AN EIGHT-MONTH marathon of early morning dance practices and late-night planning for fundraising events is about to come to an end for the women behind the Whitsundays’ inaugural team of Dancing CEOs.
On Saturday night (May 31), Julie Telford (SeaLink Whitsundays), Kate Purdie (Coral Sea Marina), Candice Crossley (Whitsunday Transit) and Alice Harriott (Whitsunday Family Dental), will step out on the stage, at Brisbane’s City Hall, in a dance contest showdown for a powerful cause.
‘Dancing CEOs’ is the annual flagship fundraiser for Women’s Legal Service Queensland (WLSQ), an organisation dedicated to helping women and children impacted by domestic violence through providing wrap-around services and free legal advice.
Dr Alice Harriott said, over the past eight months, balancing the contradiction between the enjoyment of dancing and the heart-wrenching seriousness of the cause behind it had sometimes felt like a mental juggling act.
“While we’re busy dancing and organising costumes and props – and having a whole lot of fun doing so – there are literally thousands of women across Queensland desperately needing help from WLSQ to survive – and that is not lost on us, and in fact, is absolutely our ‘why’,” she said.
Mad Dance House Artistic Director, Che Pritchard, who choreographed the Whitsunday team’s dance, said this sense of responsibility to the ‘why’ was evident from the start.
“When I met the ladies way back in October last year, I had no doubt their commitment to the fundraising and the performance was unwavering,” he said.
“After our initial choreography sessions, there were the predictable challenges and frustrations that come with learning to dance, but they all took it in their stride,” he continued.
“As they do in business and in life, they’ve worked so hard to get to where they are now – which is nailing the routine and having a blast while they do it.”
Living more than 1,000 kilometres away from their choreographer has been just one of the many challenges the team has faced, but in this case, they have been aided by Principal Owner at Chez’s House of Dance in Proserpine, Chez O’Brien.
For the past five months, Ms O’Brien has coached the team for three hours each week, with additional support from Whitsunday Regional Council through use of the stage at the Proserpine Entertainment Centre over the last week.
“When I came on board, the ladies knew what they were doing but needed help to clean up the routine, correct their spacing, perform in time, increase their confidence and add back-up boys who aren’t even physically here,” Ms O’Brien explained.
“There’s been so many elements to making sure that the performance they put on is great, but they have done an amazing job and wow, they’ve come so far,” she said.
Without revealing too much, Mr Pritchard said what audiences would see on Saturday night was “a real reflection of the ladies’ individual personalities, how they are as a group, and the beautiful corner of the world they call home”.
“You can expect to see hips swinging, shoulders rolling, hair flicking, some masculine eye candy backing them up, and four amazing women having the time of their tropical lives,” he said.
This year’s eight competing teams of Dancing CEOs have been tasked with raising $41,000 each, as a symbol of WLSQ’s 41 years, and to provide vital funds that will keep its life-saving programs running.
Just as all teams will be vying for a win on the dancefloor, there is competition for the title of highest fundraisers of the year.
‘Team Whitsundays Dancing CEOs’ are heading into the big night at the top of the leaderboard, but anything can – and does happen, during the event.
Donations are encouraged via https://www.dancingceos.com.au/kate-purdie-julie-telford-candice-crossley-dr-alice-harriott both now and on the night.
For rolling coverage and to watch an event video by the Whitsundays’ ‘Riptide Creative’, follow the ‘Team Whitsundays Dancing CEOs’ Facebook Page.
- In the 2023 Financial Year, the WLSQ Statewide Helpline answered 16,000 calls from women impacted by domestic violence, 75% of whom had children in their care. In 2024 that number had increased by 28%.
- Useful contacts to include in articles are: 1800 WLS WLS (1800 957 957) the statewide helpline for legal advice, and 1800 457 117 for the Rural, Regional and Remote Legal Advice Line.
- Other support numbers that can be included in media coverage are DV Connect: 1800 811 811, and 1800 RESPECT: 1800 737 732
