Bet on it: Dancing with the Stars Austin will brighten your week. The annual benefit for Center for Child Protection never fails to deliver on the glitz, glamour and gamboling. And it seems to get better every year.
Victoria Avila and Ricardo Ortiz de la Peña
This time at the Hilton Austin, event captains Mary Herr Talley and Maria Groten ensured there was never a dull moment. And they selected actual dancers from among the local celebrities to gyrate alongside the pros. Some of these amateurs could be mistaken for pros.
Pedro and Kate Andrade
From the applause, I guessed that Carol Adams, Alex Winkelman and Andra Leimandt would be the three finalists. Close. Brave yoga instructor Clayton Ainsworth edged out Winkelman with an extended routine from “Saturday Night Fever.” Adams happily tapped her troubles away, but Leimandt won the big disco ball trophy with her expert athleticism.
George Elliman and Michael Ybarra
One thing missing this year: More mention of the Center. True, in the past, the gala suffered through overly graphic descriptions of the nonprofit’s work. We don’t need that. But a nice, new video would do just fine.