CHAPEL HILL – It’s almost time for local figures in the community to lace-up their dancing shoes for a good cause. Dancing With the Stars of Carolina is happening May 4 to benefit the Boys and Girls Club.

The competition is taking place in the Kenan Stadium Blue Zone at 7 p.m.

One of the star competitors is Chapel Hill Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt.

“It just takes confidence and the willingness to put yourself out there and do whatever—it’s not hard to muster that confidence when it’s for such a good cause,” Kleinschmidt.

Kleinschmidt says he took dance classes in college but still has been practicing for about 6 weeks. He says he was inspired to participate after watching Chapel Hill Police Department Chief Chris Blue dance last year.

“It seems as if my head might remember my skill level a little bit better than my feet do,” he said. “It’s kind of hard to get the legs back in motion but we are slowly but surely getting there.”

One of Kleinschmidt’s competitors is UNC professor Dr. Deborah Stroman.

“Certainly Boys and Girls Club has a great tradition of helping young people in communities where they need it the most,” Stroman said.
The other dancers include Tina Cunningham— wife of UNC Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham; Aaron Nelson—President and CEO of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce; and UNC men’s assistant soccer coach Grant Porter.

Porter is a former member of the UNC men’s soccer team and won a national championship as a player in 2001 and as a coach in 2011.

“I’m sure I’ll be a little bit nervous. Probably more nervous than I ever was for a soccer game,” Porter said. “I have zero dancing experience except for at weddings which really doesn’t count. But I have a great instructor; we’re taking baby steps to try and get to the place where I can really perform with out embarrassing myself too much.”

Porter says the Chapel Hill community has given him so much in his life, he’ll put himself out there in order to give something back.

“The competition itself is bigger than any of the dancers. It’s certainly for the kids and trying to raise as much money as possible. That’s why I’m super-ecstatic to be a part of it,” Porter said.