Novice and experts alike will be dancing machines during the inaugural Dancing with the North Georgia Stars competition.

Area celebrities and their professional partners will perform two nights in a row to raise funds for Enotah CASA, which has trained volunteers appointed by a judge to help abused and neglected children in Lumpkin, White, Union and Towns counties. The 14 dance teams are: Stacy Jarrard and Betsy Gagne, Lauren McDonald III and Shelby Garrett, Steve Schofield and Sheila Fahey, Mike Ethridge and Ngoc Pham, Chris Dockery and Cindy Barnes, Diane Houser and Caleb Yarbro, Rachel Pruitt and Sabastian Wilson, Moggy Kienel and Josh Dyar, Marianne Rosignoli and Jordan Garrett, Amy Booker and Jonathan Whitmire, Cindy Tomblin and Brandon Scoggins, Judy Wheeler and Jeff Anderson and Helen Fincher Hardman and Harold Link.

Each couple will present a variety of dancing genres from modern jazz to classic ballroom. Each team will perform choreographed dance routine before a live audience. Teams will be judged on the night of the competition by an impartial four-judge panel. The winning team will be awarded the “2016 Mirror Ball” trophy.

However, residents may vote for their favorite celebrity couple with monetary donations by April 22 online. Every dollar equals one vote. The team with the most money will earn the 2016 People’s Choice Award.

The April 22 show is sold out. Limited seating is available for the Thursday, April 21 show.

Tickets are $15 per person. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. with the preshow starting at 6:30 p.m.

Both competitions will be in the Holly Theater, 69 W. Main St., in downtown Dahlonega. Concessions will be open.

A gala will follow the first night of the competition. It will feature music, hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar.

The gala will be from 9:30-11:30 p.m. Friday, April 22, at Dahlonega Market Place, 100 Public Square North, in Dahlonega.

Tickets are $20. They can be purchased from your favorite dancer or at Enotah CASA Inc., 56 Short St., Dahlonega. The office is downstairs from the Lumpkin County Voter’s Registration Office.

For more information, visit www.dancingwithnorthgeorgiastars.com.