Dancing With The Cats took to the stage in the Connelly Cinema to show off the product of its many rehearsals. The event was emceed by Assistant Director of Student Philanthropy Kat Ciliberto and featured eight student couples, all vying for their very own Mirrorball Trophy.
The Cinema was packed from the very beginning, with many filing in to stand in the back as the seats were filled before the show started. There was palpable excitement throughout the audience. Some students even brought signs to help them cheer on their friends.
Seniors Anthony Taranto and Ava Petrosky took to the stage first, representing the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life. In true “Dancing With The Stars” fashion, each couple had their own practice video which told the audience a bit more about them before they danced. This first couple absolutely made the event their own with a jaw-dropping ballroom-inspired routine. They received a fitting score of 10s across the board from the panel of judges and set an impressive standard for the rest of the couples to follow.
The next couple, senior Lauren Armstrong and junior Ali Benjamin, represented Scholarship for Education Abroad and began their upbeat performance by skipping down the aisles to the stage. From the moment their music began, not a single person in the audience stopped smiling. They received 10s from all the judges as well, with all of them citing the energy this pair brought to the competition.
The third couple in the competition, freshman Lexi Miller and senior Delia Tisdale Floyd, who represented the UNITAS Office of Inclusion and Belonging, was caught in a unique situation. Tisdale Floyd had an injury, and Miller was left to perform the dance her pro had taught her alone. Despite being a freshman out there on the stage without her companion, Miller performed their African dance-inspired routine with confidence, skill and flair. She had the audience cheering from the very beginning and hit every mark as if she was the pro herself. Miller also received 10s from the judges.
Senior Ellen Phillips and junior Dan Slater took to the stage next representing the Villanova Scholarship Fund. Their hip-hop routine was fun and eye-catching, enhanced by Slater’s aerial tricks. After their dance, the audience learned that Phillips was nominated to participate in Dancing With The Cats because everyone thought she already knew how to dance. That rumor was quickly debunked when she began rehearsal. However, after their performance, it is safe to say that Phillips can definitely claim dance experience now. She was particularly proud of her improved kick-ball-change, which earned her 10s from the judges.
The next couple walked onto the stage to deafening cheers. Seniors Rob Vagnini and Amaya Dowling, representing Student Involvement, were the most highly anticipated performance of the night. Their hip-hop-inspired dance to Bruno Mars was fast-paced, entertaining and funny. Dowling clearly had a specific vision, one that fit Vagnini’s personality perfectly, and Vagnini showed impressive dance prowess with the quick footwork Dowling threw his way. They received 10s across the board as well.
With just three couples left to perform, seniors Matthew Dreux and Maria Procaccini stepped onto the stage representing Residence Life. They performed the second ballroom-inspired routine of the show, which was an adorable 1950s diner concept. They received 10s from the judges, of course, and Dreux received an extra compliment on the confidence he built throughout the routine.
The show’s penultimate couple walked out with an easy confidence. Seniors Eva Grzech and Karissa Shamah represented Student Performing Arts and impressed everyone with their fiery performance. Grzech expressed her excitement afterward at the chance to dance in college, after doing it for so long during her childhood. They easily earned 10s from the judges, with one of the judges saying she was ready to get right up on stage with them.
Last but not least, another highly anticipated couple closed out the show. Seniors Pat Cregan and Makana Ford represented St. Thomas of Villanova Day of Service and amazed the crowd with a Latin-inspired routine. Ford’s elegance and Cregan’s determination really made the dance, and they ended with straight 10s and to some of the loudest cheers of the night.
“My favorite part of Dancing With The Cats was watching the non-dancers come to life on stage and gain confidence as time went on,” sophomore Grace LaFond said. “I found it super entertaining.”
Once all the votes were in, the couples were gathered again on the stage. Senior Gift Committee Chair Kaitlin Gibson came up to announce a winner.
In the end, the Mirrorball went home with Taranto and Petrosky, a well-deserved win. Altogether, the event raised $4,100 through voting.
“I’m so happy I could win because I feel like it spread the word to other fraternity men, which was my main goal [to] show people that it’s okay to do uncomfortable things and try to get comfortable in these uncomfortable situations,” Taranto shared.
Petrosky shared his excitment over their partnership and success. She also praised their competitors on their performances, citing the effort the entire crew put in.
“I was so proud of [Anthony] just because he was not a dancer before,” Petrosky said. “He put in so much hard work, and he was wonderful to work with. I also was very excited for all of our other competitors just because I know everyone worked really hard.”
