The Cancer Dance

Many people are already familiar with the fact that there are many different styles of dance and dance can help your body in numerous ways. However, most are not familiar with the idea that dance can help with cancer. There are a few ways that dancing and cancer are connected. One of these ways is people dancing to raise money for cancer research. I myself never knew how popular this event is and how many people participate. There are many organizations in the United States alone that has these events. For the past 3 years Orange County CA has held an event called The Cancer Dance-Athon, where participants swing dance for 24 hours. The money raised goes straight to cancer research and treatment. Last year they raised over 175,000 dollars! Another event takes place each year in Chicago called "Dance-Pink". These participants do salsa dancing for an evening and the money raised goes towards breast cancer research. Another event done yearly is by Avon called "A Day of Dance" where participants take dance lessons for a day to raise money for breast cancer research.

There are others ways that dance helps cancer patients. Many people who have been diagnosed with cancer, are receiving treatment, or are survivors will rely on dance to lead them through. Research has shown that each year more and more cancer patients will sign up and take dance lessons. Many of the reasons behind this is for these people to build confidence and trust their bodies again. Belly dancing has become a popular dance for women who had or are being treated for breast cancer. Many of these women enjoy belly dancing because they can feel and move like a women again. This dance is building their self-esteem and self-image in leading a happier life. Baysate Medical Hospital right here in Springfield provides people with cancer to participate in their Cancer Dance Therapy class. This was first open to people with breast cancer and its survivors but it now open to people with any type of cancer. The dance class helps cancer patients and survivors feel fit, physical, and better about themselves.

As you can see there is a lot more to dance then pink ballet slippers and poofy tootoos. Dancing can help people fight through something that is so wide spread and life treatening today. Remember over 10 million people are diagnosed with cancer each year. 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. Make an effort to participate in helping this ongoing battle. There are many things you can do and dancing is one of them.

Check these sites out for more information on the relationship between cancer and dancing...

BayState-CancerDanceTherapy

Dance-Athon

Dance-Pink

BellyDancing-BreastCancer

DanceandBreastCancer

Avon-Dance