Karen Kistler

karen.kistler@salisburypost.com 

 

Landis residents Tobitha Stewart and Nate Benfield truly had on their dancing shoes and had a great time at the 18th annual Shaggin’ with the Stars.

Held on Jan. 24 in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, the dance competition also served as a benefit to raise money for the Beth Mitchell Memorial Scholarship, which provides help for students to attend college.

When preparing for the event, Stewart set a goal of $500 that she wanted to collect in Benfield’s name to be given toward the scholarship, and they not only met that goal, but surpassed it, as they raised $525.

As for the dancing, she said there were eight couples participating with four men stars dancing with pros and four women stars dancing with pros.

This was the third time for Stewart, a professional shag dancer and instructor, to take part in the competition. She is a two-time champion of the National Shag Dance Championships and two-time champion of the Grand National Dance Championships.

Her dance partner this year was Benfield, a patrol officer with the Landis Police Department. He said he had no experience but was willing to try, and when the competition was over, he said the “experience was absolutely incredible.”

He said that through his time in the military and as an officer he had been through some intense and stressful moments, “but going out in front of 100 people doing something I’ve never done was probably the scariest and hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. Even though it was terrifying, I am so glad I was able to be a part of something bigger.”

Stewart said that it was a “great experience teaching Nathan how to do the Carolina Shag. We had a great time at our practices and a great weekend at the National Shag Dance Championships Prelims weekend performing in the Shagging with the Stars.”

The local pair had their own cheering section that attended the event to encourage them in the competition and Benfield expressed his thanks for those that went to support and cheer him on.

“Everyone was extremely supportive and eager to watch the dance with Tobitha and I,” he said.

The two danced to the Jimmy Liggins’ song “Boogie Woogie King,” and while they didn’t bring home the first place trophy, something Benfield said he was disappointed about, the duo did well.

“The judges announced that this was the closest race they had seen in previous years,” he said. “Knowing I got myself out there and doing something new in front of all those people, and raising more money than expected, we won something even better than a trophy for first place.” 

Stewart said that she was “so proud of Benfield and the dance he put on the floor. He was definitely our No. 1 star that performed.”

Benfield said that he was proud of himself as he noted that the event was “truly a lifetime experience” and that he would like to go back again “because I had the time of my life.”