Campbellsport, WI — The Shining Stars Dance Team is excited to host its very own Prom Dance on Sunday, March 22 at St. Matthew’s Catholic School Gymnasium, creating a magical and memorable experience for dancers who may never have had the opportunity to attend a traditional prom. The last time we visited the Shining Stars Dance Team they were headed to perform at the Milwaukee Bucks game. Now, they’re headed to Prom.
With the help of dedicated family members, friends, service organizations, and generous local businesses, this special event will be offered completely free for the dancers and their families.
The evening will include all the excitement and fun of a traditional prom — music, decorations, dancing, and plenty of celebration.
To make the day even more special, local nail technicians, hair stylists, and makeup artists have volunteered their time and talents Sunday morning to help the girls get all fancied up before the big dance.
The Shining Stars Dance Team is made up of 30 special needs dancers from Fond du Lac, Dodge, and Washington counties, ranging in age from 7 to 41 years old. What began about 10 years ago with just six dancers has grown into a vibrant team that brings joy and inspiration to communities across the region.
The team was founded by Coach Mary Bilgo, inspired by her younger brother who had cerebral palsy. Although he could not sit, talk, or walk, he loved life and his family deeply. As the youngest of seven children, he brought a special perspective to the family and taught them all to see life differently — through love, patience, and appreciation for every moment.
That inspiration became the heart behind the team’s mission: All life has value that we should care, treasure and respect. When we dance “We dance to our own beat.”
From the beginning, the goal was to create a program that would always be free for families, recognizing that parents and grandparents of children with special needs often face additional financial and logistical challenges.
In the early years, Coach Bilgo personally funded the team while sewing costumes and creating team T-shirts. One moment helped launch the organization into something bigger. When one dancer needed a special mobility device called an Upsee that would allow her to stand and dance with the rest of the team, a simple request was made on Facebook asking 50 friends to donate $10 toward the $500 device. The community response was overwhelming — raising over $2,000 and helping officially launch the team as a not-for-profit organization.
Today, the Shining Stars perform at varsity high school basketball halftime shows in the hometown communities of their dancers, where they are proudly introduced and cheered on by enthusiastic crowds.
The dancers represent 10 school districts, including: North Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac, Winnebago Lutheran, Ripon, Lomira, Campbellsport, Kewaskum, West Bend, Slinger, and Hartford.
The upcoming Prom Dance is another way the Shining Stars continue their mission of celebrating every dancer, building confidence, and creating joyful opportunities that might not otherwise exist.
Event Details
Shining Stars Dance Team Prom
Sunday, March 22
St. Matthew’s Catholic School Gymnasium
Supporting the Mission
If you would like to donate to the team and help continue their mission of sharing the love of dance, please reach out to:
Coach Mary Bilgo
920-979-7480
shiningstarteamsllc@gmail.com
The Shining Stars Dance Team continues to shine as a powerful example of community support, inclusion, and the belief that every dancer deserves their moment to shine.
