enlarge Gordon Chibroski/Staff Photographer

Maggie Boker leads her Nia Maine dance group through the special dance she created for the opening of the fashion show at A Dash of Diva: Girls' Night Out at the Holiday Inn by the Bay. “We knew it was going to be big, and I was ready for it,” Bokor said.

enlarge Gordon Chibroski/Staff Photographer

Lou Demers and Bob Keyes escort Linda Knights of South Portland down the stage at A Dash of Diva: Girls’ Night Out at the Holiday Inn By the Bay on Thursday. Knights, 62, was chosen as the overall Dash of Inspiration winner among 10 honorees.

enlarge Gordon Chibroski/Staff Photographer

From left, enjoying the event were, Galena Bean of Westbrook, Rachel Carlson of South Portland and Amy Abildgaard of Windham.

enlarge Gordon Chibroski/Staff Photographer

From left, Sherri Parkins, Jan Winsor, Kandy Lord, Judy Lewis and Kari Poirier, residents of the Standish area, were in attendance.

enlarge Gordon Chibroski/Staff Photographer

Beth Williams of Hannaford Supermarkets hands out whisks, flowers, fruit and other kitchen items by the handful.

enlarge Gordon Chibroski/Staff Photographer

Many of the those in attendance tried their hands, or maybe feet, at Zumba dancing, taught by fitness instructor, by Emma Holder (not pictured).

PORTLAND — The line started forming an hour and a half before the doors opened for the first A Dash of Diva: Girls' Night Out on Thursday night at the Holiday Inn by the Bay.

The benefit event, organized by the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram, sold out a day in advance and attracted more than 1,500 people.

"We didn't realize the magnitude of people this event was going to attract," said Christina St. Cyr, the event's chairwoman and the online advertising manager for MaineToday Media, parent company of the Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram. "It's a good learning experience for next year, and it's great to see so many Maine women gathered together to support some great causes."

Proceeds from A Dash of Diva will be donated to the Maine Women's Fund and the Press for Higher Education Scholarship at the University of Southern Maine. The event featured 80 vendor booths, entertainers and the Dash of Inspiration awards ceremony, recognizing 10 women who have inspired others in the community.

Taking home the overall Dash of Inspiration award was Linda Knights, 62, of South Portland.

Knights has been totally blind for the past six years but hasn't let it stop her from caring for her disabled daughter and leading an active life.

"I am shocked," she said after receiving the award.

Feather boas and Mardi Gras beads decorated many necklines in the packed ballroom, where party-goers sampled food, browsed through racks of clothing, tried on jewelry, got massages and even learned a little dancing.

"The turnout is unbelievable," said Loretta Griffin of Portland, who attended with girlfriends Linda O'Malley and Priscilla Caulfield. "I didn't think it would be this big."

One of the draws of the evening was Vicki Monroe, a psychic medium.

Laurie Shadman of Cumberland arrived at 3 p.m. to wait in line for the doors to open at 4:30 p.m., hoping for a chance to have a personal session with Monroe. She was one of the women who snagged a private meeting with Monroe, who bills herself as a spirit messenger.

After emerging from her reading, Shadman said, "It was amazing. You can actually see her looking into another realm. It was way worth it. She's very insightful."

Carol White, a volunteer from Kennebunk, decorated the stage in pink and green satin.

"I had no idea there would be so many people," she said. "It's wonderful for the Portland Press Herald to have such a turnout for the first venture with new ownership."

Richard L. Connor, the new owner and publisher of MaineToday Media, was also impressed with the party.

"First of all, the event is a great testament to the employees of the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram," he said. "They put this together from scratch. They turned it from nothing into an overwhelming success.

"It created a good venue for our advertisers to meet their customers and for people to have fun," he said.

Chuckling, he added, "It's unfortunate more men couldn't have been here."

The Maine Women's Fund, one of the organizations that will benefit from the event, was glad to see so many women in one place.

"We're appreciative of the opportunity to give women a chance to learn about the work that we do and, of course, the financial support," said Lauren Dietlin, development director for the Maine Women's Fund. "It's been a great chance for people to learn about what we do, while they're having fun."

Part of that fun came from Maggie Bokor, a certified Nia instructor whose troupe of dancers performed.

"We knew it was going to be big, and I was ready for it," Bokor said. "This is an amazing experience, and to have this kind of exposure is terrific."

Veronica Caron of Gray, who came to the event with a group of girlfriends, said, "I like it, but it's too crowded. It should have been in the (Cumberland County) Civic Center. I loved the stories of the women...