Las Vegas Weekly

March 23, 2009 · 11:11 AM

It’s tango time for mayor as he competes in DWTS fundraiser

By Robin Leach

Mayor Oscar Goodman and his showgirls pose for cameras while attending NASCAR's Shelby 427.

Photo: TVT

Our Merry Mayor of Mirth Oscar Goodman has jumped on the Dancing With the Stars ballroom dancing craze! Oscar is going to learn the tango and compete against Zowie Bowie singer Chris Phillips, Phantom -- The Las Vegas Spectacular star Brent Barrett and deejay Chett Buchanan on April 19 at Rain in George Maloof’s Palms. The event is titled “Dancing With the Las Vegas Stars: A Battle Against Cancer.”

I’ve learned that Oscar will receive his dance lessons from teacher Dana Delgado, who is married to dance dean Tony Delgado. They run Delgado Dance Studios in Summerlin, where several Dancing With the Stars contestants, including Holly Madison and Penn Jillette, have rehearsed for the ABC series. They’ve also trained two-time-winning pro Cheryl Burke.

It’s all to raise funds for the battle against children’s cancer. Lisa Richard, who was in Mamma Mia! at Mandalay Bay, is the development director of The Caring Place, which is planning the charity event. The fundraiser will benefit Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation, American Cancer Society, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer organization. Admission is $50 and includes a drink, appetizers and the dance-off. For more information, go to www.thecaringplacenv.org. It’s a live event, so you won’t be able to watch the fancy footwork on television!

Monte Carlo master magician headliner Lance Burton will serve as master of ceremonies with a couple of tricks up his sleeves. I will serve as one of the judges alongside Strip entertainers Louie Anderson and Frank Marino, plus newsman Bryan Scofield. I haven’t decided yet whether to be a poor copy of Len Goodman or Bruno Tonioli, the acerbic judges on the ABC show! We won’t score the dancers because we’ll leave that to audience, but we will have our own wicked words of wisdom and some silly sarcastic snipes!

Most of the barbs will probably be aimed at Oscar. He told me over the weekend that he’s never danced in his life. He says that because of his busy schedule, Dana and he will have to do the basic steps around his desk at City Hall -- I’ll refrain from unnecessary British humor on that gem! Oscar hopes he can get in about four hours of practice before the event. He’ll have his showgirls escort him onto the dance floor before his tango, and his wife Carolyn promises to lead the cheering squad!

Singer-actress Tina Walsh, currently starring in Phantom at The Venetian and formerly of Mamma Mia!, and Tony Delgado’s professionals from his studio will perform. Mrs. Nevada America 2008 Tiffany Comstock will hand out trophies.

The cancer charities will each have one of the celebrities dancing on their behalf, plus a pro partner from Delgado Dance Studios. You can cast a ballot for $1 each for your favorite celebrity to win, and at least $25,000 in prize money will be at stake to benefit the charities.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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