MEET THE DANCERS

Joe & Mary Barbera, AIDA Bistro & Wine Bar
Presented by Cruise Vacations International, Inc.
Howard Community College
Jordan’s Steakhouse

Check out Joe & Mary strutting their stuff!
Take II

Tell us something interesting about yourselves?

We met on the Chicago Northwestern train while commuting to downtown Chicago, MANY years ago. Our families lived only 3 miles apart in the same hometown of Glenview, Illinois. Not only are we Midwesterners but also die-hard Cubs fans.

We have five children ranging in age from 26 to 5 years old. Our oldest daughter became engaged over the holidays and we are looking forward to practicing our dance steps for the celebration next October.

We own AIDA Bistro & Wine Bar.

We think HoCo Tourism rocks!

In your life (until SOIREE) tell us about your favorite dancing moment (prom, wedding, other?)

In High School, “sock hops” were the rave. We’d dance to the local live band “Chicago” (before lip synching)

Who is your favorite dancer, dancing scene from a movie / musical, etc:

Joe doesn’t like musicals, but Mary loved Sound of Music.

Why on earth did you decide to do SOIREE (great cause, great fun, bought new shoes, Tourism begged you to...?)

Rachelina viewed us tripping over each other on the dance floor of last years’ Restaurant Association Gala. She thought we could use the lessons.

Rachelina made us an offer we couldn’t refuse.

Joe is on the Howard County Tourism Board and active with the Tourism Restaurant Weeks.

All of the above!

What will make your performance DAZZLE?

Our smiles and deft moves.

Who will be cheering, clapping for you?

Da family, friends and anyone else that we can pay to come and cheer us on!

Dan & Mary Esmond, Abbington Home
Presented by
The Douglas Rice Doudt for Hope Foundation
IP Data, Inc.
Rsignia, Inc.
Towncreek Landscaping and Construction

Check out Dan & Mary strutting their stuff!

Tell us something interesting about yourselves?

Mary owns a retail furnishings and design store, Abbington Home, in Howard County. Mary has volunteered in many fundraising and volunteer roles in our community, and was recently nominated to the board of trustees for Howard Community College beginning July 1st, 2009. She is the former President of the Preakness Celebration and remains on that board. She also serves as the age group coordinator for girls 10 basketball in Western Howard County and coaches one of her daughter’s team. A 17- year cancer survivor!

Dan is a former U.S. Secret Service agent on the VP detail and of course, the rest is a secret! He is currently a special agent with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and President of the National Anthem Celebration Foundation, Inc., to promote and celebrate the 200th anniversary of the writing of our National Anthem at Fort McHenry in 2014, through events and education.

We have two daughters, Caroline, age 10, and Georgia, age 8, who are actively involved in extra curricular activities including Howard County sports. A favorite vacation spot is Maui, Hawaii where our good friends (now best friends!) live.

In your life (until SOIREE) tell us about your favorite dancing moment (prom, wedding, other?)

Our wedding…..we practiced and practiced and the dip was successful! On a bad note, he dropped me many years later at another event!

Who is your favorite dancer, dancing scene from a movie / musical, etc:

We love everything you see on Dancing with the Stars, in old movies, and even current styles like Beyonce “Single Ladies”.

Why on earth did you decide to do SOIREE (great cause, great fun, bought new shoes, Tourism begged you to...?)

You picked Mary’s birth date for your soiree and she twisted Dan’s arm! After all, what better way to turn one year older than working hard toward another goal in life!

What will make your performance DAZZLE?

Likely our passion for hard work and reward, fun, excitement and the element of surprise…we recognize that we owe it to your paying guests to get some entertainment value and hope to WOW them or at least, make them laugh!

Who will be cheering, clapping for you?

Why don’t you know? The event is already sold out!

Matt & Alison Eyre, Eyre Bus, Tour & Travel
Presented by Eyre Bus, Tour & Travel
Toby's Dinner Theatre of Columbia
Turf Valley Resort

Check out Matt & Alison strutting their stuff!

Tell us something interesting about yourselves?

Matt is the Vice President at Eyre Bus, Tour and Travel, a family owned business celebrating over 60 years. As many of you know, Matt is always “On top of the world” and his company was awarded “Motor coach Operator of the Year”. Matt however is only allowed to drive the bus in the parking lot. Matt is the former Chairman of the Board for the office of Howard County Tourism and currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Howard County Chamber of Commerce.

