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Les Baugh is a Shasta County supervisor. Kathy Babcock is his professional dance partner. Q: How have you prepared for our first practice? I have been deliberately stepping on women’s feet — of course, only in large crowds, when I can get away with it! In full practice mode at the Shasta District Fair… Q: We will each dance a disco and waltz number. Do you have any songs in mind? “Don’t Cry For Me”… “Dancing Fool”… “That’s My Story And I’m Sticking To it!” Q: What is your previous dancing experience? Actually fell on the floor during my first ballroom dance class — tripped my wife, and she landed on the floor as well. Total embarrassment! I exist in life to make others look good. It’s my true calling! Q: Do you have a recurring Dancing with the Stars nightmare? Yes. The nightmare involves actually having said yes to Dancing With The Stars in the first place. Back to the falling thing; can’t get up, crowd is laughing, partner has walked off stage — you know, all the usual stuff. Q: Which couple do you think will be the toughest to beat, and why? It’s always the tall, good-looking ones you have to watch out for. Doesn’t matter whether they can dance or not. They’re tall and good-looking and that’s enough. But I truly want to beat Starman. It’s the whole county-versus-city thing. I can’t let the troops down. He says he IS the “Dancing With The STAR-MAN.” I say BAUGH-Humbug! Let’s go, Starman. Q: Any idea what you’ll wear for your dance numbers? Have brought out all of my dancing clothes — having a hard time choosing. Yeah, right! Haven’t given it a thought. I just plan on throwing on a semi-clean T-shirt that doesn’t smell too bad. Q: Would you like to share a before-practice message for your professional dance partner? Run. (Or) Run fast, run far. Q: What’s your winning strategy? I am coming disguised as John Travolta. (The skinny John, not the chunky John.) Q: Have you had any moments when you’ve had cold feet? Sure, now you want to hear about my snowboarding nightmare! YES, I HAVE COLD FEET. SHOULD NEVER HAVE SAID YES IN THE FIRST PLACE. What was I thinking? I can’t dance. I have NO rhythm. Even in first grade my teacher wrote on my report card “small motor skills problem.” Obviously, I am impaired for life. Q: Anything else you’d like to say about this event? It’s all for a good cause folks. Buy a ticket or three. Enjoy a good laugh (at my expense). Don’t care if I come in second-to-last, just as long as Starman is last-last! Is there a worse place than last? Signed, |
Kathy Babcock is the event’s choreographer, and Les Baugh’s professional dance partner. Q: What’s your dance experience? I began dancing at age 5 with classes in ballet. As a young adult, I expanded my training to include ballroom, jazz, and tap. In 1979, I became a ballroom dance instructor. I have taught a variety of forms (ballroom, jazz, tap, ballet, country/western, and aerobics) at various locations in the San Francisco Bay Area, on board Princess Cruises’ ships, and in Redding. I performed as a show dancer on board Princess Cruises’ ships for 3 ½ years. Since moving to Redding in 1989, I have choreographed several community ballroom dance, musical comedy, and jazz dance productions. Some of these have been annual events (i.e., Dancing with the Stars — Shasta County Style, Foothill High School’s Club Cougar, and Shasta College musicals) and have included all age groups from children through older adult. Q: Tell a bit about yourself, please. I grew up in the Bay Area (Concord) and moved to Redding to be closer to my family. By day, I work for the city of Redding at the power plant as a settlements analyst, keeping track of the energy Redding buys and sells. By night, I teach ballroom dance and have taught here in Redding for almost 20 years. My website, stepbystepballroomdance.com, gives information about my schedule and styles. Q: Do you have a recurring Dancing with the Stars nightmare? No, not really. Of course, no one wants to fall or make a fool of himself or herself; but since I’ve already done that on numerous occasions, it’s not so alarming. I chalk it up to just being part of performing. Q: What couple do you think will be the hardest to beat, and why? The couple who has the most friends in the audience voting for them will be the hardest to beat. Q: What’s your plan to help your partner dance well? Encouragement. And if that’s not enough, more encouragement! Q: What advice do you have for your partner, especially since he or she might have limited dance experience? In ballroom dancing, posture and frame are paramount. Even if you scramble the footwork, good posture can carry you through because you will still look good and the audience may not even detect the missed steps. The best-dressed dance partner is definitely the one wearing a SMILE. I will advise my partner to enjoy himself because then his audience will enjoy watching him. Besides, smiles are contagious! Q: Anything else you’d like to say? I hope the Cascade Theatre is packed with people for this fund-raising event so that the Women’s Refuge and the YMCA’s Plus One Mentors Group can reap huge rewards to fund their programs to help Shasta County families. |
