October 9, 2026 at 2:01 pm CDT
By Shaw Local News Network
CASA Kane County’s inaugural “Dancing with the Local Stars” event brought 650 guests to the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles on Oct. 7 for a sold-out evening of entertainment, friendly competition and philanthropy.
The event raised more than $65,000 in support of CASA Kane County’s mission to advocate for children who have experienced abuse or neglect, according to a news release.
Presented in partnership with The Dance Lab, the event featured 11 local celebrities who stepped outside their comfort zones, trading their everyday roles for dancing shoes and the spotlight. Each contestant was paired with a professional dancer, dedicating weeks to rehearsals in preparation for an unforgettable night of performances.
The evening featured an exciting variety of dance styles, from the tango and salsa to hip-hop, swing and contemporary, as contestants competed for two coveted honors.
Cait Slomski, owner of True Knack Graphics, took home the Shining Star Award, recognizing the contestant who raised the most money in support of CASA Kane County’s mission.
Denise Trimble, an emergency room nurse with Northwestern Medicine, captured the Mirrorball Award, earning the highest overall performance score through judges’ scoring and public voting.
The lineup also included President and CEO of Onesti Entertainment Ron Onesti; Megan Elsberg of Parent Petroleum; former Olympic figure skater Stefania Berton; Waubonsee Community College President Dr. Brian Knetl; Nikki Nelson from St. Charles; Villa Verone Ristorante Italiano owner Pietro Verone; Chris Wallace of @properties; Chief Judge Robert K. Villa; and Officer Gabe Perez of the Kane County Sheriff’s Department.
Adding to the excitement was a distinguished panel of local judges representing six communities throughout the Fox Valley: Aurora Mayor John Laesch, St. Charles Mayor Clint Hull, Batavia Mayor Jeffrey Schielke, Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns, Carpentersville Village President John Skilman and North Aurora Village President Mark Gaffino.
The evening was hosted by emcees Matt and Heather Rainey of Rent A Chef.
Beyond the dazzling performances, the evening was a powerful reminder of what can happen when a community comes together for a common cause.
“We could not have imagined a more incredible response to our inaugural event,” CASA Executive Director Jim Di Ciaula said in the news release. “To sell out the Arcada Theatre with 650 guests and raise more than $65,000 for the children we serve is truly remarkable. We are so grateful to our dancers, sponsors, volunteers and everyone who embraced this event with such enthusiasm. It was an extraordinary night of entertainment, but more importantly, a wonderful demonstration of our community’s commitment to making a difference in the lives of children.”
CASA Kane County is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven Guardian ad Litem organization dedicated to advocating for children who have experienced abuse or neglect and are involved in the Juvenile Court system.
CASA Kane County has announced that “Dancing with the Local Stars” will return on Wednesday, May 12, 2027.