River Falls (WQOW) - An American Idol contestant teams up with a local dance company for a benefit for an area family dealing with tragedy. Last month, Amara, Sophie, and Cecilia Schaffhausen were murdered. Their father, Aaron Schaffhausen, was charged with their deaths.
A benefit was held in River Falls for the girls mother Jessica Schaffhausen. Volunteers from local dance studios and an American Idol took to the stage to raise money.
"They love the idea of being able to help someone out they don't even know," said event coordinator Laura Decheine.
Members of the Helmer Dance Studio in Hudson helped the River Falls community move forward by giving back Saturday. Their song and dance display was part of a benefit for Jessica Schaffhausen, whose three children were murdered in July.
"When I first heard about this, I was stunned and horrified like everyone else was. But I also thought to myself, "What can I do?" besides give money, which is something everyone can do. I want to do something on a grander scale, and all I do is teach dance, I'm just a dance teacher. But then I thought "You know, I put on shows for a living, and I could put on a show,"
So she did, and she wasn't alone in bringing the community together; another dance studio, Stella Dance Studio, also signed on in support.
"The kids are so excited, and they work on these numbers all year long to compete. But they do that for trophies and things like that. I'd like to teach them that you can use your talent and your skills to help somebody," Decheine said.
The benefit got a boost from a national artist as well, in American Idol contestant and Ellsworth resident Reed Grimm.
"When I heard that there was an event supporting the mother Jessica, I was like "You know, if there's anything I can do," and my mom got invited, and then they invited me to come perform, and just try to bring some joy and some positive energy to the area. And so that's why I'm here," said Grimm.
"It's tough to see something like this and then turn around, spin it. But that's what we're doing, and seeing all these girls here ready to dance, it just makes me more joyful too."
$2,500 was raised Saturday. All of the proceeds are going to Jessica Schaffhausen. The Helmer Dance Studio will also be selling DVD's of Saturday's performance for the Schaffhausen family at a suggested donation price of $10.
To get a copy, you can call the dance studio at 377-9862, or you can email them at info@helmerdance.com
Aaron Schaffhausen, who is charged with three counts of murder in the girls' deaths, will be in court on Tuesday. He is expected to plead not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.
