The Civilized Life in Sarasota: CANDance 2013

(Editor's Note - I will be relaunching this blog on November 12 with a whole new look, publishing schedule, and added features. Until then I will be posting sporadically on all things fabulous in Sarasota!)

Scott George and his chairs, Jackie Rogers and Penny Hill have done it again! Community AIDS Network's 2013 CANDance was so much fun! Have you been before? It really is one of the most entertaining events on the social scene.

Michael's On East ballroom was hot, hot, hot covered in red from ceiling to floor making everyone bask in a nice rosy glow. The food was quite good ending with a big slab of chocolate cake with a yummy mousse center - the best part, I thought!

A very informative video was shown explaining that the largest increase in new AIDS patients was the senior population - information surely to pique the interest of Sarasota! They also mentioned they would be opening a new facility in North Port to serve South County residents.

Taxi dances always fill the dance floor in the early part of the evening as "professionals and their clients" (for some reason I always got a kick every time I heard that phrase that night) swung around the dance floor to various styles of dancing, ending in a big twerking exhibition! Please, you don't even want to know who I saw doing a little twerk!

Michael Klauber did his usual terrific job auctioneering several fun items including a trip to Napa and one to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, adding to the coffers of the evening.

Now for the main event, which was emceed by Bob Trisolini and Bob Nosal. The celebrity dancers were L,Boutique owner LeeAnne Swor, attorney William McComb, fitness trainer Cinde Carroll, Sonnet Gallery owner Ramses Serrano, philanthropist Wendy Feinstein, Center for Sight's Dr. John Fezza, and Private Physician Services' Eve Caballero.

There were various levels of dancing, but everyone looked like they were trying very hard and put on a good show. The sexy star of the evening was John Fezza in what looked like a little Fifty Shades of Grey performance. As a follow-up, he did what couldn't be called anything other than a strip tease and sold his sweaty t-shirt for $1100. That man has confidence to spare!

Eve Caballero won the "raising the most money" prize and Wendy Feinstein won the popular vote for best dancer.

Others seen were John Mason, Jim Neal and Ron Carter, Michael Zuckerberg, Ken and Peggy Abt, Cindy and Michael Cuffage, Lisa Rubinstein, Pam Daniel and George Augustin, Susan McLeod, Gloria Moss and Jim Helmich, Jim and Bev Marsh, Bill and Elle McComb, Howard Millman and Carolyn Michel, Rick Defuria, Joy Rowe, Renee Sheade, David and Yara Shoemaker, Myrna and David Band, Evan Berlin, and oh so many more.