March of Dimes committee member Amanda Condon, one of 10 staffers working on the event, said the nonprofit chose Galleria Marchetti because the outdoor patio and tented pavilion space is “beautiful enough to hold up on its own” (and because the organization lacks the budget for a highly decorated affair). The venue also provided lighting, sound, and rentals, consolidating costs for the event. Though “Dance for Babies” is more of an awareness event than a fund-raiser, it doubled in attendance and raised more money this year.Some 200 guests filed through Galleria Marchetti's wrought-iron gates onto the 5,000-square-foot outdoor patio, where a cheery banner in the nonprofit's signature purple hung on a trellis. Guests chose between two bars offering wine and cocktails from sponsors Barefoot Wines, Budweiser, Leblon Rum, Prairie Vodka, and Starbucks Liqueur. Members of the volunteer committee pitched in to help venue staff man the busy bars.
Galleria Marchetti set up a tented station for hors d'oeuvres, which consisted of dishes such as smoked salmon, bruschetta, kabobs, and bacon-wrapped scallops. Uniformed servers also passed jumbo stuffed mushrooms and a variety of pizzas. (While the food offerings were more than substantial, limited seating and table space left some guests struggling to eat and drink at the same time.)
In the 6,000-square-foot tented pavilion, however, seating was not an issue, with round tables for 10 filling the room. When selecting Galleria Marchetti as the venue, Condon noted the rustic-yet-elegant chandeliers were a key feature aesthetically, and the built-in dance floor at the far end of the room made sense from a functional standpoint.
The competing celebrity dancers included Fox-Chicago meterologist Amy Freeze, NBC-5 morning news anchor Zoraida Sambolin, reality star Jen Schefft of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, CLTV-Metromix host Marcus Leshock, Chicago Sun-Times columnist Dr. Lauren Streicher, and Jane Marcus, senior partner and practice leader for executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles. The contestants teamed up with instructors from local Fred Astaire Dance Studios for six to eight weeks of rehearsals. After each pair performed a tango and a cha cha routine, Freeze, the mother of an adopted premature daughter, was declared the 2008 champion. Following the competition, professional instructors lead guests in a mini dance lesson.
