Oxford DDA Executive Director Kelly Westbrook (right) poses with Dr. Carl Pesta, winner of the Faith in Action Oakland County Dancing with the Stars. Photo provided.

By Jim Newell
Managing Editor
TROY, Mich. – The local stars were shining during the 10th annual Dancing with the Stars Faith in Action charity event at the San Marino Club in Troy on March 9.
Oxford Chief of Police Mike Solwold and Oxford Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Kelly Westbrook competed in the Oakland County version of Dancing with the Stars, helping raise money for Faith in Action of Oakland County.
Solwold and Westbrook each danced with a professional dancer: Solwold with Meredith Gagne and Westbrook with Ryan Cranson. Westbrook and Solwold went up against six other dance teams in front of a sold-out crowd of 300 people.
And while neither won the competition, both said it was a rewarding experience that benefited a good cause. Funds raised help Faith in Action of Oakland County to provide safe homes for the low-income elderly and disabled homeowners by building ramps and helping make homes more accommodating for those with limited function.
“It was so hard but it was such a great experience because you finally get out there that night and you’re like, ‘Wow, I just did something where coming into it I knew nothing about dancing, and I just performed it in front of all these people,” Wesbrook said. “The whole Faith in Action cause is such a beautiful cause. They’re building ramps for the disabled and elderly people that don’t have the funds and this is helping them get into their homes. Not only did we get to have fun but we also got to support a beautiful cause.”
“When we got there and knew it was sold out we knew we had already won,” Solwold said.
Solwold and Westbrook met their dance partners once a week for three months to learn their routines. Westbrook and Cranson danced the Cha Cha to “Feeling Good Today” while Solwold and Gagne did the Jive to “Jailhouse Rock.”
Performing wasn’t new to Westbrook, who is a former Mrs. Michigan and has competed in pageants throughout her life. Solwold said the experience was “nerve wracking” and he really started to enjoy the evening once his performance was finished.
“You’re scheduling one hour a week to learn this dance so it really comes down to practicing at home…air pods on in my kitchen,” Westbrook said.
“Same thing. I’m downstairs and I’m dancing to Elvis, just beating myself up, like, ‘Oh, you forgot a step,’” Solwold said. “I would get upset at practice and say ‘Stop the music, start over.’ And Meredith would say, ‘You can’t do that.’”
Solwold’s wife, who knew someone at a dance school, enlisted him for Dancing for the Stars.
“I came home and she told me and I was like, ‘What?’ It’s one of those things that’s a challenge. It’s outside of your box. You know, I thought I’ll do it and say I did it and be done with it. I didn’t realize it was going to be as difficult as it was,” Solwold said.
Westbrook said she would take part in Dancing with the Stars again: Solwold said he would be happy to go and watch and support the cause and the dancers.
Westbrook has also arranged to bring Cranson to Washington Square in downtown Oxford on Tuesday nights this summer for line dancing in the square.
“Ryan will be teaching a six-week line dancing class in Washington Square,” she said. “It’s going to be awesome.”
For more information on donating or volunteering with Faith in Action of Oakland County, visit faithinactionoakland.org.