Alison is an IT Recruiter and Partner at Strategic Resource Group, an IT staffing firm in Columbia MD. She is very involved in the Armed Forces Communications Electronics Association (AFCEA) organization and is the Deputy Treasurer of the Central MD Chapter. She was a competitive gymnast in her younger years and played Field Hockey and Lacrosse at Randolph-Macon where Alison and Matt met. Alison’s brother is an actor/movie star and is one of the leads in a new 3D movie “My Bloody Valentine” which premiered in January. Formerly, Jack McPhee on Dawson’s Creek.

We have two VERY energetic daughter’s, August, age 3 and Brinkley, age 2.


In your life (until SOIREE) tell us about your favorite dancing moment (prom, wedding, other?)

Dancing together at Matt’s fraternity house at R-MC doing the pretzel to any song that was played with a couple of six packs under our belt.

Who is your favorite dancer, dancing scene from a movie / musical, etc:

Elaine from Seinfeld. She got the moves!

Why on earth did you decide to do SOIREE (great cause, great fun, bought new shoes, Tourism begged you to...?)
We want to support Howard County Tourism and its initiatives, have fun, and would like a shot at keeping the “dancing with the stars” trophy in the family.

What will make your performance DAZZLE?
Sizzling hot moves, fancy outfits, and a passionate twist.

Who will be cheering, clapping for you?
Hopefully everyone.
Especially our two daughters who are getting a live video feed.

Brock & Julie Yesto, Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults
Presented by The Columbia Triathlon Association

Check out Brock & Julie strutting their stuff!
Take II

Tell us something interesting about yourselves?

- Newlyweds! November 8, 2008
- Both born and raised in Howard County and families still live here
- Both goalkeepers and first met on a soccer field in Howard County years ago and reconnected on the one of the same fields some 20 years later when they started dating together.
- Both played soccer in college – Julie (UCLA and Loyola of Baltimore),Brock (Virginia)
- Brock played in the NCAA National Championship in1997 against – UCLA!...Julie was a goalkeeper there for their women’s team at the time
- Both work in the cancer field – Julie’s a Physician Asst. in Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at Univ. MD Cancer Center, Brock runs the Ulman Fund
- We both do triathlons and marathons – We’ve done a couple ½ Ironman distance races together and Brock did a full Ironman in 2007. Ran Boston Marathon together
- Probably the youngest couple in the competition?

In your life (until SOIREE) tell us about your favorite dancing moment (prom, wedding, other?)

Julie – as a kid she ran off the stage during a ballet recital
Brock – as a kid, he won a Michael Jackson break dance competition
Together – our first dance at our wedding….although we took lessons and planned to Wow everyone, once we walked on the floor in front of 225 of our closest friends and family, I everything we learned went out the window we stumbled around the dance floor – lets hope that doesn’t happen at Soire!

Who is your favorite dancer, dancing scene from a movie / musical, etc:

Julie - Justin Timberlake
Brock – old school - Michael Jackson (before he opened up Neverland Ranch to the public – Thriller and Beat It days) now – Brittney in her prime

Why on earth did you decide to do SOIREE (great cause, great fun, bought new shoes, Tourism begged you to...?)

Cause ahead of everything! We’re both representing where we work – Univ. MD Cancer Center and Ulman Cancer Fund – so anything that will raise awareness for those causes. And, both being natives of the county, Howard Community College and Howard County Tourism are on our favorites list!

Of course though, Rachelina also kinda begged us into it. But, we spent money on dance lessons for our wedding and didn’t really Wow people so this is our 2nd chance.

What will make your performance DAZZLE?

- Some luck
- A lot of practice
- A song and dance routine that is fresh, energetic, young and dazzling!

Who will be cheering, clapping for you?

Our sponsor – Columbia Triathlon Association – if Rob Vigorito and his team bring the same energy (and bull-horn) they bring to their world class events in the county, we’re in good hands.

Fellow Triathletes & runners – when we’re not practicing dancing or working to help people with cancer, we’re on a bike, in a pool or running with friends. These are the people we meet at 6 am for early morning workouts – they’ve seen us at our worst so they’d better come out to see us at our best.

Our family and friends – both being natives of Howard County, we hope to bring a crowd of family and friends to show us some love!

The County Executive – I run the foundation his family started…he’d better be on our side.

MEET ARTHUR MURRAY

General Mangers Tara Mungra and Linda Theiss

You too can learn to Dance Like a Star!
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Instructor what you'd like to learn about the Ballroom or Latin dances.
Enjoy a Free Private Dance Lesson with us. Call today!
Learn to Dance Like a Star from the people who teach the stars!