Benefit line dance Feb. 1 to help area Special Olympians

Some fancy stepping for a fine cause awaits on Sunday, Feb. 1.

In an innovative fundraiser for the School District of Rhinelander Special Olympics bowling team, a benefit line dance will fill a tuneful afternoon at Cabaret Cove, 1540 Pueblo Drive in Rhinelander, from 1 to 5 p.m.

It’s $10 per person at the door, and no dance experience is needed. Line dance instructors Pearl Fessenden and Corrita DeValk will be there to help all enjoy moving to the kickin’ tunes provided by a DJ and sound system donated by the Wisconsin Country Style Dancers. 

The event will help make possible another dance that’s important to several area families, including Fessenden’s.

“All money raised will go to the Rhinelander Special Olympics bowling team to help pay for their special needs prom they call Spring Fling in April,” she said, “as well as new bowling equipment that they might need.

“Their Spring Fling is actually free of charge, which is why we raise money for it. It doesn’t cost the kids anything to attend, and it’s open to not just the kids in Rhinelander School District, but all the school districts in the surrounding area. As long as they have an IEP (Individualized Education Program), they are more than welcome to attend.”

Her children, senior Matthew, 17, and sophomore Carmen, 15, are among the members of the School District of Rhinelander Special Olympics bowling team. She noted that both Matthew and Carmen have placed in the regional and state competitions for the last three years.

The team, which is open to the district’s special education students from the 6th grade and up, has made the state finals for at least five consecutive years.

That’s a gratifying comeback for a team that Fessenden said nearly ended some six years ago, due to a lack of having an advisor to guide it. The volunteer advisor has to be a staff member or an employee of the school district. The team was saved when the district hired special education teacher Nina Hazelton, who was willing to take on the additional role. 

The kids are not allowed to fundraise for themselves. Local businesses have donated in the past, but with many having to tighten their belts, the team’s funds for 2026 look lean. 

“The economy’s getting tight, and businesses aren’t able to donate as much as they have been in the past,” Fessenden observed.

Fortunately, a fundraising “loophole” was found, leading to the creation of the Feb. 1 benefit line dance. 

“They can’t actually fundraise for themselves, but they can take donations — that’s the loophole that we found, us moms did,” she explained. 

“Wisconsin Country Style Dancers is actually helping me put this event together, and then we are donating the money directly to Special Olympics in Rhinelander.”

No advance tickets or pre-registration are needed to come to the benefit line dance. A Facebook event has been created to share all its details at https://www.facebook.com/share/1DFmKY61DL/, and questions can be texted to Fessenden at 715-499-3653.

Ardith Carlton may be reached at [email protected].