6 minute read
Dancing outside her comfort zone
by ANNETTE JOYCE ANNETTE JOYCE
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When it comes to stepping outside her comfort zone, Lacey Chavarria is pushing the limits to the extreme. While she readily admits she’s not a skilled dancer and shies away from being in the spotlight, Chavarria is a contestant in the 14th annual Dancing with the Carolina Stars, a ballroom dance competition taking place in February. The competition is a major fund raiser for Operation Smile Carolinas, a nonprofit that provides free cleft lip and palate repair surgeries to children worldwide. One of the largest medical volunteer-based nonprofits, the organization seeks to help those who could otherwise not afford these costly surgeries to better breathe, eat, speak and live lives of greater quality and confidence.
Although reluctant, Chavarria became involved in the competition for a couple of reasons. For one, a friend who had participated and sits on the board of Operation Smile Carolinas had been urging her to enter for a few years.
But more importantly, Chavarria is dancing in memory of her daughter, Reyna, who was born in 1995 with a cleft palate and other serious medical issues and lived for only a day.
As the mother of five children, chief nurse anesthetist at High Point Medical Center and a die-hard member of 336 CrossFit, where she works out daily, this energetic 42-year-old already has a full plate. Even so, Chavarria is putting in the hours needed to become a competent dancer.
Rather than leaving the 10 contestants to choreograph their own dances, Operation Smile Carolinas has partnered with Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Greensboro, where each contestant is paired with a professional dance instructor and given six free dance lessons.
It’s up to the individual dancers whether they want to purchase additional lessons. Since starting lessons in August, Chavarria has been fitting in one or two lessons a week in preparation for the February 12, 2022 competition.
Chavarria ’s dance partner, AJ Tsygankov, is from Russia. Although the couple has worked on 10 different dances, she and Tsygankov will perform only one dance for the competition. They haven’t yet decided on which dance
Reyna, who was born in 1995 with a
Photo courtesy of Lacey Chavarria Stokesdale resident Lacey Chavarria and her dance partner, AJ Tsygankov, will compete in the Dancing with the Carolina Stars ballroom dancing competition and fundraiser on Feb. 12, 2022.
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that will be, but they’re leaning more toward the cha-cha – a dance that originated in Cuba and which she said is “really fast and fun.”
While she’s perfecting her dance moves, Chavarria’s also been working on her fear of being in the public eye. Periodically, she and Tsygankov strut their stuff in front of other studio dancers.
Along the way, Chavarria has surprisingly discovered how much she enjoys ballroom dancing.
Performing in the dance competition is only one portion of the fundraiser. Contestants are also required to raise money. Chavarria is working on a fundraising goal of $10,000, and she’s raised over half of it so far.
The competition will have two winners – one for “best dancer” and one for “most money raised.”
“I’m not going to win by dancing,” Chavarria joked. “I do hope to win by raising the most money.” In addition to raising funds for Operation Smile, Chavarria would like to one day travel with the nonprofit’s volunteers to assist with surgeries. Chavarria and her husband, Dinras, live in Stokesdale with their five children, Landan, 17, Kennady, 14, Dawson, 12, Brielle, 10, and Hudson, 8. Want to help meet Lacey’s fundraising goal? Donate at www.operationsmile.org/ ChavarriaL, or mail a check to Lacey Chavarria,167 Starboard Court, Stokesdale, NC 27357. Providing care for adults and children for over 10 years want to go? Dancing with the Carolina Stars Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, 6 p.m. Marriott Hotel – Downtown Greensboro 304 N Greene St., Greensboro Tickets $200 Purchase tickets at www.operationsmile.org/ChavarriaL
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