By Eleni Himaras
reporter@ltview.com
Brooke Burke’s got nothing on Lakeway’s very own Ronda Gray, who shimmied, chassed and smiled her way to victory in the Second Annual Dancing With the Stars: Austin competition.

The Dec. 7 event raised more than $580,000 for the Center for Child Protection as 10 local celebrities paired up with professional dancers and took to the stage.
“We started practicing in September,” Gray said of she and her partner, Danny Davila of the Dancer’s Institute.
After listening to several different cha-cha songs, they found Bette Midler’s “Stuff Like That There” and decided it was perfect. Local Austin Designer Linda Asaf designed Gray’s 1920’s Navy-themed costume, matched perfectly to Davila’s.
“It was a very officer and a gentleman 1920’s look,” Gray said.
She credited Davila with making sure she was completely comfortable with the choreography and matching it to the fun theme of the music.
“The best part about the dance — I got to do a flip. I’m 41 and I’ve never done a flip in my life,” Gray said.
She also stretched every night to perform the splits during her routine.
“I haven’t been able to do the splits since I was 16 years old!”
Both the audience and a panel of three judges judged the 10 routines. Gray and Davila were the favorites of both.
“My son is 23 and my daughter is 14 — they were both so proud. They said, ‘Mom, that is so cool!’ My husband too, I was worried about embarrassing the family but it turned out well,” she said.
Gray said the board approached her late in the summer about being on the show and it took her about a week to decide to make the commitment. The executive director of Camp on the Move and former longtime teacher was also debating on whether she qualified as an Austin Star.
“I just think every teacher in Austin is a star. And I decided, I taught school for nine years, I am a star!,” she said.
The event raises money for the Center for Child Protection, an accredited Children’s Advocacy Center that is the first stop for children entering the justice system because of suspected sexual abuse, serious physical abuse, and for children who have witnessed a violent crime.
The event also featured silent and semi-live auctions, a raffle drawing for a Lexus Hybrid Luxury Utility Vehicle and a live performance by Trish Murphy & Skyrocket.
While the organizers of the event pick 10 new dancers every year, Gray said everyone can expect to see her back for the gala in 2009.
“I will participate by being a sponsor every single year. I think it’s such a great charity and I really like all the people involved,” she said.