'Jersey Shore Jams' Dance Show at Ridge on Sunday to Benefit Shore Rebuilding

Dynamite Dance Team, a youth dance company dedicated to community involvement and fundraising, invites you to join them for "Jersey Shore Jams" at Ridge High School this Sunday, Aug. 18. The fundraiser for shore rebuilding efforts will be staged 3:15 to 5:30 p.m., with doors to open at 3 p.m.

This performance group is made up of students from Gotta Dance, with a Basking Ridge location. The dancers had auditioned in January for an opportunity to participate in "Jersey Shore Jams," from which 100 percent of proceeds will go to help rebuild the shore after the devastation caused by last year's Superstorm Sandy on Oct. 29.

The Dynamite Dance team has set a goal of raising $18,000 during this event, according to information from Gotta Dance. 
 
The performance will be attended by Bernards Township Major Carolyn Gaziano; Tommy Parlapanides, Superintendant of Central Regional School District; Seaside Heights Councilman Anthony Vaz; Chris Raichle, Principal of Hugh J. Boyd Elementary School in Seaside Heights; and Mike Graichen, special events coordinator in Seaside Heights, according to an announcement from Gotta Dance. 

Gotta Dancers in the Amethyst Level and above were chosen to partake in the company. Team members learned and rehearsed dances to create visual art to be displayed at the event. 

The team was under the direction of Linda Kilponen, a former Radio City Rockette, to prepare an exciting beach themed show. 

Hurricane Sandy was an event that touched the lives of every Gotta Dance family, Jana Mayeux Belot from Gotta Dance.

This year when choosing a charity to raise funds for, Gotta Dance was driven to focus fundraising efforts towards Jersey Shore rebuilding, she said. All proceeds specifically will be donated directly to the Hugh J. Boyd Elementary School in Seaside Heights, which was completely destroyed in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

Show will help buy school material for Sandy-destroyed school

While rebuilding efforts are on going, this donation will help the school afford new books and other materials lost from the storm, according to the Gotta Dance announcement. 

"Jersey Shore Jams" is open to all in the public, and according to Gotta Dance, is a great way to spend an afternoon with many family activities.

In addition to the performance there will be face painting, a bouncy castle, a silent auction, and lots of fun, the announcement said.

Special singing performance scheduled

A special performance is scheduled by Jill Burke, a singer who has performed for Disney.