This Saturday, the stage at the Strings Musical Festival in Steamboat Springs will once again come alive with music, movement and a mission that reaches far beyond the spotlight.

Northwest Rocky Mountain CASA’s annual Dancing with the Stars event returns with a combination of entertainment and advocacy for some of the region’s most vulnerable children.

Performance times are at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

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For Executive Director Jim McCormick, who stepped into the role just seven months ago, the event represents both a celebration and a powerful introduction to the organization he now leads.

“It’s been pretty phenomenal,” McCormick said. “What’s been a real education for me is how many people are involved in this effort and the kind of hold it has on the community.”

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CASA, which stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates, serves children in abuse and neglect cases across the 14th Judicial District, which includes Routt, Moffat and Grand counties. Volunteers are appointed by the court to advocate for a child’s best interests, often during complex legal proceedings.

“We ensure pathways of hope, safety and stability for children in those situations,” McCormick said.

Since becoming an independent organization in 2012, Northwest Rocky Mountain CASA has served more than 500 children in the region. Volunteers work closely with each child as they gather information, build relationships and provide the court with support and insight regarding what outcomes will best support that child’s future.

“About 70 percent of the time, these situations are caused by the parents,” McCormick said. “So right off the bat, the parents and the child are separated. That advocate connects with the child and helps guide them through the process.”

While the work itself is serious, the organization’s signature fundraiser brings a lighter energy that still reflects the ethos of community-driven support.

Dancing with the Stars, which has developed into a longstanding tradition of sorts in the Yampa Valley, pairs local “stars” with choreographers to perform live routines. Participants also take on a fundraising role, competing to raise the most money for CASA.

“This event has always brought the community together for a fun night, often referred to as Steamboat’s favorite night out,” said Wendy Wade, a planning committee member and former dancer.

Wade, who first participated as a “Star” in 2018, said the experience left a lasting impression on her as well as others.

“The personal stories, those transformations from hardship to hope are what truly drew me to CASA,” she said. “This organization changes lives, and I believe every child deserves to be heard and cared for.”

The event is mostly driven by a core group of volunteers. A dedicated planning committee organizes the production each year, and dancers commit months of time to rehearsals and fundraising efforts leading into the event.

“We’ve been practicing since November and December,” McCormick said. “They’ve been fundraising since December. It’s a great effort all around.”

Participants are selected not for their dance experience but for their willingness to engage the community and support the cause.

“We are very intentional when selecting our Stars,” Wade said. “We look for individuals who have a strong desire to raise money. We want participants who will enjoy the challenge of learning something new.”

For this year’s dancers, the experience has been both personal and transformative.

“I am honored to be a Steamboat Star,” said Tiffany Leeson. “This experience has been amazing, rewarding and empowering.”

Leeson, who trains with choreographer Jessica LeBlanc, said the process has been as much about growth as performance.

“Dance practice has been once a week for about 10 weeks,” she said. “We’ve worked hard, we’ve brainstormed and we’ve kept it light with great music and talking through my fears and expectations.”

Like many participants, Leeson said the mission of CASA kept her grounded throughout the process.

“My perspective has always been to focus on the organization and the need,” she said. “I want those kids to feel safe, cared for and like they matter. If I get to have fun making a difference for them, then it’s an easy thing to participate in.”

Fellow dancer Rose Alford shared a similar experience, noting both the challenge and the reward of stepping into the spotlight on behalf of others in a collective cause.

“Learning a dance routine has been so much fun,” Alford said. “But learning about CASA and fundraising for them is the special part.”

Alford, who has attended the event for several years, said being part of it has given her a depth of understanding regarding the organization’s impact.

“It makes me realize how we as a community need to look after each other and provide resources to help these kids get through some really tough times,” she said.

Fundraising, while initially daunting, became a meaningful part of the journey.

“At first it was a competition,” Leeson said. “But then it grew into how much can I help?”

That sense of collective effort is central to the event’s success, as each dancer taps into their personal networks to raise awareness as well as funds.

“People understand that and want to be involved in something bigger than themselves,” Leeson said.

For Talitha Appenzeller, president of the CASA board of directors, the event plays a critical role in sustaining the organization’s work.

“Dancing with the Steamboat Stars is our premier fundraising event,” Appenzeller said. “It has been critical over the years to our budget and ensuring we can realize our mission.”

Beyond the financial impact, she emphasized the event’s ability to unite the community.

“The contagiousness of their energy is palpable,” she said. “It’s a celebration of the best Steamboat has to offer for a great cause.”

That sense of connection is something McCormick has quickly come to appreciate. In a region with a high number of nonprofits competing for attention and funding, he said the event helps CASA stand out while building lasting relationships.

“We’ll have about 200 donors to this event,” he said. “It really helps us with a stable and sound fundraising opportunity, but it also gives us awareness in town.”

This year, demand has been so strong that organizers added a matinee performance after the evening show sold out.

“It almost has its own brand and its own legacy,” McCormick said. “People start really looking forward to it.”

As the organization looks ahead, the stakes remain high. While CASA has served hundreds of children, McCormick said the need continues.

“That’s not the last 500 kids that need an advocate,” he said. “This event enables us to go to the next 500.”

He also noted that the current political and economic climate makes locally based fundraising events more important, both for the organization and the youth it serves.

“Running a nonprofit in today’s world is difficult,” McCormick said. “State funding has shrunk and foundation funding is stretched, so the challenge is relying on individual donors to make up the difference.”

In 2025 alone, the event raised $197,956.

Ultimately, success is measured not just in dollars raised but in awareness built and lives impacted.

“To me, success is shining a light on CASA and its mission,” McCormick said. “Helping children at one of the most vulnerable times in their life.”

For more information or to buy tickets visit DanceForCasa.org.