The ARK of South Carolina will host its 15th annual Dancing with The ARK’s Stars on May 10, 2025, at the Lowcountry Conference Center in Summerville Hilton, 406 Sigma Dr., at 7 p.m. The premier fundraising event pairs local personalities with professional dancers from Ballroom Dance Charleston to compete in a lively dance competition. Local personalities, including business leaders, educators, and community figures, will trade their day jobs for dancing shoes in support of families impacted by Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias.
General Admission tickets are $110 each or $200 per couple in advance and will increase at the door. General admission tickets include an open bar, heavy hors d'oeuvres, dancing, and a silent auction bidder number. There are also tickets that include access to the after-party! Tickets are selling fast and are available at thearkofsc.org/dancing-with-
“We are incredibly grateful for the dancers who dedicate their time and energy to making this event a success,” said Peg Lahmeyer, executive director of The ARK. “This event is a critical part of our fundraising efforts, allowing us to expand our services and support even more families navigating the challenges of Alzheimer’s and dementia.”
The ARK offers respite care, support groups, caregiver consultation, caregiver education workshops, resource referrals, law enforcement and first responder training, community learning programs, and rural services development. The organization serves five counties: Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, and Orangeburg.
Each dancer is teamed up with a professional dance partner, and the dancing duos will perform at the event for a chance to win one of two titles: the Judge’s Award or the People’s Choice Award, voted on by the audience.
The 2025 dancers include:
- TJ Clayton-Cornell, Financial Representative at Modern Woodmen of America
- Gretchen Cuddy, Owner of Gretchen Cuddy Floral Designs
- Yajaira Gaines, Charleston Living Concierge
- Kimberly Golde, Operating Room Surgical Nurse
- Dr. Ashely Hyman, Dentist at Lowcountry Dentistry
- K’Cee Lee, Unit Program Coordinator at Joint Base Charleston
- Bryan Mise, Wealth Advisor at Compass Investment Advisors
- Russ Touchberry, Partner at Industry Consulting Partners
The 2025 professional dancers, in partnership with Ballroom Dance Charleston, will coach the celebrity contestants and choreograph their routines. The professional dancers include:
- Alina Spencer
- Alexander Spencer
- Anna McSwain
- Charlene Mims
- David Roland
- Hannah Chiou
- James Jiang
- Justin Chiou
The 2025 Judges include:
- Carolyn Murray, WCBD News2 co-anchor
- Scotty Kachelmier, 2024 Mirror Ball Trophy Winner raising $72,000
- Justin Farnsworth, 2024 Judges’ Choice Award Winner for his dynamic Jive performance
Similar to the hit television show “Dancing with the Stars,” four couples will dance in each round, with the two couples receiving the most judges’ votes competing in a “dance off” to win the Judge’s Award. The couple receiving the most votes by dollars wins the mirror ball trophy for the People’s Choice Award. Votes are $10 each and can be cast in advance at TheARKofSC.org or the event.
The ARK has partnered with Lowcountry Conference Center Summerville Hilton to offer a special hotel rate of $129 for a one-night stay at the Hilton Garden Inn, located at the event venue. Guests can enjoy the evening’s festivities and seamlessly transition into the exclusive After-Party, featuring drinks, music, and dancing. For an additional $20 per person, attendees can upgrade their experience with General Admission plus After-Party tickets, available in advance for $130 per person or $240 per couple, offering full access to the entire event.
Innovative Resource Management is returning as the presenting sponsor for this year’s anniversary event. Dancing with The ARK’s Stars will be held at the Lowcountry Conference Center Summerville Hilton. As venue sponsor, with 15,000 square feet of ballroom space, the Lowcountry Convention Center is the largest convention facility in the Charleston metro area.
Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Cocktail attire is requested. There are sponsorship levels that are tailored to meet the needs of all supporters. Contact info@thearkofsc.org or call 843-471-1360.
The 14th Annual Dancing with The ARK's Stars event was held in May 2024 and raised $190,000 with 500 audience members. Scotty Kachelmier and Živilė Vėbraitė took home the 2024 Mirror Ball Trophy for raising over $72,000. Justin Farnsworth and Anna McSwain won the 2024 Judges' Award for their Jive performance.
