15 Aug 2016 ‘Dancing’ gala planned Sept. 8

Arkansas celebrities will demonstrate their dance moves as they compete for the coveted mirror ball trophy at the Ninth Annual “Dancing with Our Stars’ Gala” at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, at the Little Rock Marriott Ballroom.

Months of rehearsals with local professional dancers will culminate in a one-time only performance that raises money to fund critical neurofibromatosis (NF) research, support local NF clinics and send Arkansas teens to NF Camp.

KTHV Channel 11 anchor Craig O’Neill and Melissa Thoma, principal at Thoma Thoma, Arkansas chapter advisory board member and a former “Dancing with Our Stars” competitor, will serve as the masters of ceremony.

Local participating stars:

Rachel Parker Harding, community relations for Parker Automotive Group, philanthropist and volunteer.

Susan Hickingbotham, philanthropist and volunteer.

Stacey Spivey, a general assignment reporter at KATV Channel 7.

Win Rockefeller, president of the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute Foundation Board, president of Theseus Holdings, LLC and a philanthropist.

Dr. Chad Rodgers, partner at Little Rock Pediatric Clinic and chief medical officer for Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care.

Hatim Smouni, financial advisor with Merrill Lynch.

Neurofibromatosis is an under-recognized genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body. NF affects one in every 3,000 people. Currently there is no treatment or cure.

Money raised at the Dancing with Our Stars Gala supports the Children’s Tumor Foundation, the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to driving research, expanding knowledge and advancing care for the NF community.

Online voting is now open. Supporters can vote for their favorite dancers any time before the event or in person on the night of the gala.

For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit ctfarkansas.org.