C Anthony Parker on Giving Back in Charleston

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast I’m talking with C. Anthony Parker at Charleston’s local “Dancing with the Stars” event, with a Studio 54 theme and a 70s disco setup. The room is loud, the costumes are out, and he’s wearing platform shoes. He’s there to raise money and support United Way, not to act like a national celebrity.

C. Anthony steps into this as an amateur dancer and leans into the work. He’s training with a choreographer, getting his body ready to dance for several minutes, and learning how much planning and promotion goes into a night like this. He wants to represent his dance partner, the team, and the crowd well. He also shares a lesson he learned early: don’t make assumptions. Put the work in and do your best.

He clears up a common misunderstanding. When people hear “Dancing with the Stars,” they assume TV. This version is local, built for Charleston, and it gives people a way to give back with a clear goal and a clear cause. Support comes through votes for his couple, and he points people to follow him on Facebook to track the lead-up events, the meetups, and the ways the community can show up.

He also pulls back the curtain on the team effort. A DJ customizes the track and it takes real time. The choreographer and her crew build the routine and push the dancers through the reps. There are other participants and pieces in motion that he can’t reveal yet, but he makes it clear this is not one person showing up and winging it.

Before we wrap, he invites people to come out and be part of it. Vote, show up to the pre-events, and bring friends. He mentions stops like Fife Street Brewery, The Wine Down, and Short Story, plus support from local businesses like Chick-fil-A catering and Valley Cakes and Catering.