Dancing for a Cause: Project Safe Announces 2026 Dancing with the Athens Stars Lineup

ATHENS, GA – February 17, 2026— Project Safe has announced the 2026 cast for Dancing with the Athens Stars, its signature annual fundraising event that pairs local celebrities with professional dance instructors for a high-energy competition benefiting survivors of domestic violence. Tickets for the event go on sale Friday, February 13, 2026, at ClassicCenter.com.

Dancing with the Athens Stars will take place on March 21, 2026, at The Classic Center Theatre. Teams will compete for Judges’ Favorite, Community Favorite, and Audience Favorite awards.

The 2026 competing teams are:

● Team 1 – Robby Bailey and Jessie Penouilh
● Team 2 – Jennifer Cruse-Sanders and Joseph Stunzi
● Team 3 – Natalie Bishop and Abigale Bishop
● Team 4 – Linda Boza and Natalie Cox
● Team 5 – Victoria Dugger and Zena Rose-Curole
● Team 6 – Philip Hong and Britt LB
● Team 7 – Dustin Watts and Allison Smith
● Team 8 – Mathew McRae III and Viv Martinez
● Team 9 – Jeremiah Bame and Andie Richardson
● Team 10 – Bart King and Lucille King and Catherine Huff

The announcement follows a record-breaking 2025 Dancing with the Athens Stars event that raised more  than $220,000. This year, Project Safe hopes to achieve the milestone of raising $2 million through Dancing with the Athens Stars to support services for survivors of domestic violence.

In 2025 alone, Project Safe responded to 2,592 crisis calls on its 24/7 hotline, provided emergency shelter to 87 adults and children, assisted 887 outreach clients, and delivered 180 presentations and outreach events reaching more than 12,000 individuals.

Dancing with the Athens Stars is one of Project Safe’s top fundraisers, combining community 
engagement, entertainment, and advocacy to support lifesaving programs across Athens-Clarke County
and its neighboring communities.
ABOUT THE CLASSIC CENTER
Located in Athens, Georgia, The Classic Center is a premier multi-use conference center, performing arts theatre, and covered outdoor pavilion. We host a wide range of events, including conventions, conferences, meetings, weddings, concerts, sporting tournaments, and special events. Our state-of-the-art Akins Ford Arena, which opened in 2024, further enhances our ability to bolster the economic, entertainment, and cultural well-being of Athens, offering expanded event capabilities and accommodating over 8,000 attendees.