessons, corporate team-building events, parties, community gatherings, The Will of Waco, and a variety of special occasions. Eighteen months ago, Dena walked into Arthur Murray Dance Studio and discovered a whole new world of dance. Although she had never tried ballroom dancing before, the experience reignited her passion for dance and quickly became an obsession. Whether she's helping people learn their first line dance, or pursuing her own ballroom dance journey, Dena is passionate about creating fun, confidence, and community on and off the dance floor.
Pro Gregory Ivanova
Gregory Ivanova is a professional ballroom instructor at Arthur Murray Dance Studios of Waco. His dancing began after going to college, finding dancing a very addictive thing to do as a hobby. He now loves teaching because he meets new people and sees how it can evolve into not just a hobby but a passion and can bring joy into anyone's life. In his free time, he enjoys working on old cars, finding ways to be healthier, and doing anything outside.
Star Dr. Lacy Kessler
Dr. Lacy Kessler was born and raised in Waco, where she began dancing as a child with the Jody Grant Dance Company. She attended Baylor University, then UT Houston for medical school and Texas Tech Health Science Center for residency, before returning home to serve the women of Central Texas. Her OB/GYN practice has since expanded to include an aesthetics and wellness clinic and a fertility clinic. Lacy and her husband, Jimmy, who teaches at McLennan Community College, are raising two daughters, ages 11 and 15. An active member of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, she loves spending free time outdoors with her family. It’s been years since she’s worn dancing shoes, but she’s thrilled to get back on stage for the Family Abuse Center’s mission of providing safety, hope, and healing to survivors and their families.
Pro Drake O'Malley
Drake O'Malley is a professional ballroom dance instructor at Arthur Murray Waco and has a background in live sound engineering. Some of the things he enjoys doing outside of work are golfing, listening to music, and playing the guitar.
Star Cecy Holubec
Cecy Holubec is the owner of Photography by Cecy, a portrait studio serving families in Waco, established in 2010, she specializes in newborn, maternity, family, grads, headshots and any milestone photography. She considers it an honor to be trusted with so many of life's most meaningful moments. Outside of photography, Cecy is a wife, a proud mom of two boys, and caregiver to her mother. She enjoys traveling, cooking, painting, spending time with her family, and caring for her many animals. Whether she's serving her clients or volunteering with local organizations, she believes in using her time and talents to give back to the community that has supported her throughout the years. Cecy is honored to be participating in this year's Dancing with the Waco Stars to help raise funds and awareness for the Family Abuse Center. She is proud to support the organization's mission of providing safety, hope, and healing to survivors of domestic violence and their families, and is grateful for the opportunity to be part of an event that brings the community together to make a lasting difference.
Pro Patricio Rodriguez
Patricio Rodriguez is a Waco native who began dancing at the age of eight. He has performed at Disney World, on cruise ships, and danced with a national collegiate dance team at the University of Stephen F. Austin. Through his years of experience, his skills have helped him to develop confidence in himself to give others the fundamentals of learning, performing, and excelling in dance. His passion for dance is displayed through his classes. When you leave you will walk out wanting to come back.
Star IV Williams
Bio Coming Soon
Pro Summer Castel
Summer Castel is a professional ballroom dancer and instructor at Arthur Murray Studio of Waco. She has an extensive background in performing arts and loves all things creative and artistic. She believes dancing is one of the greatest and healthiest forms of emotional expression. It is an honor for her to work with the Family Abuse Center and use her experience to bring awareness to this incredible cause.
Star Paige DuPuy
Paige DuPuy is a born-and-raised Wacoan. She grew up taking dance classes at Joy’s School of Dance, but stopped dancing once she graduated from Waco High School and moved to Boston for college. After receiving her degree from Boston University, Paige worked at the US Army Corps of Engineers Research & Development Center as an environmental research scientist and began taking dance classes for fun in her free time. She has since moved back to Waco to work at her family's business, DuPuy Oxygen, and she takes the adult dance classes offered at JSOD. Paige is happy to be back home and involved in her community again, and she is honored to have such an exciting and unique opportunity to support the Waco Family Abuse Center.
