Meet the Dancers!

You’re invited to meet our dancing stars!  Join PCRI on Tuesday, February 28, for a pre-gala reception at our offices in the historic M. G. Nease house.  These dancing stars have been busy training with Fred Astaire Dance Studio’s instructors (Fred Astaire’s dancers are pictured at right) and will be competing in PCRI’s 20th Anniversary Gala:…

Fred Astaire Dancers

Stephanie Torres | Updates from the Dance Floor

“The Waltz should be an Olympic sport,” said Star Dancer Stephanie Torres when we checked in with her this week.  “After this, I’m going to have thighs to rival [8-time speed skating medalist] Apolo Ohno!” The staff (and our undercover reporters) at Fred Astaire Dance Studio praised Ms. Torres’ dancing ability.  They hinted that she…

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Gov. Kitzhaber + First Lady Hayes | Featured Dancers

Just in!  Oregon’s First Lady Cylvia Hayes will be joining our program as a featured dancer!  She asked if she could perform her featured dance with Governor John Kitzhaber – who were we to turn her down?  We’ll be delighted to have the First Couple join us on the dance floor!  

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Brian Stewart | Updates from the Dance Floor

“After 3 weeks, it has felt like I was dancing on air,” says Brian Stewart, one of our dancing stars.  He adds, “then I realized that I’ve been walking on her feet!  This isn’t as easy as it appears.” The dance instructors (and undercover reporters—shhh!) at Fred Astaire Dance Studio paint a different story, championing…

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Stephanie Torres | Dancer

Stephanie Torres is no stranger to the performance world. A graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, she has done a number of musicals, plays and performances over two decades. The Swizzle Chicks, a swing band she sang with for 10 years, put out an original CD … and more recently she has been seen…

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Gala Kick-Off is a Break Out Success!

The kick-off event for PCRI’s upcoming 20th Anniversary Gala was a great success!  Guests were introduced to two of our star dancers, Trisonya Abraham and Melvin Oden-Orr (who busted out some moves for the crowd), and were treated to some serious break dance moves by b-girl Amber and b-boy Levi (pictured) as well! Several guests…

BREAKout!

Trisonya Abraham | Dancer

Trisonya Abraham is one of the truly elite female women’s basketball representatives in the world today and has been diligently serving clients in professional sports since 1996.  She is fully licensed by both the Women’s National Basketball Player’s Association (WNBPA) and also by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and has served well over 100 WNBA players…

Trisonya

Brian Stewart | Dancer

Brian Stewart is Vice President and Community Relations Officer for JPMorgan Chase & Co., overseeing grant making responsibilities for Oregon, SW Washington and Idaho.  His career spans over twenty-five years in the banking industry with a majority of that time spent in the community development field. Mr. Stewart has served in a variety of capacities…

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Melvin Oden-Orr | Dancer

As a young man, Melvin D. Oden-Orr was excellent at dancing the butterfly.  His specialty, however, is the robot:  “All my friends love when I do the robot,” he says. Mr. Oden-Orr is the principal attorney with Oden-Orr Law.  Prior to founding Oden-Orr Law, he served as corporate counsel with TriMet and the Portland Development…

Oden-Orr Lobby Shot

Deborah Kafoury | Dancer

Deborah Kafoury, Multnomah County Commissioner for District 1, is passionately committed to the county’s efforts to end homelessness, provide affordable housing, and ensure a safety net for all those in need in our community. Prior to being elected to the Commission, Deborah served as N/NE Portland’s Representative in the Oregon Legislature from 1999-2004, including her…

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This premiere gala will be a “don’t miss” evening!

Glide across the red carpet at the Portland Doubletree for a cocktail reception.

Feast on a gourmet plated dinner.

And then … enjoy the dramatic and graceful moves of the ballroom dance competition pairing Portland stars with top dancers from the Fred Astaire Portland Dance Studio.

Register for PCRI's  Dancing With The Stars Portland  Benefit  in Portland, OR  on Eventbrite

 

Dancing with the Stars Portland aims to connect and engage community members as well as raise funds and expand PCRI’s efforts to meet Portland’s affordable housing needs.  Your support of the gala helps preserve existing rental homes, develop new homes for first-time homebuyers and expand PCRI’s award-winning resident services programs.