TRAVERSE CITY — John Corcoran loves to dance, but his style is more Temptations and classic soul than ballroom.
"I'm probably more of an individual style dancer than a couples dancer," said Corcoran, who will have to turn that around as one of the "stars" in this year's SwingShift and the Stars Dance-Off for Charity. "That's going to be the trick."
A new season of the popular competition kicks off Sept. 16 at the City Opera House and continues Oct. 21, Nov. 18 and Dec. 16. Organizer Judy Harrison hopes to raise $300,000 for local charities -- twice as much as last year.
"We're shooting for the stars," said Harrison, who received a record 20 applications from nonprofits wanting to participate this year. "Coming in the fourth year people know what to expect and they're all on board."
The competition features six local celebrities, paired with six local dance instructors, in a series of live performances to Harrison's band, SwingShift. Audiences vote for their favorite couple with a minimum $5 donation to one of the six charities selected by the competing couples.
Judges' scores are tabulated and announced at the end of each of four events. The cumulative audience vote from the performances is announced at the final performance, when those totals are combined with the judges' scores to determine the winning couple.
Corcoran is dancing with partner Maria Curiale-West for Host Homes for Homeless Youth. The Catholic Human Services program provides host homes for students who are homeless for a variety of reasons, allowing them to finish school in a safe environment.
"That's the part I'm all for," said Corcoran, co-owner of Premiere Land Services, a consulting firm for energy-related companies. "And it's good for me. I need something to focus on at this point in my life."
Rich Budek agreed to come on board as a dance instructor after 31„2 years of dancing.
"I don't have as much experience as some of the other instructors but I think with some of my style and flair that I can probably give a run for the money," said Budek, who is dancing with Floor Covering Brokers co-owner Kathy Lauterbach for the Grand Traverse Conservation District. "I've never had to choreograph anything. I'm the underdog here so I have to be more creative."
Budek, manager of McLain Cycle's Garfield Avenue store, followed the first year of competition and said he's prepared to spend long, bruising hours in the dance studio for practice.
"I'll give up other dance classes, dancing at night and my cycling to do this because it's a once-in-a-lifetime thing for me," he said. "It's only going to help me and help other people get involved in dance and hopefully raise money for a good cause."
This season will mark a first for the event: Max Dingeman, who has Down syndrome, will dance with instructor-partner Jennifer Howard for VSA Arts of Michigan -- Grand Traverse Area.
"Max is the first person with a disability. His energy is incredible," said Harrison, noting Dingeman's job as an assistant athletic trainer at Premier Fitness.
But competition doesn't faze Corcoran, who performed in high school and college musicals.
"I don't have any compunction about getting up on stage. I'm quite a ham," Corcoran said.
General admission tickets for the competitions are $20 at the City Opera House box office (www.cityoperahouse.org, 941-8082) or online at www.swingshiftandthestars.com. Table seat tickets are $30 and VIP tickets are $25.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and dance lessons begin at 6:45 p.m. The band starts by 7:15 p.m.
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