Dancing with the Mankato Stars returned for its fifth year but in a new venue, the Verizon Event Center. The event raised $123,415 for the American Red Cross. Nicole Mueller and Tom Fallenstein's Star Wars-theme performance won the overall top award. The School Sisters of Notre Dame Good Counsel Hill won the judges award and Travis Shafer and his partner Jodie Hermer won the people's choice award.
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Dr. Joel Gordon (right) dances with Kristin Elsbernd during Dancing with the Mankato Stars held at the Verizon Performing Center on Saturday. Gordon and Elsbernd's section waved their blue glow sticks in support of their swing dance. Twelve different dancing groups, including the School Sisters of of Notre Dame, were judged by a panel of three judges. Photo by Jackson Forderer
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Tom Fallenstein and Nicole Mueller's stormtrooper outfits are shown on two large screens during the duo's Star Wars-themed performance at the Verizon Performance Center. The pair won the overall award for best performance. Mueller later said, "We were nervous but we knew we could hide behind our masks." Photo by Jackson Forderer