Local resident participating in
Dancing With the Local Stars event

The Essex Voice - Tuesday March 17, 2009

Essex resident and CAW National Skilled Trades Council President, Dave Cassidy, is one of 13 local stars participating in the Dancing With the Local Stars event at Caesars Casino in Windsor. Next Tuesday, March 24th, Cassidy will put his best foot forward, hoping to advance in the friendly competition that will run month-to-month to the grand finale on July 26th.

The event is a fundraising effort of the Better World Today Association, a non-profit charity that promotes the bone marrow registry and works with families that have members suffering from blood diseases such as leukemia.  Cassidy said that Ron and Frank Giles, the founders of the Better World Today Association, approached the Skilled Trades Council several years ago and gave a presentation. Since then, the Council has supported the Association.

When Frank Giles approached Cassidy to participate in this latest fundraising effort, Cassidy decided to go for it (after some prodding by his wife).  Cassidy has been actively practicing his dance moves with the help of a professional instructor for a month. Coincidently, his instructor, Sonia Arakelian, is also his dance partner in the competition.  Cassidy said that Arakelian has been very patient teaching him the moves he will need to compete. On Tuesday, he must tackle the steps of the East Coast Swing. “I have practiced endless hours and I am still not ready,” he said. “It’s crunch time, I have just a week to go.”

In order to advance in the competition, the dancers (pro and amateur) must wow the judges and the audience. Cassidy has sold 200 tickets himself and he hopes that that will provide him the edge he needs to advance, regardless of whether he misses a step. “I know who I sold those tickets to,” he joked, “so if I only get a hundred votes, I will blame everybody I sold a ticket to for losing.” On a serious note, Cassidy said the competition is all in good fun and is for a great cause. He applauds the work of the Better World Today Association and is happy to help them with this latest effort. He has enjoyed learning how to dance, saying that once you learn how to do it, it is good exercise and fun.