Boynton Beach got a touch of celebrity fever as fans gathered to see and possibly dance with one of their favorite stars.
“Dancing with the Stars” staple Tony Dovolani made a special appearance at the grand opening of the Fred Astaire Dance Studio, 398 N. Congress Ave., on July 30.
Wayne Brockman, manager at Boynton’s Fred Astaire, said several hundred people showed up for the event, which ended up raising $1,000 for Leukemia research.
Two dances with Dovolani were auctioned off, when originally only one was expected to be sold. Dovolani was so taken back by the reception that he decided to add a second dance for charity.
Brockman, who has been dancing for more than 35 years himself, said his mother Donna got him involved with the more than 120 Fred Astaire dance studios around the country.
“She ran the national report for them out of Chicago when I was a child,” he said. “She put me in classes and eventually when I was in college, I taught dance at night.”
Brockman, a former national champion, said Fred Astaire Dance Studios began in 1946, when Astaire co-founded the company.
He said the requirement of dance certifications and the knowledge of dance pervasive throughout the staff is what makes Fred Astaire different from the rest.
As for Dovolani, he began his dancing career at the age of 15 when he came to the United States and visited a Fred Astaire Dance Studio.
He is known for his participation and dancing on the reality show, “Dancing with the Stars”, where he has performed for eight seasons. Some of his past partners include Susan Lucci and Jane Seymour.
Brockman said to draw in people who might otherwise not be dancing, Fred Astaire is having a “get started” special that includes two, 30-minute private lessons for $33. It is a $165 value.
Brockman said that when children go off and do negative things, it is usually just to get their parents attention. He said dancing fills this void.
“This satisfies their need for attention in a good way,” he said.
Christine Cristina, Boynton Fred Astaire spokeswoman, said the Boynton Chamber of Commerce has helped get the word out about the studio but that there are still people who don’t know it is there.
“We do get some walk-ins because of the great location and the $33 special is a great deal,” she said.
Cristina said the choice to open a studio in Boynton comes from the geographic fact that there is a Fred Astaire in Boca and Jupiter and Boynton is in the middle.
She also said the studio would be starting a social dance night in September.
“It is a great way to meet people and to stay fit,” she said.
The Fred Astaire Dance Studio is open from noon to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and weekends by appointment only.
For information, call 561-733-1111.
