Fun and exciting night at Dancing With the Tahoe Stars

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It was another successful night of Dancing with the Tahoe Stars as contestants tapped, salsa'd, ballroomed and funked their way across the MontBleu stage, all to raise money for the Tahoe Arts Project (TAP).

Over 1,000 people came to support the stars on the stage as they texted and donated money to the couple(s) they supported. In the end it was the Tahitian dancing of Tom Callahan of the Tahoe Keys Resort and his professional partner Rhonda Keen who took home top honors and the Mirror Ball trophy. They scored a perfect 30 from the judges as did the other two dance teams in the top three, but their money raised and audience text vote put them on top.

Second place honors went to Aleworx owner Luca Genasci and his partner Robyn Rasmussen. They performed a high energy country dance number.

Matthew Slater, Barton's Director of Clinical Services, came in third after he and partner Ashley Smith had an entertaining tap number.

Besides the fun, the evening is all about the money raised for TAP.

The top money maker for the evening was local businessman Jared Benvenuto and his partner Jordan Hughes who raised $12,282, followed by Slater and Smith with their $10,462 and Jen Spina and partner Jesus Doza with $9,946.

Final counts are still being complied but according to TAP Executive Direct Peggy Blowney, the total will top $60,000.

The full list of contestants and their partners (local celebrity listed first, professional partner follows):

Deanna Brothers and Gerzon Chaves - CHA CHA
Ellen Camacho and Oliver-Paul Adams - JAZZ
Amy Jackson and Lane Saunders - MUSICAL THEATER
Tracy Ketelsen and Spencer Spanton - BACHATA
Jen Spina and Jesus Doza - SALSA
Jared Benvenuto and Jordan Hughes - FUSION FUNK
Tom Callahan and Rhonda Keen = TAHITIAN
Luca Genasci and Robyn Rasmussen - COUNTRY
Matthew Slater and Ashley Smith - TAP
Doug Ballard and Kelsi Landerkin - BALLROOM