2008 Dancers

Joe Avezzano was a long time Dallas Cowboy Special Team Coach and member of three World Championship Teams. He is also a three time NFL Special Team Coach of the Year! He was also the Head Coach of the Dallas Desperados. He currently owns three sports themed restaurants: Suede Bar and Grill in Dallas, Hat Tricks Bar and Grill in Lewisville and Coach Joe's Sports Grille in Frisco. Joe can be heard doing the local pre game and post game Cowboy analysis on ESPN and Sunday night Sports Special with Dale Hansen on WFAA Channel 8 during the Dallas Cowboy football season. He has participated in many fund raisers for the Texas Special Olympics with son Tony.

Brian Cuban is a Dallas Attorney working for Mark Cuban Companies doing whatever that happens to entail at any given moment. Brian is also the Executive Director of the Mark Cuban Foundation currently administering The Fallen Patriot Fund. He was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvannia. He attended Mt. Lebanon High School and received his undergraduate degree from Pennsylvannia State University. He received his law degree from The University of Pittsburgh School of Law. He is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania (inactive) and Texas. He has two brothers, Mark Cuban and Jeff Cuban. He also has a dog named Peanut and a cat named Useless.

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A Dallas/Fort Worth market veteran, Kristine Kahanek was most recently a meteorologist with ABC affiliate WFAA-TV before joining CBS 11 News.
Kristine grew up on a horse farm near Columbus, Ohio and lived there until she was 12. Her mother, an equestrian, stayed home with Kristine and her younger brother, Brian. Her father, then a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force, was the person who sparked Kristine's interest in weather. Once he retired, the family moved to Boerne, Texas.
Previously, Kristine worked at KVUE-TV in Austin and KXXV-TV in Waco. With a degree in atmospheric science, she began her career at the National Weather Service in Austin. She is certified by both the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association. She was also named "Best Meteorologist" by D Magazine in 2005.

Ron Kirk joined Vinson & Elkins as a Partner in February of 2005. He was a Partner with Gardere, Wynne, Sewell from January 1994 until January 2005. Ron’s principal area of practice is public finance and public policy. He served as Mayor of the City of Dallas from 1995 until 2001, and in 1994 he served as the Texas Secretary of State. He has over 20 years of experience as legislative counsel for numerous public and private entities. He is a former Dallas Assistant City Attorney for Governmental Relations and served as aide to U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen. Currently, he serves on the Board of Directors for Brinker International, Dean Foods Company and PetSmart, Inc., and he is a National Trustee for the March of Dimes. Ron received his B.A. from Austin College in Sherman, Texas, and his J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law in Austin, Texas.

Meagan Norris graduated with a BA in Theatre Arts from Pepperdine University in Malibu CA. After college she relocated to Dallas TX to work with her family on the hit television show Walker Texas Ranger. She was blessed not only to have an acting role on the show but also worked in the casting department. She went on to help cast shows such as the ABC pilot A House Divided and season two and three of the popular Fox drama Prison Break. After working in production for a couple of years her uncle, Chuck Norris, asked her to join his team in creating a mixed martial arts event for television. She coordinated the first three events at the Dallas Convention Center, Mohegan Sun Casino and the New Orleans in Las Vegas. She loved working with her family but missed pursuing her passion, acting. Meagan is a member of the Screen Actors Guild and is represented by Linda McAlister Talent here in Dallas. She has worked on various film and television shows, notably, Fox’s Gilmore Girls and CBS’s Walker Texas Ranger. As a dog owner and animal lover it is a joy for her to participate in this event. Her dog Lola will be proud!

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Carolyn Shamis is the Owner and Broker for Carolyn Shamis Realtors, a highly successful boutique real estate firm. With over 34 years of experience in the Dallas real estate market, Carolyn continues to be the expert in Dallas ’ luxury lifestyle. With energy and personality to spare, Carolyn has never been one to shy away from the limelight and her many television appearances, including the TLC Channel’s series “Sheer Dallas”, The Dating Game and Billionaires Car Club, have helped make her a Dallas celebrity. She has been featured in hundreds of articles ranging from The Dallas Morning News’ “Living At The Top” to Southwest Airlines Magazine. Carolyn was born and raised in McComb , Mississippi and lived in Los Angeles , graduating from Woodbury College , before making Dallas her home. Her 17 year old Welsh Cardigan Corgi, Merlin, is her constant companion and the love of her life. Carolyn spends her personal time enjoying her love of people, health, music, working out, walking and is a member of the President’s Advisory Council of the SPCA of Texas. Her unyielding goal in life is to live her motto: “To Thine Own Self Be True”.