Updated Sept. 16, 10:18 a.m.

By Elizabeth Farina
efarina@midlothianexchange.com

Heels clicked on the floor to an unheard rhythm as dance couples swirled and turned during another practice at Rigby’s Jig Dance Studio in Richmond. Each moment was filled with a celebration of triumph. The smiles grew with confidence as if each step marked another second, another chance, at enjoying life to the fullest. And these women have a lot to celebrate.

Two-time cancer survivor Cheryl Chandler of Chesterfield wants to learn how to dance. The 2009 Pink Tie Gala, to be held Saturday, Oct. 24, is the perfect opportunity for the 13-year breast cancer survivor, who is a member of the Celebration of Life Dance team. Chandler and dance partner Phil Sisk of Bon Air have decided on the Rumba for their routine.

“I trust my partner,” Chandler said.

Chandler added that the first week was the toughest. “Honestly, I figured I was too old,” she said.

“She found an old partner,” Sisk added with a smile. “We started out with baby steps.” Sisk, president of the Richmond chapter of USA Dance, has been involved with ballroom dancing for the past 15 years. There are currently more than 300 members in the Richmond area, and the group holds two dances a month, he explained. “Cheryl has come a long ways in three weeks,” Sisk said. “Cheryl was timid, but after the first week she was more comfortable.”

The dance partners have been deciding on what the final routine will look like as they develop more steps over the next few weeks. “The most difficult will be to pick up his signals to know where he’s going so not to land on the floor,” Chandler said.

Chandler, however, is ready to dance. Her husband Herman, who she married over 24 years ago, has already picked out a pink cummerbund and pink bow tie for the gala. After the 2009 Pink Tie Gala, Chandler added that Herman may pick up a few dance lessons. “He’s retired and I’ll be retiring soon from the state,” said the payroll and benefits analyst.

For 8-year breast cancer survivor Pat Carnesi, being a member of the Celebration of Life Dance team has been invigorating. She and her dance partner Thomas Mlot will be doing the tango. “I’m excited about learning a new dance,” Carneso said.

She used to shag as a teenager, but the tango offered a chance to be sultry. “He [Mlot] is so easy to follow,” she said.

The Chesterfield resident started practicing two weeks ago and is looking for a short pink dress to wear for the gala. Her husband Don is ready to wear pink. The couple has been married for 17 years and Carnesi just glows talking about him. “He brings me here,” she said. “He took me to all my chemo treatments; every treatment. My family was and is my strength,” she said.

Family was the reason Pink Tie Gala organizer Susan Groves of Chesterfield created the annual event. It wasn’t that Groves’ mother, aunt, sister, daughter or best friend was diagnosed with breast cancer. She decided to create the event because the startling national statistic that one out of every eight women has an average risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime put her daughter at risk. “The risk is high – astronomically high for women and I want to stop that,” Groves said.

“Twenty years from now, if my daughter [Katie] ever was diagnosed with breast cancer, which I hope will be gone, I will know that I’ve done everything that I can do,” she said.

The small business owner has created a memorable evening that benefits the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Richmond affiliate. The addition of the Celebration of Life Dance is “pretty spectacular,” she said. “When those dancers hit that floor – I’ll cry.”

This year, two of the dancers are not survivors but being spotlighted for their contributions in the fight against breast cancer. Local surgeon Dr. James Pellicane and researcher Dr. Diane Baer Wilson will also be putting their dance skills to the test.

“Dr. Pellicane has never danced before. He has 45 days to learn the cha-cha,” Groves said.

Rigby’s Jig Dance Studio owner Eleanor Robertson opened the studio’s doors and classes last year for the team to practice and meet the deadline. “It takes a ton of work,” said dance instructor Ashley Byrd.

Byrd explained that several of the gentlemen dancers who are semi-pro volunteered to support the cause of breast cancer awareness. “Over the next month there will be group classes and we’ll be peeking our heads in to help make adjustments during practice. Obviously the men do not know the woman’s part and we are here to help,” she said.

All levels of sponsorship opportunities are available for the 2009 Pink Tie Gala, which features live music from Casper, a silent auction and dancing. Tickets are sold only in advance at $50 per person with 100 percent of the net proceeds donated to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Richmond affiliate. For more information about the Pink Tie Gala, or to order tickets, visit www.pinktiegala.org.