Texan Tangos 27+ Hours for Durango Win

DALLAS — The Dodge Durango Tango started at 7:30 a.m. last Thursday at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas with 26 contestants. Former Dallas Cowboy and reality TV dancing champion Emmitt Smith kicked-off the contest. He told the group to keep hydrated, eat, but most of all, pace themselves because it was going to be a long and very hot day. Some of the contestants heeded his advice; others didn’t and started the contest showing off some fancy footwork. (Check out our time-lapse video of the event by clicking here.)

But with temperatures that soon climbed into the 90s, the contestants soon realized that Emmitt was right and settled into a groove. Even with the heat and bright sun, the first contestant didn’t drop out until after nine and a half hours. In the group, there were two postal workers, a triathalete, several dancers – one of which was also a biochemist – a CPA, a single mom who lost her job two weeks ago and a marathon runner, who recently competed in the Maui Marathon.

During the day, the contestants danced with life-sized dolls, dressed in western wear or ballroom bling. It was a very funny and entertaining picture. In the early hours of the competition, the contestants did group dances like the Macarena, Electric Slide and Chicken Dance. But as the hours wore on, it took all their effort just to keep their feet moving.

After more than 27 hours of cutting a rug, Angela Vanhoose of Dallas, TX was the only contestant still on the dance floor and was crowned the “Durango Tango” champion, winning an all-new 2008 Dodge Durango.

For their efforts, the dancers raised $18,000 for the Boys Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas. For every hour the competition lasted, the Chrysler Foundation pledged to donate $500 to the Boys Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas to continue its mission to inspire and empower the youth in the local community.

“I’ve never done anything like this before,” said Vanhoose. “By the 23rd hour, I felt my legs starting to shake, but I held on because I really wanted to win that new Dodge Durango. I kept my eyes on the prize and now I can’t wait to cruise around town in my new Durango.”