Pro Bryan Tate
Bryan is a professional Ballroom Dancer with Arthur Murray Dance Studios. Originally based out of Arthur Murray Fort Worth, he is now the franchisee of Arthur Murray Dance Studio of Waco with his wife, Stephanie. He is also the proud father of Faye (4), and Finn (1).
Star Meredith Croyle
Meredith Croyle is a Waco native and Realtor with The 254 Realty Group at Camille Johnson, Realtors. She is passionate about making home buying and selling as stress-free as possible for her clients, and works with investors building out portfolio properties across Central Texas. Outside real estate, Meredith is an energy-sector compliance consultant who advises power plants in Texas and California on federal reliability standards that keep the Western grid running safely. She is a proud mom of two and a lifelong member of the Waco community. Meredith said yes to Dancing with the Waco Stars to stand behind the Family Abuse Center's mission of sheltering survivors and rebuilding families — a cause she is honored to support.
Pro TJ Rayder
TJ loves working with his students at the Arthur Murray Waco Studio and his favorite part of the job is helping people connect with each other and music through dance.
Star Dr. Sheryl Victorian
Dr. Sheryl D. Victorian is the Chief of Police for the Waco Police Department and a 33-year public safety professional. Known for her Relational Policing philosophy, she leads with connection, purpose, and authenticity. Whether in the community or on the stage, she brings energy, heart, and a commitment to making a difference. She will be trading her badge for dancing shoes, bringing Chief-LY style to the ballroom in support of a great cause.
Pro Chris Spendlove
Since the age of 15, Chris has been acting, singing, and dancing. He's very involved with Waco Civic Theatre where he's been seen as Phil in White Christmas, Curly in Oklahoma and Captain Von Trapp in the Sound of Music. Chris is an attorney for McLennan County.
Star Donny Stanley
Donald Stanley is a businessman who owns several businesses. Locally he owns Phils Trailer Sales, Lounge 93 and Stanley Trailers. After experiencing both life’s greatest joys and its deepest challenges, Donny has developed a deep appreciation for the importance of family, resilience and community support. There is a deep personal reason for taking on this challenge. Before his late wife, Kelda, lost her battle with cancer, she encouraged him to step outside his comfort zone more often, embrace new experiences and fully live the life they had built together. Taking the dance floor is his way of honoring that wish. Donny is honored to use this opportunity to help raise awareness and financial support for an organization that provides safety, hope and resources to individuals and families affected by abuse.
Pro Kara Quinn
Kara Quinn is an instructor at Arthur Murray Dance Studios of Waco. When asked her favorite dance style, Kara says it's always "whatever she danced most recently," so that can change at any minute - but she favors rhythm and Latin dances.
Star Oli Pettigrew
A feature on international and national television screens for 17 years, there are few countries on Earth where you haven’t been able to catch Oli on the small screen. A relatively new Texas transplant, Oli has most recently been gaining attention for his musings and observations on all things Texan as @ThatEnglishmanInTexas across the interwebs, racking up hundreds of millions of views with his wry take on America’s most unique state.
Pro Stephanie Tate
Stephanie is a professional Ballroom Dancer with Arthur Murray Dance Studios. Originally based out of Arthur Murray Fort Worth, she is now the Franchisee of Arthur Murray Dance Studio of Waco with her husband, Bryan.
Star Jonathan Green
Jonathan Green is a CPA and owner of J.A. Green Accounting, where he works alongside his wife Allison, serving small businesses and nonprofits across Central Texas. A proud product of Waco, Jonathan is a Midway grad and Baylor alumnus who has deep roots in the community he calls home. He is a graduate of Leadership Waco Class XXXVI and stays actively involved around town through service on various boards, including Midway Little League, the Greater Waco Sports Commission, and as a Trustee on the Midway ISD school board. When he's not serving his community, Jonathan spends his free time in the stands and on the sidelines watching or coaching his kids in all manner of sports. He is excited to step onto the dance floor this October to support the Family Abuse Center and the families they serve.
