Dancing for the Arts Raises $161K for New Center for the Arts; Will be Located on Route 24

From the Harford County Center for the Arts:

Bel Air, MD (October 5, 2011) The 4th Annual Dancing for the Arts Gala on Saturday, September 24, 2011 kicked off the evening celebration of the arts with an announcement by County Executive David Craig of the future location of the Center for the Arts. A 41-acre parcel of land at the corner of Rt. 24 and Wheel Road is part of a 110-acre bequest from the Foundation of Emily Bayless Graham.

The Foundation in conveying the land to Harford County Government stipulated that the 41 acre parcel is to be used for construction of a cultural center by 2018 or the land may revert back to the Foundation. The 69 acre parcel lying between Rts. 24 and 924 must be used as a park for passive recreation according to the terms of Mrs. Graham’s will. The Center for the Arts has started working with H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture, a New York firm that specializes in the design of cultural centers, on the Building Program and Master Plan for the 41 acre parcel.

Susan Butcher Roarty won the “Judges Choice Award” and the “Top Fundraising Award” at the Dancing for the Arts Gala at the Residents’ Club at Bulle Rock. She wowed the judges dancing the waltz with professional dancer and owner of Dancing with Friends, Tom Rzepnicki. Susan raised $24,940. Chuck Boyle, President of Boyle Buick GMC Trucks, won the Second Place Top Fundraiser Award with $23,923, and Gus Brown, attorney from Brown, Brown and Young, garnered the Third Place Top Fundraiser Award with $11,517. The event raised $161,000 to help sustain the Center for the Arts as they move forward to build a regional Center for the Arts in Harford County.

Last year’s Dancing for the Arts raised $122,000.

The Harford “Stars” who showcased their ballroom dancing talents and competed for top honors were:

1. Dr. Jon Bellantoni-President, Susquehanna Obstetrics and Gynecology and Dr. Michele Bellantoni- Associate Professor of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine danced the Tango
2. Chuck Boyle-President, Boyle Buick & GMC Trucks who danced the Foxtrot
3. Augustus F. Brown-President, Brown, Brown & Young danced the Cha-Cha
4. Tim Jahnigen-Business Development Manager, SAIC danced the Foxtrot
5. Philip E. Logan-President/CEO, Slavie Federal Savings Bank danced the Peabody
6. Cheryl McComas-Domestic Engineer danced the Swing
7. Marge Pearce-Assistant Coordinator for Reconnecting Youth Program, Harford County Public Schools danced the Rumba
8. Susan Butcher Roarty- Trustee, The Dresher Foundation, danced the Viennese waltz
9. Gene Umbarger-Owner/Operator Woolsey Farm danced a country dance
10. Debi Williams-Vice President, M & T Bank danced the Tango.

The Honorary Co-Chairs were Dr. Mary Teddy Wray, Laurel Bush Family Dentistry, and Craig Ward, Frederick Ward Associates, Inc. They both were dancers at the 2010 Dancing for the Arts fundraiser. Deborah Pro-Marshall, Judge Angela Eaves, Tony Meoli, and Mark Welsh returned for the fourth year to judge the dancing competition.

Dancing With Friends, a ballroom dancing studio in Churchville, again choreographed the dances and instructed the dancers individually for the competition.

The emcee was Diane Lyn, popular Morning Co-Host & Midday Host of 101.9 Lite FM.

The event sponsors include:

Presenting- Harford Mutual Insurance
Art Masterpiece- Maryland Public Television, 101.9 Lite FM, and “Mason-Dixon Arrive” Magazine
Art Society-Betty Ward, Modular Components National, Inc., Comcast, and Clark Turner Signature Homes
Art Ambassador-Laurel Bush Family Dentistry
Friends of the Arts-SAIC, Susquehanna Obstetrics & Gynecology, Harford Community College, Diane Smith, APGFCU, J. Vinton Schafer & Sons, Inc., Slavie Federal Savings Bank, The Village at Carsin’s Run, Utopia, McComas Funeral Home, The Aegis, M & T Bank, “Harford County Style” Magazine, Debbie and Steve Peroutka, the Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Plum, PA and “Harford’s Heart” Magazine
Art Gallery- ShopRite, Jones Junction, Roaritech, and Harford Cable Network

The Center for the Arts also presented the First Annual Jeffrey J. Plum Legacy in the Arts Award in memory of Jeffrey Plum, local attorney, actor and singer, whose passion for and patronage of the arts inspired many others. Janet Plum, Jeffrey’s wife, presented the award to Barbara E. Kirchner, a local artist and teacher, who demonstrated through the sale of miniature paintings, the impact just one person can have fundraising for a cause in which she believes.

The Center for the Arts will include music, dance, visual, traditional & literary arts, theatre, and arts education. In addition, it will have special event/business meeting space, and a heritage museum. The Center for the Arts is a 501( c)( 3) organization, incorporated in 2005. Currently, their offices are located at Tudor Hall, the historic Booth property. Visit www.CenterForTheArtsHarford.org for more information.

Below: Winner of the Judges Choice Award and Top Fundraiser Award, Susan Butcher Roarty, trustee of The Dresher Foundation.