Oprah makes Granger woman's dancing dreams come true

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Deneen Carmichael of Granger and professional dancer Derek Hough of Dancing with the Stars perform the mambo on The Oprah Winfrey Show. The episode aired Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008. (Photo courtesy Harpo Productions)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Feb 21, 2008 at 6:05 PM EST

Story Updated: Feb 21, 2008 at 11:52 PM EST

Over the past week a Granger stay-at-home mom had a dream come true. She not only got to meet Oprah Winfrey and appear on her show, she got to dance like a star!

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Deneen Carmichael wrote Oprah a letter telling her about her newfound love of dance, and the reality show Dancing with the Stars.

She wanted to lose some extra baby weight and turned to DanceSport in Mishawaka.

On Friday, professional dancer Derek Hough surprised Carmichael at the dance studio to teach her the mambo.

“When he told me that he was going to teach me a dance and I had 7 ½ hours to learn it, and then dance it on national television — not just national television, The Oprah Winfrey Show — I was terrified, I was absolutely terrified,” Carmichael said. “But if Oprah wants you to dance the mambo, learn the mambo and dance it!”

Carmichael had only been dancing for four months before she showed off her skills on Oprah.

Carmichael and Brian O'Day from DanceSport joined WSBT First Thing in the Morning on Thursday to talk about all the excitement. Click on "Watch the Video" to see that interview.

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