Dancing With the Celebrities Coming to Pittsburgh

Lou Guarino III, the creative director of marketing at , is following in the footsteps of his parents and will be part of this year's Dancing with the Celebrities of Pittsburgh.

His father, Lou, competed two years ago and his mother, Veronica, competed last year and she continues to dance every week.

While his parents both did well in the competition, Lou is hoping to take home the first prize.

"I'm putting pressure on myself to take home the mirror ball trophy. I owe it to myself and to the charities," Guarino said.

Guarino is paired up with Denise Kumer of Ballroom Central on Mt. Lebanon Boulevard. They've already been practicing for five or six weeks for the May competition.

Guarino and Kumer will be dancing against 14 pairs. Other Pittsburgh celebrities include Heather Abraham; Al Ambrosini; Christina Cochran; Richard DeFilippo; Brandi Engel; Gregg Giannotti; Suzanne J. Hayden; Jari Jariwala; Bob Pompeani; Carl Rueter; Shannon Salicce; Juliann Sheldon; Autumn Stewart; and S. Rand Werrin.

"We're in it to win it," Kumer said. "It's going great. He (Lou) is a lot of fun."

Guarino and Kumer will be dancing the cha-cha—with a twist. The song of choice? "Party Rock Anthem," by LMFAO.

"There will be no Speedos and no afros, but there will be some dance-floor-burning excitement," Guarino said.

"There's a certain style that goes with that music selection," Kumer said. "Lou's had a lot of input in the choreography. He saw some stuff on TV that he wanted to try.

"He's taking me out of my comfort zone."

To make the dance even more challenging, Kumer is 5-foot-3 and Guarino is 6-foot-4.

"Denise has done a wonderful job choreographing so I don't look like a giant and Denise doesn't look like a shrimp," Guarino said. "If I end up making a goof of myself, then so be it. It's all for a good cause.

"A lot goes into this, I think ultimately that will show."

The evening of dinner and entertainment will take place at the Westin Convention Center Pittsburgh and will benefit The Catholic Charities Free Health Care Fund and The Kiwanis Club of Pittsburgh Foundation.

Together with critique and scoring from a celebrity panel of judges, the guests in attendance will cast their votes to determine the 2012 winner. WTAE's Mike Clark will emcee the event.

For more information—and to cheer Guarino and Kumer to victory—visit www.dancingwiththecelebritiesofpgh.org.

This story originally appeared on Upper St. Clair Patch