JA News
Cast from Dancing with the Stars Shimmies into town for Life’s A Dance to benefit Junior Achievement
Pensacola, FL – Life’s A Dance Studio, Victor and Melanie Luna, and Gene and Amanda Hurd, owners
of Hurd Real Estate & Co. present a star-studded evening of dance featuring local celebrities, world
professional championship dancers, Shannon and Shane Jensen; Instagram, TikTok social media
superstars Miranda and James Derrick; and the cast members of Dancing with the Stars from ABC’s hit
television series Dancing with the Stars including Daniella Karagach, Pasha Pashkov, and Tristan Mac
Manus! Life’s A Dance benefiting Junior Achievement of NWFL will take center-stage at the Pensacola
Saenger Theater on Thursday, June 30, 2022, from 6:30 to 9 p.m.; VIP Exclusive Meet and Greet from
9:15 to 10 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m. with a Silent Auction.
Performing a variety of dances from the samba to salsa, local celebrity couples will dazzle onlookers in
a competition of both fundraising and dance skill. Gene and Amanda Hurd, of Hurd Real Estate & Co.;
Steve and Shelley Black, local philanthropists with Bread & Table and owner/Agronomist at Green
Procedures, Inc; Aaron and Kimberly Watson, The Watson Firm, PLLC & The Watson Foundation;
Adam and Robbie Schrock, AppRiver Account Executive & Director of Administration at Santa Rosa
Island Authority; Ernie and Ragan Dutra, Territory Manager for Westlake Royal Building Products &
licensed agent with Hurd Real Estate & Co.; Larry Rapp and Allison Mink, Physical Therapist/Medical
Director & NICU RN; David and Ally Bryant, retired law enforcement officer & dental assistant; Greg
and Brandi Gomez, local philanthropists, PPD officer and Force Reconnaissance Marine & Navy Fed
PR professional; Peyton and Autumn Blackledge, City of Milton Firefighter &
Attorney/Owner/Managing Partner at Autumn Beck Blackledge, PLLC; and Anthony and Heather
Doerr, Urologist & CPA/Financial Advisor at Hale and Doerr, LLC.
Victor Luna will be partnered with local celebrities to showcase their fundraising and dancing prowess.
Partners include: Michelle Salzman, Florida House District 1 Representative & local philanthropist;
Jennifer McKeown Moghadam, local philanthropist & Vice President at Mortgage Trust, Inc; Jenni
Wood, Athletic Trainer and DonJoy Global Territory Manager; Kristie Tobias, “Fearlessly Made You”
author and podcaster, & national speaker and business advisor for Studer Community Institute; Cameron
Northupt, YMCA, and Jennifer Belcher, Mortgage Loan Originator & Closing Director for Trident
Home Loans.
Judges for Life’s A Dance include local and international celebrities: Tristan Mac Manus, DWTS
professional and judge; Eric Luna, DWTS and SYTYCD performer; Chip Simmons, Escambia County
Sheriff; Roy Jones, JR, Boxing Legend; Nicole Stacey, Visit Pensacola; Troy Rafferty,
Attorney/Managing Partner at Levin Papantonio Rafferty Law Firm; Sara Lefevers, Pensacola Chamber;
Brian Williams, Kool Karts; Lewis Bear III, The Lewis Bear Company; Sid Williams Heath, Pensacola
Little Theater; Christine Kellogg, PenArts @ The Gordon; and Alicia Christy, local philanthropist.
Following the show, VIP Exclusive ticket holders will be invited to the glamorous casting party that will
take place in the Saenger’s beautiful mezzanine and ballroom. VIP Exclusive treatment includes photos
with the cast, refreshments, and a chance to shine among the stars. Tickets are available in three price
levels for $38, Premier $58, and VIP $78. A limited number of VIP EXCLUSIVE seating will be sold
for $203. Tickets may be purchased at the Pensacola Saenger Box Office at (850) 595-3880 or online at
https://www.pensacolasaenger.com/events/lifes-a-dance-benefitting-junior-achievement.
Dance truly bridges the gap in society among professions and institutions and gives us all something to
share and enjoy equally. Encompassing this message, proceeds from this event will support Junior
Achievement’s mission to respect all talents, creativity, perspective, and backgrounds of all individuals.
For more information, contact Ashlee Simpson at ashlee.simpson@ja.org , (850) 477-1420 and/or
Melanie Luna at lifesadanceshow@gmail.com , (850) 712-2916. Visit the Life’s A Dance web site at
http://www.lifesadanceshow.com and the Life’s A Dance Studio Facebook page for up-to-date details.