Steve Gillis AKA ‘Captain Jitterbug', has enjoyed being a part of the Montana dance community for more than forty years. Although he is known mostly as a western dance instructor, he has taught numerous classes in ballroom and Latin dance at the university level. This is his fifth year as a panel judge for Dancing with the Big Sky Stars.
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Dr. Mary Gaddy is a Neurologist at the Billings Clinic with a rewarding passion for dance which has led her to compete locally, regionally, and nationally. Her dancing has motivated colleagues, friends and most of all her patients toward a healthy living lifestyle. She danced as an exhibition dancer in 2016 and this is her 4th year as a panel judge for Dancing with the Big Sky Stars.
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Dave was born and raised in NE Montana, and attended college in Williston ND and here in Billings. He and his wife, Kristi, have lived in Billings for 20 years, and have raised our children here. He has worked as a DJ for over 15 years on either radio, at weddings, or at other events in our community. He was a celebrity dancer in the 2019 Dancing with the Big Sky Stars and he and his dance partner, Patricia Lambert, won the People's Choice Award.
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I am one of the 2018 DWS participants. It was such a great experience that I came back the following year as a co-emcee with fellow alumni Leif Welhaven and Becky Meisenheimer. I have been an active member in the senior community since 2011, along with serving on several boards including the Montana Gerontology Society, Explorer's Academy and Junior League of Billings. I have been a nationally certified S.R.E.S. realtor, specializing in real estate for seniors across MT for the past 2.5 years, I am a co-owner of Harmony HomeCare of MT, a non-medical homecare agency based out of Billings. My other senior related certifications are as a Certified Senior Advisor and a Nationally Certified Alzheimer's and Dementia Care Practitioner Trainer. I have been the facilitator for the Billings Senior Coalition on Aging for nearly 10 years, have been a chair and co-chair for the Walk to End Alzheimer's, the Senior Sports and Arts Festival and am the co-founder for the Mulligans for Memories Golf Tournaments for the past 6 years.
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Kim’s passion is inspiring people to uncork their souls on the dance floors of their lives. Formally trained in tap, classical ballet, jazz, Afro-Brazilian, Ballroom and the Nia Technique®, Kim created her own form of a dance class in Billings, Soul Dance, in 2003, as a means to expedite her healing from a head/neck injury and was invited to begin teaching classes in music, instruments, dance, and creative movement to various Billings developmentally challenged adult day-programs including Growth Thru Art. Kim taught Nia classes (combination of martial arts, healing arts, and dance arts), Soul Dance classes, day-program classes, and created and produced dance and movement workshops and weekend retreats in Billings and Red Lodge from 2004-2007 as well as enjoying being one of the founding on-set personalities for the wellness focused Billings cable television show, The Woo Woo Girls. This is Kim's first year with Dancing with the Big Sky Stars.
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Dr. Barbara Dudczak is a Cardiologist at Billings Clinic. She was born in Poland, and moved to the US after completing medical school. Her daughter is also pursuing a career in medicine. In Barbara’s spare time, she enjoys exercise and has competed in a body building competition! She enjoys taking on new challenges and is especially passionate about supporting the mission of Dancing with the Big Sky Stars. She was a celebrity dancer in the 2018 Dancing with the Big Sky Stars and she and her dance partner, Andrew Baker, won the People's Choice Award.
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I got to participate in Dancing with the Big Sky Stars a few years ago and won the “People’s Choice” award. Which means the judges picked someone else based on talent, but my friends had deeper pockets because the votes are purchased. I love to dance and I totally support the mission of Big Sky Services and so am thrilled to able to to participate again this year as a judge. I love to dance. My kids roll their eyes when I dance with my wife in the kitchen when she is trying to make dinner and they cringe when I dance by myself in the store. We have lived in Billings for 7 years and absolutely love it. I grew up in Idaho, but have lived all over. I have four amazing children, a fantastic wife and work at the Billings Clinic as a surgeon.
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Raised in Salt Lake City, he discovered dance in the form of Zumba while going to the gym as part of physical therapy in the early 2000s. His experience with physical therapy inspired him to transition out of research and pursue a medical degree, culminating in 2019 when he became a board certified Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation physician. He continued to regularly attend dance classes of various sorts during his medical training in cities including in Miami, Pittsburg, and Houston, even joining the amateur hip-hop group "1up Dance Cru" in Houston. He was a celebrity in DWTBSS in 2020 and is starting his first year in 2021 as a judge.
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Becky has been involved with Dancing With the Big Sky Stars from the beginning by serving on the planning committee, creating decorations/centerpieces for the event and having the privilege of participating in many other various roles. The very first year of DWBSS she kept Lyle and Steve inline as one of the judges, scared the judging panel her second year as a competitor, and has tried to steal the microphone from Jay Kohn as co-emcee each year since then. Becky has about 14 years experience in geriatrics and senior healthcare. She values the mission, vision and values of Big Sky Senior Services and is honored to be part of such a wonderful event for such a special organization.
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Maribel Parman is originally from Chihuahua, Mexico. She is a Spanish Teacher at West High School. She is also a dance teacher in different studios in town and is currently directing RaizEtna Dance Company.
She established the non profit organization call El'S Clay. She is Co directing this company to bring positive and valuable messages to society through performances with a variety of arts. She was a dance instructor for Dancing with the Big Sky Stars in 2019 and she and her partner, Justin Duke, won 1st place. |
Kevin Sider works at St. John’s Lutheran Ministries and serves as Executive Director of Mission Ridge and WyndStone, two senior living communities in Billings, MT. He has been with St. John’s for the past 18 years and has served in nonprofit healthcare administration for 25+ years. He graduated from Concordia College with a Bachelor of Arts in Business-Health Administration. He was a celebrity dancer for the first Dancing with the Big Sky Stars in 2016 and he and his partner, Patricia Lambert, took first place. He returned the next year as a judge and we are excited to have him as a judge again this year.
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Al Ward is currently the Volunteer State President for Montana AARP. Before becoming State President, he served on AARP Montana’s Executive Council for six years. Prior to serving as a volunteer, Al was the outreach director for AARP in Montana from 2001 until 2009 and from 1998 to 2001 he was a Consumer Representative and then an Economic Security Representative serving in the AARP Regional Office in Seattle, WA.
Al in his various capacities with AARP in Montana, has worked closely with Big Sky Senior Services. He has served on the PEP council, cosponsored Elder Abuse Training, and currently serves with Denise Armstrong on the Eastern Montana Elder Justice Council. Al was one of the first dancers in the Dancing with the Big Sky Stars and has consistently supported Big Sky Senior Services. Al lives in Billings, Montana with his wife Bea Ann. |
Local celebrity Leif Welhaven is a Billings Native and passionate about all things Billings, especially the people! He shows his passion through his involvement with the National Exchange Club (community service clubs) where he holds the office of Regional Vice President of Region #2 which encompasses MT, ID, WA, OR, AK, HI, CO, UT, NM and AZ. Leif has been chosen to speak at the upcoming TEDx Billings Program scheduled for Spring 2022. He is also writing a book called "Trajectory" and lastly he just launched a new Podcast called "Reinvention with Leif Welhaven." On any given weekend, Leif can be found at numerous charitable functions and fundraisers where he tries to use his gift of influence to bring awareness & monetary gifts to their organizations. He was a celebrity dancer for the Dancing with the Big Sky Stars 2018.
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