Jamie Camilo, general manager of Rick Hendrick BMW and MINI of Charleston, has been supporting his 9-year-old daughter Avalyn’s dance dreams since she was two years old, taking her to competitions across the country. On May 9 at the Charleston Gaillard Center, she’ll have the opportunity to cheer her dad on as he performs an original ballroom dance routine as part of the American Lung Association’s “Lowcountry Dancing with the Stars” Oxygen Ball.
Camilo will compete against four local celebrity dancers for the title of “Lowcountry Dancing with the Stars” Champion. Each dancer is paired with a professional from International Ballroom Dance Studios and has a fundraising commitment. The Oxygen Ball raises awareness and critical funds for lifesaving research, health equity initiatives and local efforts.
We caught up with Camilo to learn more about his journey to the Oxygen Ball and why lung health is important to him.
Q. Hi Jamie! Let’s dive right in. Many of our Oxygen Ball dancers over the years have previous relationships with dance, but you might be our first “Dance Dad.” How did you end up from audience to center stage?
A. It’s actually a funny story. Hendrick Automotive Group has supported the Oxygen Ball for the past three years as part of our Hendrick Cares community initiative, and I got the opportunity to attend last year’s “License to Breathe”-themed event. I also knew one of the dancers personally, so it was even more of a blast.
Afterwards, I made a few jokes to teammates that I’d do it next year and, of course, got egged on. I also mentioned it casually to a client who happened to dance at International Ballroom Dance Studios, which partners with the Lung Association on the Oxygen Ball. Well, word got out, and next thing I know, I was officially invited to participate. It became a “why not” situation, and my wife gave me the final nudge I needed. She was so excited! Her phrasing was what got me: “You’re going to do this, aren’t you?” So here I am!
Q. Have you started training? I know it’s early days, but can you share anything about your performance?
A. Yes, I’ve begun training with Michala from International Ballroom Dance Studios. This year’s theme is “Cowboy Couture,” which lets us get really creative. I’ve been listening to a lot of music. My goal is to choose something that will really resonate with the crowd, so everyone can get involved. While ballroom may seem formal, there's plenty of room to have fun with it. I’m excited to mix things up and bring some energy to the floor!
My daughter, Avalyn, is the real dancer in our family. My relationship with dance is entirely through her. She competes at the national level and does all types of dance. She’s currently performing a solo in contemporary, and she enjoys ballroom as a fun hobby. With enough practice, I hope to make her, the 'Dance Dad' community, and my Hendrick family proud.
Q. As part of your participation in the Oxygen Ball, you’ve committed to raising funds for the Lung Association’s work here in South Carolina. What’s your relationship to our mission and to lung health?
A. Nearly everyone has been touched by lung disease or knows someone who has. For me, my dad is my “why.” I’m honored to be dedicating my performance to him.
He passed from mesothelioma in 2017. It happened so quickly. He was only 59 years old. We had come down to Charleston for a family vacation (we were living in Charlotte at the time), and he had chest pain lifting my young children in the pool. Doctors initially thought he had pneumonia, but surgery revealed tumors. He was diagnosed in November 2016 and had tumors removed in April 2017. The prognosis was good, and we thought we had reset the clock, but he passed that October.
My father and I were extremely close. I followed his footsteps into the car business. As I was growing in my career, he was always the phone call I made on my way home. One of the worst things about that period was that I was always worried about when my last conversation with him would be. You just don’t know.
That’s why I’m committed to raising funds to advance research into a cure for mesothelioma and other lung diseases. I appreciate that the Oxygen Ball is inclusive of all lung disease. We get to help more people and have a big impact.
Q. We’re so appreciative of Hendrick Automotive Group’s support of the Oxygen Ball for the past three years. Tell us more about the support you’ve been receiving as a dancer.
A. I’ve been with the company since 1999. I started as a Lot Valet and worked my way up through different areas of the business. Hendrick is my second family. They’ve been rooting me on throughout this whole process and supporting my fundraising goal. Not only my teammates at BMW and MINI, but other dealerships, colleagues across the country and even Hendrickcars.com through our corporate office. There’s a general mentality of “We got you.” I couldn’t be more grateful for their support.
Hendrick is a people-first company, and we have core values that we live out every day. A major one (and my personal favorite) is “servant leadership.” We take care of each other and our communities. It’s what we’re known for. Participating in the Oxygen Ball is an opportunity to live out these values and make a difference in the Lowcountry community. I’m proud to represent team Hendrick!
Q. What’s the most important thing people should know about this event?
A. Giving back often requires effort—whether it's packing at a food bank or helping clean out a veteran's home—which, of course, is always a rewarding thing to do. But the Oxygen Ball is a unique opportunity to give back while having a blast. That goes for both the dancers and the audience. There’s a camaraderie and energy, and that allows us to raise a lot of money for an incredible cause. I encourage folks to check it out.
Q. Thank you, Jamie! Good luck on the dance floor. You can support Jamie here.
This year’s Oxygen Ball celebrity dancer lineup features:
- Dr. Mickey Barber – founder and CEO of Better Life Carolinas
- Jamie Camilo – general manager of Rick Hendrick BMW and MINI of Charleston
- Rick Lowndes – of Lowndes Properties
- Emily Gifford Lucey – attorney with Gallivan White Boyd
- Julie Reuther-Nestler – health and wellness entrepreneur
The “Lowcountry Dancing with the Stars” Oxygen Ball supports the Lung Association’s efforts to end lung cancer and lung disease through local programs, advocacy efforts and lifesaving research. For tickets or more information, visit CharlestonOxygenBall.org. For sponsorship opportunities, please email Rebecca.Balitsaris@lung.org.
