Dancing with the Stars, ABC’s enduring live television show, will start its 24th season on Monday, March 20, which also happens to be the first day of Spring.  Meanwhile, the Bainbridge Rotary Club will step out on the stage at the Kirbo Center on Saturday, March 18, with their version of the competition. The concept of the popular TV show is used by several area communities and service clubs for fundraising purposes.

For those, if any, who are unfamiliar with the show, the theme is to pair a professional dancer with a celebrity who learns to master the steps and style of a particular dance routine. The dance teams compete against each other and the winner gets the prized mirror ball trophy.

On the local level a team also consists of a “professional” and a “local celebrity,” and the teams are judged not only for their dancing ability, but also for how much money each team raises.

Bainbridge Rotary held its first event last March, and the show was considered a success. There were six teams who entertained the audience

This year there are also six teams who have been diligently practicing their routines in hopes of winning the Bainbridge version of the famed mirror ball trophy.

Headquarters Beauty Salon owner Ryan Phillips, will perform a country dance with Beth Dollar.

The couple of Jenny and Ridge Harper, take the stage performing a hip hop number. Jay Palmer, a returning dancer from last year. appears with a different partner, Liz Hill, to try to win it all with their hip hop.

The team of Wayne Lambert and Savannah Miller, of Tallahassee, who wowed the audience last year with their waltz, is returning to the Bainbridge stage. This time they will do jazz and the Lindy hop. Garret Smith, who also danced last year, will team up with Sabryna Dean for a hip hop, while Denease Harrison and Daryl Hall are hoping to create a great following with their jazz number.

A reception for the sponsors is planned from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Solarium of the Kirbo Center, and the dancing begins at 7 p.m. in the main auditorium. Tickets are $20 and are available in advance from Emily Yent of the Broughton Street office of Edward Jones, or they may be purchased at the door.

This is the Rotary Club’s major fundraiser and proceeds this year go to purchase a Tele-medicine unit for installation at John Johnson Elementary School.