Saturday, January 23, 2027 · 6pm · The Ritz-Carlton
JOIN us for a night
20 years in the making
For our 20th year, become a part of our legacy by sponsoring the biggest Dancing with the St. Louis Stars yet. Choose your level, lock in priority table(s) and celebrate two decades of changing lives.
We sold out last year. And the year before that. Make your sponsorship commitment by November 1st to guarantee your table.
Dancer leaderboard
Meet the
2027 Stars
$[TOTAL]
Raised so far
Katie Drew
Strength Coach
$124,805
Anthony Galloway
Independence Center
$88,125
Adam Marles
EverTrue
$85,571
Brad Liebman
HOK
$78,025
Stephanie Oliver
Dielmann Sotheby's International Realty
$61,390
Jeff Wade
AACC STL
$55,855
Ranked by dollars raised. Every vote is a donation to Independence Center. Click the Dancer’s Vote button to donate on their Dancing fundraising page.
20 Years of Dancing. 20 Years of Impact.
What is Dancing?
Supporting mental health
with every step.
Since 2007, Dancing with the St. Louis Stars has paired St. Louis executives and community leaders with professional dancers for one glamorous night of competition. Each Star learns a two-minute routine in seven lessons, then takes the floor at The Ritz-Carlton before a panel of guest judges. Guests vote for their favorites in real time, and every vote is a donation that moves the live leaderboard.
★ Cocktail hour ★ Dinner ★ Live competition ★ Winner crowned at the close of the night
JOIN US FOR THIS MILESTONE EVENT
Sponsorship is your
seat at the table.
20th Anniversary Presenting
Prominent logo placement as presenting partner across all event collateral, digital platforms and printed materials. Opportunity to provide a sponsor statement for PR and a Society publication feature, plus a potential personal interview sharing your connection to IC’s mission. Full-page program ad in prime placement and a dedicated recognition feature post.
Leaderboard
$40,000
2 tables · 20 tickets
Premium seating
Prominent logo placement on the live fundraising leaderboard and across all print and digital collateral, with verbal recognition every time the leaderboard is referenced. Sponsor statement for PR and Society feature, half-page ad, dedicated post.
Cocktail Hour
$30,000
2 tables · 20 tickets
Premium seating
Brand presence throughout the VIP cocktail hour and logo across event collateral. Half-page program ad and individual recognition post.
Cha Cha
$20,000
2 tables · 20 tickets
Preferred seating
Logo visibility across event collateral and on-site signage. Quarter-page program ad and individual recognition post.
Tango Topper
$10,000
1 table · 10 tickets
Preferred seating
Logo in the event program, on the website and on signage. Program logo listing and group recognition post with fellow Tango Topper sponsors.
Virtual Sponsor — $3,000
Logo on the website and in the event program, plus recognition during the livestream broadcast. No seating included.
Reserve your sponsorship
Claim
your table.
Sponsor tables are released first — before remaining tables open to the public. Commit by November 1st to guarantee your table. Your gift directly supports Independence Center’s mental health programs and services.
Trouble with the form? Open the sponsorship page in a new tab ↗
Questions? Contact Us! · dancing@independencecenter.org
Last year · 2026
See the view from
Your table this year.
$496,871
Raised AT DANCING 2026
2026 Stars
| Katie Drew · Strength Coach | $124,805 |
| Anthony Galloway · Independence Center | $88,125 |
| Adam Marles · EverTrue | $85,571 |
| Brad Liebman · HOK | $78,025 |
| Stephanie Oliver · Dielmann Sotheby’s | $61,390 |
| Jeff Wade · AACC STL | $55,855 |
Thank you to our 2026 sponsors
Why we dance
A Place to feel
Needed, wanted and expected.
For 45 years, Independence Center has stood alongside St. Louis adults living with serious mental illness — connecting members to employment, housing, education, wellness and a community built on the Clubhouse model. Dancing is IC’s single largest fundraiser of the year.
Meet the 2027 Stars this November. Voting opens then — every vote is a gift towards Independence Center.
Make a night of it
Stay at the Ritz-Carlton
Group-rate rooms are available for Dancing guests. Book by [CUTOFF DATE]: call 1-800-960-7056 and mention [GROUP CODE], or book online at ritzcarlton.com with [KING CODE] (king) / [QUEEN CODE] (two queens).
Dancing Alumni
2026
Katie Drew – Strength Coach
Anthony Galloway – Independence Center
Brad Liebman – HOK
Adam Marles – EverTrue
Stephanie Oliver – Dielmann Sotheby’s International Realty
Jeff Wade – AACCSTL
2025
Jennifer Bardot – G.R.I.T.
