The Stanislaus County Insider
ALERT!
Dancing With The Tuolumne County Stars.
For Sonora residents Mike and Amber Doescher, dancing with the Tuolumne county stars means much more to them than showcasing
their exceptional dancing talent. It's an opportunity to showcase their exceptional community involvement and spirit as well.
They are one of 14 couples competing for the title of this years long anticipated dance competition.
StancoInsider: How long have you been dancing?
Amber: I have been dancing for 27 years since the age of three.
StancoInsider:
Are you a professional dancer?
Amber: I wouldn’t necessarily consider myself a professional dancer at this point in my
life as I spend the vast majority of my time as a choreographer and teacher. A professional dance instructor/choreographer would definitely
be more appropriate. I’ve been teaching on and off since 1996 at Randi Murray’s Dance Studio. I also taught at the Conservatory of
dance in Rocklin, Ca. I am also the choreographer for Sonora High Schools Drama Department.
StancoInsider: What type of dancing
do you teach?
Amber: I currently teach Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Hip Hop. I intend to expand my training in the ballroom genre after
the Dancing with the Tuolumne county stars competition.
StancoInsider: What is your favorite type of dance?
Amber: I truly
enjoy all of the types of dance that I am trained in but my heart has always belonged to ballet and lyrical ever since I was a child.
I’ve always loved the beauty that ballet and lyrical dance brings out in a person. The type of dance that I most enjoy teaching is
jazz/hip hop. It’s fun and upbeat. I try to get my students t dance like nobody’s watching. We all do it, you know, behind closed
doors in front of the mirror when the music just takes over our bodies.
StancoInsider: Is your husband Mike a trained dancer?
Amber: Dancing with the Tuolumne county stars is Mike’s first professional
dance experience. He has been an amazing support to both me and the dance studio and I am grateful to have him as my dance partner.
StancoInsider:
What dance will you and Mike be doing at the Dancing with the Tuolumne County Stars?
Amber: Mike and I will be performing a young
and upbeat Foxtrot.
StancoInsider: You work for Randi Murray’s Dance Studio, how will this event benefit the Studio?
Amber:
Randi Murray’s Dance Studio is a 501(c)3 public charity. We are committed to providing affordable dance lessons to students of all
ages. With the money raised from this event, the studio will have the funds to provide scholarships to students, performance opportunties,
such as taking a group of students to Disneyland to perform in December, and allows us to keep our costs down and doors open.
StancoInsider:
How this works is that if someone would like to support you and Mike as contestants in the Dancing with the Tuolumne County Stars
competition, they can go to your webpage and make a donation that then goes directly to the Randi Murray Dance Studio. How much money
as a couple have you raised so far through donations?
Amber: Mike and I have raised approximately $1300.00 so far but we have
a whole group of folks that are out there fundraising as well. The arts are always an area where people are willing to help out and
we are so grateful to all of those who have made donations.
StancoInsider: Where can people donate and when is the cut off date
for donations?
Amber: You can donate up until the night of the event. We encourage folks to come to the event on August 20th.
We will have a vote box for donations and it all goes to the dance studio. We are aiming to have at least $2500.00 by the end of the
competition night. The more money we raise the better chance we have to win the competition. Donations can be made
here.
Dancing With The Tuolumne County Stars will take place on August 20th at the Columbia College Oak Pavilion. Located at 11600 Columbia
College Drive, in Sonora, Ca. 209-588-5100. Doors open at 5pm and the dance competition starts at 6:30 pm. Tickets are $30.00 each,
non reservation and red seats are included. $500.00 will buy a table of 8 with catering. To support Mike and Amber be sure to check
out their webpage here.