One of the biggest annual charity events in Beaufort County is just a week away.

Dancing With OUR Stars 2011 debuts with a public dress rehearsal at 4 p.m. Aug. 13 in the Washington High School Performing Arts Center.

This fundraising/dance competition reruns at 8 p.m. at the center.

The doors open 30 minutes before each show.

This event raises money for Eagle’s Wings, a nonprofit Washington food pantry that feeds hundreds of needy people.

Tickets are available at the following local businesses:

• The Meeting Place
• I Can’t Believe It’s a Bookstore
• Little Shoppes of Washington
• Charisma
• Backwater Jack’s
• AVA Formals
• Frank’s Pizza
• Belhaven Community Chamber of Commerce
• Nameplates

For more ticket information, call Eagle’s Wings at 252-975-1138 or visit www.dancefordonations.com.

General admission tickets may be purchased at Eagle’s Wings – 932 W. Third St., Washington – from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday Thursday and Friday or from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. today.

Down-front VIP or premium tickets must be purchased at Eagle’s Wings.

General admission tickets for the dress rehearsal or the evening performance may be bought at the door.

To date, ticket sales have been slow, said Sally Love, executive director of Eagle’s Wings.

Love added sales are expected to pick up next week.

“The dancers look good, the costumes look really great and everybody’s excited, so we’re really looking forward it,” she said.

This year, Eagle’s Wings opted to share DWOS proceeds with nonprofits fielding dance teams. The nonprofits will keep half the money they raise through the project.

“I want to thank the many nonprofits for participating this year,” Love said. “They’re really doing a great job.”

Other teams are dancing solely to raise funds for Eagle’s Wings.

The winning team will be the one that raises the most money.

Between-dance entertainment will be provided by the barbershop group Men ’n a Chord.

“Men ’n a Chord looks at it as a privilege and a wonderful opportunity to be part of such a great event,” said Bartow Houston, one of the group’s vocalists. “Although we play a small role, we are proud to be a part of it. … I totally support the mission of Eagle’s Wings, and I’m also very happy that there will be other nonprofits that will be sharing in it. That’s good for everybody.”

One of the dance teams being fronted is the Community Home Care and Hospice aggregation dancing to “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” by Trace Adkins.

“Hold on to your cowboy hats, because this group is sure to entertain!” reads an email from one of the participants.

Molly Hardison, Marica Timour and Janet Cox choreographed the CHCH routine.

The dancers are Brandy Ball, Brooks Cleaton, Scarlett Langley, Kandice Sranklin, Kim Sulc, Shane Laquire, D.J. Maxey, Hardison and Timour.

CHCH is a for-profit provider that cares for terminally ill patients, normally in their homes, said Ball. The entity also has a nonprofit foundation that helps families with bills in times of illness.

As for DWOS, “I think it’s really brought our team together,” said Ball, adding all of the dancers are hospice employees save two.