Editor’s Note: Dancing with the Locals is a charity fundraising event for the Noon Rotary Club of Plant City. Each year, eight to 13 couples compete in the competition for two awards: best dancers and most money raised.
Heather Dykstra’s day starts at 4 a.m. and doesn’t slow down until mid-afternoon.
But between being a mom, a personal trainer and writing a column for the Plant City Times & Observer, Dykstra has still found the time to squeeze one more event into her packed calendar: competing in the annual Dancing with the Locals competition Friday, Nov. 13 with her husband, Darry Dykstra.
The Plant City natives, who have been married for seven years, were asked to compete in the annual fundraiser by event founder Lisa McGrath. Neither have competed in the competition before, but Heather Dykstra was part of a showcase performed at the event a few years ago.
“We’ve been to the show before,” Heather Dykstra said. “I was all for it.”
The couple will be doing a contemporary mix of hip-hop and swing. They have no prior dance training, but both are avid exercisers. Darry Dykstra hits the gym every day, in addition to running and owning Dykstra Construction. Heather Dykstra runs Tabata Boot Camp out of Fierce Athletics Competitive Cheerleading and Gymnastics. She also teaches classes at the YMCA.
They are taking lessons two times per week from Kevin Rios, who owns Just Dance, in Lakeland.
“He’s awesome,” Heather Dykstra said. “He listened to our music and right on the spot came up with stuff.”
Scheduling has been difficult because of the couple’s busy schedule.
“I’m a business owner,” Darry Dykstra said. “It pretty much never turns off.”
With the competition less than a month away, the Dykstras are doing well with sponsorships and excited about giving back to their hometown community — even if it took some convincing.
“I’m just doing it to make (Heather) happy,” Darry Dykstra said. “I didn’t know what kind of commitment I was signing up for when I agreed to do this.”
“Lisa asked me, and it just sounded like something fun,” Heather Dykstra said. “It’s something I haven’t done before. It’s kind of out of the box for me.”
The couple was especially excited when they saw the breakdown of the competition’s fundraising efforts, which will go toward scholarships and Plant City Little League, among other organizations.
“I think it’s awesome,” Heather Dykstra said. “That was one of the main reasons that I wanted to do it.”
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com
What is your favorite song to dance to?
“I always play 80s music when I’m cleaning and doing dishes,” Heather Dykstra said.
What are you most looking forward to?
“For it to be over,” Darry Dykstra said.
“For it to be over, but for us to do a good job,” Heather Dykstra said. “I want to know that we did good.”
Do you have any prior dance experience?
No.
IF YOU GO – DANCING WITH THE LOCALS
WHEN: 6:30 to 11 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13
WHERE: John R. Trinkle Center, 1206 N. Park Road
CONTACT: DWTL Chair Jodi Stevens (813) 716-0908