NOTE: This story was updated on Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012.
UPDATE:
The buzz from "Dancing With the Stars at the Raven 2012" lives on at the Raven Performing Arts Theater's website. Check it out for a background video, the winners' postings and other details.
Also we've added some new photos here on Patch. Click here for the Raven website.
ORIGINAL STORY
Miss Sonoma County Jessica Greer and her professional dance partner John Ross took the top prize Saturday after two nights of competition at Dancing With the Stars at the Raven.
Greer, a junior at Sonoma State University, and Ross, owner of The Ballroom dance studio in Rohnert Park, won the mirror ball trophy for receiving the highest totals in both popular votes and judges' votes combined.
The couple also won first place in judges' voting for their waltz Friday to "Fascination" by Liberace and their cha-cha Saturday to "Love Potion #9" by Hanzel Martinez.
"I want to promote fitness through dance," Greer said of her focus during her reign as Miss Sonoma County. "When I go around to different places, I try to inspire people to get up and dance."
First place in popular voting went to retired physician Hallie Beacham of Healdsburg and her professional partner Jason Taylor, who is graduating next month from SSU and who teaches dance at WnY Warehouse in Novato.
"I'm so proud of each and every one of them," said co-producer Vera Harvey of the nine local celebrity "stars" who worked with their professional dance partners to learn two separate dance routines -- one for each night.
Other award winners were:
Popular votes:
2nd place: John & Zeke's owner Neil Cronin and his professional dance partner Lauralie Staley, who teaches at JAS Dance studio in Santa Rosa and other locations in the North Bay.
3rd place: Jennifer Leigh Gotti, human resources manager at Brayton Purcell law firm in Novato and her professional dance partner Ray Byun, who teaches at Dance Studio B in Santa Rosa.
Judges votes:
2nd place: Healdsburg City Councilman Tom Chambers and his professional dance partner Janelle Guido, who teaches at WnY Warehouse in Novato.
3rd place: Jennifer LeBrett, business and membership development director for the Healdsburg Chamber of Commerce, and her professional partner Griffin Wayne, who was a teacher for eight years at the former Kodiak Jacks in Petaluma.
The second annual event raises money from ticket sales and votes to help continue operations at the Raven Performing Arts Theater. Expenses at the venerable 440-seat theater can average up to $10,000 per month, according to co-producer Joe Gellura.
"This event should help us pay the electric bills for at least the next few months," Gellura said.
To see bios of all the performers, click here.
A DVD of both Friday and Saturday nights' entire shows may be ordered at the Raven website.
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