Frankenmuth’s Dancing with the Local Stars

Dietrich Bronner, product development manager at Bronner’s, and Erin Beller, Bronner’s buyer, are competing against each other in Frankenmuth’s Dancing with the Local Stars March 11 at the Bavarian Inn Lodge! Dietrich is dancing with Denise Ciaravino (Steve Reynolds Dance Studio in Clio) to “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees.

Dietrich is the first third-generation family member to work at Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland. He is the product development manager at the 70-year-old business where he also coordinates production of “Bronner’s Christmas Favorites” catalog.

On a personal note, Dietrich enjoys running and has 45 marathons under his belt. He is also passionate about local food sourcing and preparation and has served as president of the Frankenmuth Farmers Market and Michigan Farmers Market Association. He currently chairs marketing programs for each of these organizations.

Dietrich studied gymnastics with Linda Oehrlein from seven years of age until he was 20 years old. He brings those skills and a little dance experience under Oehrlein’s direction to the Dancing with the Local Stars competition.

Dietrich’s dance partner, Denise Ciaravino, is married to another dancer in this year’s competition, Richard Ciaravino. Denise is retired from running a bakery out of her home and selling her baked goods at the local farmers market. She brings 12 years of dance experience to the competition.

Watch Dietrich and Denise in rehearsal!

Erin (instructor at Miss Christine’s Dance Directions) is dancing with Blake Stapleton to “Move” by Luke Bryan. She has an extensive dance background and has also appeared in commercials, television and film spots, including “Oz the Great and Powerful,” Mariah Carey’s music video “Almost Home” and the TV series “Detroit 1-8-7.” Some of Erin’s former students have performed with the Royal Ballet Company of London, Cirque du Soleil, on Broadway and off Broadway.

Erin is a buyer for Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland. She helps purchase the over 50,000 gifts and trims that are available year-round at 25 Christmas Lane in Frankenmuth.

Erin’s dance partner is Blake Stapleton, fourth-generation member of the family business Stapleton’s Foods. Stapleton’s has been supplying businesses in the Frankenmuth area since 1938.

Watch Erin and Blake in rehearsal!

Erin and her previous dance partner Zak McClellan won Dancing with the Local Stars in 2016.

Will she be able to repeat in 2017?

Dancing with the Local Stars is a Frankenmuth Foundation fundraiser to bring a splash pad to Frankenmuth. A splash pad is a recreational water-play area with little or no standing water. Ground nozzles spray water up and tall features shower water down and from all directions.

Do you love music and dancing as much as we do? Perhaps you’d even like your very own tiny dancer to grace the branches of your Christmas tree! Check out all the music, dance and theater ornaments we have available over at Bronners.com.
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