Community, Work & Independence, Inc., (CWI) will present the 5th production of “Dancing with the Adirondack Stars” at the Charles R. Wood Theater in downtown Glens Falls on Saturday, October 3, 2026. The evening pairs six local celebrities with professional dancers to compete for the coveted Mirrorball trophy and the Fan Favorite trophy, chosen by audience vote.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for a cocktail reception featuring a cash bar, silent auction, basket raffle and 50/50 drawing, with the show beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at $55 per seat through the Charles R. Wood Theater website or by calling 518-480-4878.
“Community is the first word in our name, and for more than 60 years it has been at the heart of who we are,” said Mindy Wilson, Executive Director of CWI. “Nights like ‘Dancing with the Adirondack Stars’ show what happens when people and organizations who care deeply about their communities come together. We are so grateful for everyone who shows up in support of our dancers and, most importantly, the incredible people we serve.”
CWI’s inaugural “Dancing with the Adirondack Stars” was held in 2018 and the event is now held every other year. This year’s six pairings are:
- Amy Meijer, Restaurant Manager at The Silo Restaurant & Gift Shop, is paired with John Mandia, Owner of the Fred Astaire Dance Studios in Saratoga Springs;
- Max Jackoski, a Special Olympics athlete and Glens Falls YMCA volunteer, is paired with Lisa Camp, Association Director of Community Health Integration Strategies for the Saratoga Regional YMCA;
- Zach Walker, Director of Business Development for the Adirondack Thunder, is paired with Caitlyn Whiting, a Medical Assistant at Hudson Falls Family Practice and a Dance and Pilates Instructor at The Body Barre;
- Melissa Kwasniewski, Finance Manager at Associates of Glens Falls, Inc., is paired with Inna Kolodieieva of the Fred Astaire Dance Studios;
- Sarah Hoffman, Communications and Outreach Manager for the Lake George Land Conservancy, is paired with Ari Ganbat of the Fred Astaire Dance Studios;
- Claudia Cedrone, a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones, is paired with Yurii Kolodieiev of the Fred Astaire Dance Studios.
“‘Dancing with the Adirondack Stars’ has become one of the most joyful nights on our calendar, and it grows a little more with each production,” said April Boucher, Associate Vice President of Operations for CWI. “Watching six couples pour their hearts into rehearsals for months, all in support of CWI’s mission, is a tremendous reminder of how connected this community is. The generosity of everyone who attends helps CWI continue to create meaningful opportunities for the people we support.”
A leading nonprofit provider of intellectual and developmental disability services serving Warren, Washington and Saratoga counties, CWI has supported individuals in living meaningful, self-directed lives through a range of residential, day, employment and community-based programs for more than 60 years. The agency is a proud member of the Daxia Integrated Health Network, which advances whole-person care through a comprehensive continuum of behavioral health, addiction treatment, intellectual and developmental disability services, housing and community-based supports.