“Thank you, ladies, for believing in my crazy idea,” said an elated Angela Kent on Saturday night, October 19.

This as an extremely successful Mia! Mamma Dance Experience, in aid of Hospice White River, wrapped its second night at Picasso’s Mexican Taqueria at the Casterbridge Lifestyle Centre.

Seven months in the making, the joyous production was the result of White River mums and wives pooling their time and talents to make a difference in their community.

It all started when Kent decided to host a fundraiser in aid of an organisation close to her heart, rather than a run-of-the-mill birthday party to celebrate her 55th on October 18.

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Initially planned for one night only, a second night (Saturday) was added when tickets were sold out in a flash in June. Incredibly, the community threw their support behind the cause and soon, tickets for both nights, numbering in the region of 540, were sold out.

“The production was a display of talent, skill and generosity, during which lasting friendships were formed,” said Kent while thanking those involved. In true community spirit, practice sessions took place at people’s houses, costumes were home-made and Picasso’s was transformed into Greece.

With a combination of al fresco and indoor dining at tables centered around various stages that were filled simultaneously, people came dressed up equally festive.

Cloaked in feather boas, sequinned dresses, wigs and funky glasses, the best-dressed awards were fiercely contested. In the end it was Cecil Delport, Christine Herring and husband-and-wife duo Kim and Tim Buckland who danced away with the prizes.

The interactive production literally had crowds on their feet, singing, clapping and cheering. In a special surprise move at the end of the show, the cast gathered around quadriplegic author, speaker and counsellor Tracy Todd Heine and serenaded her for her birthday, which was on Saturday, with a special adaptation of ABBA’s “Super Trooper”.