The 8th annual Dancing With The Stars fundraiser for the Marshall County Neighborhood Center will be held on Saturday, February 6th at the Swan Lake Resort.
Ike Huls is one of dancers for this year’s event. Born in1940 with cerebral palsy his parents were told he would not live or if he did live he would need to be put in an institution. They refused to accept this fate and immediately found the help Ike needed to flourish and grow.
Until the age of 13 Ike was unable to walk. He crawled where ever he went. Ike’s mother met with Indiana Governor Schricker and demanded help for her son. Within two weeks Ike was at Riley hospital and became what he calls a “guinea pig” for the leg surgery that stretched his tendons and allowed him to walk upright.
After finishing eight grades of school, the school board told Ike he was 16 and didn’t need to comeback. In her persuasive way, Ike’s mother had a discussion with the school board and they agreed to let him back to school. Ike enrolled in River Forrest High School in East Gary where he graduated in 1963 in the top half of his class.
Ike came to the Plymouth area with his parents in 1971 living in the country between Plymouth and Culver. Feeling isolated Ike developed many interests that he still enjoys today. Ike collects trains, cars, and friends.
In 2006 Ike moved to Miller’s Senior Living Community where he would enjoy being around people and make new friends and enjoy new experiences. He enjoys using the computer, riding through the neighborhood on his scooter, music of all kinds and he loves to exercise at Lifeplex twice a week.
Ike Huls’s choreographer is Mewsette Cartwright. Dancing for two decades, she began as a Contemporary dancer in 1994 and later fell in love with Ballroom dancing in 2006. In 2010 Mewsette became a nationally certified dance instructor. She is also a certified a group Yoga Instructor, retired Zumba Instructor and Personal Trainer. Mewsette is currently the LifePlex Dance Academy (LDA) Director, since 2006. She is currently pursuing a degree in Business Administration at Ancilla College and is the Ancilla Chargers Dance Team Coach. Her life purpose as a Professional Dance Instructor/Coach/Choreographer is to provide the best service and quality training for her students. Her mission is to help dancers attain their personal goals and dreams of dance, one step at a time.
Tickets are $75 each and include appetizers, a delicious buffet dinner, the Dancing With the Stars competition, silent and live auctions and dancing. Voting is now underway for your favorite dancers at $20 per vote on line at https://www.events.org.
