Video: Local Designer Transforms Arena for ‘Dance Like the Stars’

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TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) — “Dance Like the Stars” is the biggest fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Clubs of North Mississippi. Those who take part and those who attend the event are treated to not only great dancing, and fantastic food, but also elegant decorations.

It’s the morning of the big show and Tracy Proctor is a very busy man.

Proctor has been in the floral design business for nearly 20 years now, and is one of the most sought after professionals in the field. Still, he always makes time to volunteer his talents for “Dance Like the Stars.”

Each year’s dance competition has a different theme.

“This year I kind of went with little bit of old glamor,” Proctor said.

Transforming the BancorpSouth Arena into an elegant ballroom takes months of planning, organizing

“I’m very much a detail guy,” he said.

And lots of volunteers. They work in 3 to 4 hour shifts and it takes about 50 people to make it all come

together.

“These ideas are contingent on volunteer help and I have to give it in layers, and I want the detail to be just as exquisite as it would be as if it was 50 professionals doing this and we do it, we do it, it’s all the bells and whistles,” Proctor said.

Lisa and Doug Robinson have been helping out at the big event for several years.

“It’s a good cause, and it’s helping the community and it’s bringing dance to those who might not normally have dance,” Lisa said.

“I’m a dancer so I like to dance, I belong to the Tupelo Ballroom Dance Club and that’s part of the deal, that I like about it,” Doug said.

Plus, they say they’re amazed when they see the competition and the beauty of it all.

Many of those volunteers help clean everything up and Proctor will meet with organizers in the next week to see how things went. Then, planning begins soon for next year’s fundraiser.

If you would like more information on Proctor and his company, go to www.designbytracyproctor.com