Eddy County Stars Assist Worthy Cause with Excitement

By Misty Cryer

Prep is underway for “Dancing with the Eddy County Stars” of 2026. The lineup has been announced, and ticket sales, donations, and sponsorships are steadily rolling in to support the work United Way of Eddy County does to benefit the county’s residents and communities.

This entertaining and impactful event is scheduled for March 20 at the Walter Gerrells Performing Arts and Exhibition Center. Cocktail Hour is from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., with the competition running from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Through friendly rivalry, the Eddy County Stars compete for the Mirrorball trophy.

“We have eight dancing,” said Kyle Marksteiner, Executive Director of the United Way of Eddy County.

The lineup this year, as depicted in the dancers’ bios, includes an interesting mix from across the county. The dancers are Bill Massingill, Warden of the Eddy County Detention Center; Edward Calderon, Stylist with Que Suave; Elizabeth Higgins, President of Carlsbad Rotary Club; Travis Carlo, Emissions Technician with ConocoPhillips; Becky Thompson, legendary softball star and hall-of-famer; Jose Ornelas, popular DJ in the Loving/Carlsbad area; Sandra Borges, Executive Director of the PY Foundation; and Jessica Vasquez, Real Estate Agent with Century 21/Dunagan Associates.

“The fundraiser is modeled after several popular competition television shows,” per the press release dated January 22. “Professional dancers from the Utah Ballroom Dance Company will be partnering with eight Eddy County competitors,” it stated.

“This will be something different for me,” said Ornelas. “I’m usually the one watching everybody dance,” he said.

“We will have one week, from my understanding, to learn the choreographed dance that they have already ready for us, so we won’t know what dance we’re doing or who our partner is until the Sunday before the event,” said Ornelas. He said he’s excited and very honored to be asked to participate.

“I love to dance. That’s something I grew up doing,” said Ornelas. “In the group chat, I told them I have two left feet, but what they didn’t know is that I used to be a dance instructor for Harding Webster for a hip-hop group. I do have some experience on the dance floor,” he said.

“I feel excited, and nervous at the same time, but more excited than ever. I’m really excited to do something like this,” said Vasquez. She said she danced back in high school.

“I am a dancer. I love dancing when I get the opportunity to dance. I’m not a professional dancer, but I definitely feel the beat, and every occasion I can dance, I’ll definitely dance,” said Vasquez. “You always think you’re ready, but with something that you don’t practice often, they are going to teach me something. I’m super excited,” she said.

Marksteiner explained that the dancers act as ambassadors for the hosting organization, with fundraising making up one-third of the score, along with an audience score and a judges’ score.

Ornelas said the dancers get out there and try to get people to sponsor, to buy tickets under their name, or donate to the event. “I work backshift for WIPP, so it is a little hard for me to get out and do fundraising on foot, so I have to reach out by phone, or by email, or by Facebook,” he said, adding “I’m hoping in the near future I can actually do a small fundraiser, like ‘DJ Pie in the Face’ or something like that to help raise money.”

While participating in this big event, Vasquez said, “As we reach out to get our scores, it’s mainly like fundraising for United Way, and eventually whoever raises more is the one walking with a little more in the first phase.”

The fundraising is a challenge, said Vasquez. “I built this networking with real estate, such as approaching most of my clients and business owners, giving them a little bit of information about what United Way does for our community. That is how I’m raising the funds,” she said.

Eddy County Commissioner Hailey Klein, NMOGA President Missi Currier, and Linda Candelaria, Executive Director of the Con Alma Foundation, will serve as judges, with Catalina King, Chair of the event, serving as co-emcee, according to the press release.

“Tickets and sponsorships are available at onecau.se/dwtes. Those purchasing tickets or sponsorships will have the option of giving points to one of the eight competitors,” the press release stated.

“While the event is a lot of fun, it’s important to remember that this is also a fundraiser,” said Marksteiner. “Last year’s success allowed the United Way to greatly expand its 211 services throughout 2025. We hope for a full house on March 20.”