Lafayette area kicks up their heels for second annual ‘Day of Dance’

Kathryn Weil Center for Education, St. Elizabeth Regional Health and Spirit of Women encourage community to join national dance effort for healthier living

The Kathryn Weil Center for Education, St. Elizabeth Regional Health and the Spirit of Women will host the 2009 Spirit of Women Day of Dance for Health from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28 at Tippecanoe Mall’s center court to inspire area residents to dance for better health. The event will combine the fun of dancing to different forms of music, such as square dancing, belly dancing, rock ‘n’ roll, jazz, salsa, swing, and hip-hop, with health screenings and consumer education on heart disease and other women’s health issues.

This is the second year Lafayette has hosted a Day of Dance. Lafayette joins more than 70 other cities to simultaneously host Day of Dance and more than 90,000 people are expected to be involved throughout the nation this year.

“The joy that comes from dancing can have a profound and wonderful impact on our overall health,” said Jackie Bahler, director of the Kathryn Weil Center for Education. “On Feb. 28 we will dance and help educate the community about healthy heart choices they can easily incorporate into their lifestyles, as well as personal warning signs people should be aware of.”

The schedule for Saturday, Feb. 28 is the following:

• Noon: Welcome

• 12:15 p.m.: Marla's Music and Motion

• 12:30 p.m.: Dance Moves and Gymnastics: Star City Dance Team

• 12:45 p.m.: Triple "S" Sassy Snake Stompers

• 1 p.m.: Purdue Dance Team

• 1:15 p.m.: Y-Dance (High School Musical)

• 1:45 p.m.: Purdue Goldusters and Little Goldusters

• 2 p.m.: Lafayette Fun Squares and Purdue Krazy 8's

• 2:45 p.m.: Fashion show

• 3:15 p.m.: Alpha Phi Dance Team

• 3:30 p.m.: Tap Lover's Club

• 4 p.m.: Bare Bones Belly Dancing

• 4:30 p.m.: The Edge Personal Training: Zumba

• 4:45 p.m.: Dance 2XS

• 5 p.m.: Dance Magic

• 5:15 p.m.: Cheer Express/Dance Expressions

• 5:45 p.m.: The Whole Nine Yards Scottish Country Dancing

The fashion show will feature clothing from Tippecanoe Mall merchants Christopher & Banks, Dick’s Sporting Goods, JC Penney, Maurices, MC Sports and Old Navy.

Kyle Charters from Gold and Black Illustrated will serve as emcee of the event. Wendell Ferguson of United Sounds Mobile Disc Jockeys will provide the sound and video for the event.

In addition, several health screenings such as cholesterol screenings, blood pressure checks, BMI measurements and information tables will be available in Tippecanoe Mall’s Community Court. St. Elizabeth Regional Health’s Food and Nutrition Services will provide heart-healthy cooking demonstrations at 1, 3:30 and 5 p.m.

Dancing can burn as many calories as swimming, walking or riding a bike; as many as 200 to 400 calories per hour. If done on a regular basis as a form of exercise, many health benefits result including weight maintenance or weight loss, blood pressure and cholesterol management, increased energy, decreased sadness and depression, increased coordination and muscle strength and an overall sense of well-being. In addition, dancing can help develop new social connections as well as enhance and strengthen relationships.

Nearly 500,000 women die each year of cardiovascular disease, making it the leading cause of death for American women. One in two women will die of heart disease, yet they continue not to acknowledge their individual risk for cardiovascular disease.

The 2009 National Day of Dance for Health is presented by the Spirit of Women Health Network, Good Housekeeping magazine, WomenHeart, Cabot Creamery Cooperative, Chattem, the PAD Coalition and the National Stroke Association.

The Kathryn Weil Center for Education and St. Elizabeth Regional Health are members of the Spirit of Women, a national coalition of hospitals and health care providers that pledge to provide the highest standards of excellence in women’s health, education and community outreach.

For more information, please call the Kathryn Weil Center for Education at (765) 449-5133 or visit www.ste.org/kwce and click on the Day of Dance logo for a complete listing of dance groups and schedules.