ANDERSON — Prior to this year’s “Dancing Like the Stars” fundraiser for The Paramount Theatre Centre and Ballroom, competitor Allyson Gordon said if she didn’t win, she would like another shot at it next year, if that’s allowed.

The point ultimately was moot, however. Gordon, 34, of Pendleton — one of the event’s “celebrity dancers” — and her instructor/dance partner won the top technical honor in the couples portion of the event, which took place Saturday at the Anderson theater.

Their two-minute dance routine went “as well as I’d hoped,” said Gordon, who was the only couples competitor from the South Madison County area.

Gordon and Xavier Medina, 31, of Indianapolis mixed ballroom and hip-hop moves to a mashup of songs, with “Burnin’ Up” by Jessie J as the dominant track.

They performed last of 11 couples — each comprised of a celebrity dancer and instructor — and won the Judges’ Choice trophy, which was awarded to the duo with the best technical execution, as determined by a three-judge panel.

A People’s Choice award went to the couple who raised the most funds (Cindy Bradford of Anderson and her dance partner, Jarrod Mayer). There was a team division with a Judges’ Choice winner (The TimeSteppers Senior Tap Group of Anderson) and People’s Choice (Ascension St. Vincent Anderson).

This was the 12th year for the event. Through 2019, the event raised almost $625,000 for restoration and operation of the theater.

Event co-Chairwoman Denise Miller said the final tally of the amount raised this year wasn’t complete, but it seemed to be comparable with last year, when the team portion of competition was added and the total raised was about $85,000.

She said the team event “has been really well taken,” and that it seems to be a fun event for companies and for people who like to dance but might not want to up on stage as part of a couple.

The show was sold out, with 1,400 people in attendance, Miller said.

Gordon said she had a great time with lots of support in the audience, including her dad and staff and students from Pendleton Heights High School, where she’s an English teacher.

“They set it up like it was the TV show,” Gordon said. “We a lot of people cheering for us.”

Even with top prize, Gordon said she’d still like to come back next year — but as a volunteer not as a competitor. She said she’d just like “to help in some way.”