Pro Hannah Requa
Pro Hannah Requa is a freelance dancer who has created, taught and performed all over the U.S. She directs {254}DANCEFEST, which brings professional contemporary dance companies to Waco to perform and also teach local dance students. She's been an adjunct faculty member at Baylor University and spent the last 10 years performing professionally for companies like Bruce Wood Dance in Dallas and Corpus Christi Ballet where she was a principal soloist. She currently dances for Ventana Ballet in Austin.
Star Dr. Michael Long
Michael Long was born in Waco, completed school in Ross, TX, and graduated from West High School. After completing a BA at Baylor University, Michael spent a few semesters studying abroad in Helsinki, St. Petersburg (Leningrad), Prague, and Berlin. Michael has been teaching Russian at Baylor for 38 years. He enjoys learning new languages, writing for the stage and screen, performing comedy Improv, reading detective fiction, cooking, and playing ukulele. With no dance experience, Michael is ready to put everything into creating a great show for a great cause!
Pro Meredith Sutton
Meredith Sutton is the dance teacher and choreographer for Baylor's Department of Theatre Arts. She teaches ballet, tap, and jazz, choreographs department musicals, mentors student choreographers, and serves as an advisor to the Baylor Dance Company.
Star Silas Nacita
Silas Nacita is the founder/CEO of Seen and Loved Studios, a Waco-based media company specializing in highlighting brands through authentic storytelling. He is also the Executive Director of God’s Stories, a 501c3, dedicated to showing the world that God is still alive and working. After retiring from professional football, Silas found his next athletic passion playing pickleball with a bunch of retirees at Waco Regional where he now holds the title of advanced pickleball instructor. Most importantly, he is a husband and first time father to the cutest little baby in the world.
Pro Nadya Rafferty
Nadya Rafferty is a Russian-born professional dancer who performed internationally as a contract dancer in Greece, Italy, Egypt, Tunisia, and Mexico. She is now the owner of Power Pilates of Waco, where she shares her passion for movement and fitness while helping clients and young dancers build strength, confidence, and body awareness.
Star Dr. Brandon Le
Dr. Brandon Le is a general dentist at Waco Family Medicine. Born and raised in Waco, Texas Brandon serves as board member for the Texas Dental Association SMILES Foundation that helps access to oral healthcare for Texans. He received his bachelor's at Baylor University and master’s at Texas A&M graduate and received his doctorate from Western University College of Health Sciences in Southern California. He started dancing two-step and country swing during his time at College Station and has been hooked on it ever since. He has competed in country dance competitions throughout Texas and California and joined Arthur Murray Waco last summer learning West Coast Swing and many other styles of dance. Outside of dentistry, Brandon enjoys hiking at national parks, fishing, and anything outdoor related.
Pro Lauren Saint James
Dance has been an important part of Lauren's life since she began at age four. She grew up studio dancing and was an officer on her high school drill team. While at Baylor, Lauren minored in dance and was a member of Baylor Dance Company. Lauren is continuing her love for dance at Arthur Murray Waco as an instructor and professional dancer. Lauren's favorite thing about dancing is the fact that she can never wipe the smile off her face while she's movin and groovin!
Star Jim Patton
Jim is a long-time resident of Waco and is actively involved in our community. As a retired campus principal, he is heavily invested in education. He is currently serving on the Waco ISD Board of Trustees as Vice-President—and also serves on the Waco Education Foundation Board and McLennan Central Appraisal District Board. Jim is excited to break out his “dusty dancing shoes” and help raise funds for the Family Abuse Center!
Pro Caryn Hernandez
Caryn is a professional ballroom dancer and competitor for Arthur Murray Dance Studio in Waco. What started as a hobby is now her career!