Lauren DeSantis-Then – Polsinelli Law Firm
Sean Freeman – GadellNet
Claire Flanagan – Independence Center
Sekhar Prabhakar – CEdge
Mary Sigurdson – Philanthropist
Kristin Tucker – TDK Technologies
2024
Sara Yang Bosco – Emerson
Matt Slater – St. Louis Cardinals
Matt Sebek – STL CITY SC
Carmen Fronczak – Friendship Village
Kelly Whittenbrink – Thompson Street Capital Partners
Gannesh Iyeerr – Independence Center
2023
Dan Guirl – GAT Finishing Systems
Nick and Tyan Ragone – Ascension
Barbara Archer – Hightower Wealth Advisors
Tyler Johns – Edward Jones
Danielle Rose – Independence Center
2022
Abbey Eilermann – Daily Disco
Kevin Travers – Premium Retail Services
Jim Turley – Ernst & Young
Gilberto Pinela – Cortex Innovation Community
George Brooks – Independence Center
2021
2020
Nancy Stoudt – Washington University
James Craven – Wells Fargo Advisors
Angelleen Peters-Lewis – Barnes Jewish Hospital
Laurie Phillips – TerraSource Global
Lynn Ann Vogel – Vogel Law Office
Chris Hampel – Independence Center
2019
Ally and Lisa Nichols – Technology Partners
Matt Bukhshtaber – CBRE
Kristin Johnson – Edward Jones
Fred Kostecki – RubinBrown
Elizabeth Mannen – Mannen Financial Group of Wells Fargo Advisors
Lisa Rodgers – Independence Center
2018
Mark Bulanda – Emerson
Matt Geekie – Graybar
Nancy Gilbride – Centene Corporation
Lauren Herring – IMPACT Group
Dan Rothery – BJC Home Care and Community Services
Deandra Smith– Independence Center
2017
Maureen Borkowski – Ameren
Jim Brennan – McKelvey Homes
Ron Daugherty – Daugherty Business Solutions
Marcela Manjarrez Hawn – Centene Corporation
Bob Tomaso – Husch Blackwell
Sandra Van Trease – BJC Healthcare
Brittny Adams – Independence Center
2016
Todd Bastean – Bunge North America
Penny Pennington – Edward Jones
Tom O-Meara – Moneta Group
Tim Wentworth – Express Scripts
Ed Monser – Emerson
Julie Van Etten – Scottrade
Marco Mino – Independence Center
2015
Mark Trudeau – Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals
Tishaura Jones – City of St. Louis
Dr. Benjamin Akande – Westminister College
Norma McGehee – Glady’s Manion Real Estate
Terri Hodges – Independence Center
2014
Sue McCollum – Major Brands Premium Beverage Distributors
Warner Baxter – Ameren
Tom Minogue– Thompson Coburn
Cynthia Mercer – Mercy
Nicole Genovese – Genovese Jewelers
David Diener – The Private Client Reserve
Sheila Young – Independence Center
2013
Joe Brinker – Bethesda
Steve Lipstein – BJC Healthcare
Laura Kathleen Planck – Fashion Designer
Suzanne Sitherwood – Spire
Mary Ann Srenco – Kranzberg Family Foundation
2012
Ron Kruszewski – Stifel
Kent Christian – Wells Fargo Advisors
Pat Whitaker – Arcturis
Ann Marr – World Wide Technology
Melanie Moon – KPLR 11
Steve Name – Independence Center
2011
Arnold Donald – Carnival Cruise Line
Claire Kellent – KMOV News 4
Craig Schnuck – Schnucks
Jim Castellano – RubinBrown
Monica Adams – Fox 2 News/KMOX Radio
Stephanie Riven – The Riven Company
Michelle Tibbs – Independence Center
2009
Dick Schul – Emerson
Vicki Newton – KMOV News 4
Kim Tucci – The Pasta House Co.
Jeanne Roberts Johnson – Armstrong Teasdale
Ann Jennings DiFranco – Community Volunteer
Tim Jacobs – Independence Center
2007
Debra Bass – St. Louis Post Dispatch
Cindy Brinkley – Centene Corporation
Becky – Queen of Carpet
McGraw Milhaven – KTRS Radio
Virginia Kerr – KMOV News 4
Jack Buck, Jr. – Cornerstone Mortgage
Ralph Butler – Ralph Butler Band
Bruce Shelton – Independence Center