While the lights won’t come up on the Venetian Center stage until the end of July, months of preparation are already underway as eight local community leaders trade their everyday roles for dance shoes in anticipation of the 20th annual Stepping Out for Education.

This year’s milestone event, “Velvet & Vinyl: An Evening of Rock & Rhythm,” takes place July 31 and Aug. 1 and has already sold out both performances. Behind the scenes, however, participants are spending countless hours rehearsing, learning choreography and stepping well outside their comfort zones to raise money for education in Lake County.

Each dancer has partnered with a professional ballroom instructor, dedicating weeks to mastering routines before taking the stage in front of a packed audience. For many, it’s their first experience performing ballroom dance.

“For the past two months, I’ve worked tirelessly in person with the professional and celebrity dancers to make sure I give it my all on the ballroom floor,” Fred Griffin Jr. says. “I’m very excited to be dancing because I’ve seen how learning opportunities opened doors and help students reach their full potential.” 

The 20th anniversary also marks the first time organizers have expanded the field to eight dancers, featuring a mix of returning all-stars and first-time participants.

Returning all-stars include Tyler Borowski of the Lake County Tax Collector’s Office, Alise Morris of Lifestream Behavioral Center, Sharon Nobles of Nobles Marine and Frank Remsen of Remsen Family Law.

First-time competitors include Fred Griffin Jr. of Touching Hearts Group Homes, Dr. Stephanie Luke of Lake County Schools, Christie Mysinger of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Cason Setzekorn of United Southern Bank.

Although tickets are sold out, the public can still support their favorite dancer by voting in the event’s Influencer Award competition. Votes are $5 each, with proceeds benefiting the dancer’s chosen cause through the Education Foundation of Lake County, including teacher appreciation initiatives and career and technical education programs. Weekly voting leaders will be announced leading up to the event.

Since its debut in 2006, Stepping Out for Education has raised thousands of dollars to support teachers and students across Lake County through classroom grants, scholarships, innovative learning opportunities and other educational initiatives.

While audiences will only see a few minutes of polished performances on stage, organizers say those routines represent weeks of dedication, determination and a shared commitment to giving back to local education.