PHOTOS: 17th annual Dancing with the Stars Quinte in the books

A sold-out crowd took in the return of Dancing with the Stars Quinte at the Empire Theatre Friday night.

The 17th annual edition of the event saw eight couples compete with each couple bringing a different style of dance to the stage.

“Our first year back here just feels amazing,” Executive Director of Volunteer + Info Hastings-Prince Edward (VIQ) Brenda Snider tells Quinte News after the event.

“This year our contestants were just so excited to be here, and it just is a feeling of joy, really.”

Each couple was paired with a dance instructor and after several weeks learned a routine to perform in front of an audience.

“We kind of get a feeling for what the dancers wanted, what kind of style they want to do and we are so incredibly blessed because we have dance instructors that can do everything from ballroom to hip hop to character dancing, to all kinds of things,” Snider explained about the selection process.

“So when we do that match, it’s really based on that and personality, time frames that are available and then they work with their instructor, they pick the music, they pick the costumes, the choreographers work with them. What they choreograph is based on what they can do, what is good for them, what makes them look good. So it really makes our dancers shine.”

Snider says while each competitorswants to win the coveted mirror ball trophy, they also support and cheer each other on.

“You see the camaraderie, the cheering on of each other, they were having fun, they were laughing, they were joking,” Snider said.

“It’s such a wonderful feeling. It’s such a feel good feeling to be a part of this.”

All funds raised from the event go back to VIQ.

“We are key to 284 agencies,” Snider says of the role VIQ plays.

“I average about 45 interviews a month with volunteers. So that is manpower in the community supporting agencies that otherwise would not have the capability to recruit on that level.”

A judging panel consisting of last year’s winners, Evan Furmidge and Kailey Smith, and runners up, Taylor Russett and Emilie Leneveu, gave thoughts on each of the performances with voting up to the audience through QR codes placed across the theatre.

The following teams were able to podium for this year’s event.

1. Samantha Foley & Jonathan Geller
2. Vicki MacDonald & Jared Augustin
3. Lisa Francis & Chris Blackburn

The event is expected to return to the Empire Theatre for 2026.

The total amount of funds raised from the event is expected to be released soon.

Photo Gallery found below: