Josh Jelden

Sales and marketing manager, Younes Hospitality

Tall cool one

Anyone who knows Josh isn’t surprised to find him in the Kearney’s Dancing with the Stars lineup. This guy knows people and he knows how to use his sense of humor to his advantage. After gigs as a broadcast journalist and with the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce, Josh is able to watch plenty of bad – and good – dancing while overseeing events such as wedding receptions at Younes. Josh co-chaired the 2015 campaign for United Way of the Kearney Area, and currently serves on several boards: Kearney Family YMCA, Habitat for Humanity, and World Theatre boards, and he remains active in the Chamber as a Colonel Ambassador. His dance partner in life is wife Kelly. While he downplays his dance experience, he did have a dance routine as a sophomore server for the junior-senior high school prom. There are also hints in his bio of being an expert in Polka.

Dancing experience: “Barely any. Most relevant would be polka dancing, and several experiences with slow-dancing in junior high.

Least favorite dance style or step: “None.”

Words to describe what you look like when you dance: “A big hot mess.”

‘Go-to’ dance move: “That’s something I really don’t have in my arsenal.”

Favorite memory of dancing: “The Polish side of my family has created their own unique dance to the Polka version of ‘Ring of Fire.’ That’s always fun.

Song that will absolutely get you on to the dance floor: “Ice, Ice Baby.”

Personal goal for KDWTS: “Have fun and learn something new. I guess I’m a sucker for helping good causes.”

Who is your toughest competition… the STAR to beat?: “With easy access to so many Zumba dance instructors, I’d probably say Denny Placzek.”

Why should KDWTS fans vote for you?: “I will bring energy, fun, and probably some humor to this competition.”