Day of Dance: Cutting a Rug to Cut Your Health Risk

Educating people on how to take care of their bodies can be tough. No one wants to listen, information can be complicated, and keeping things new and interesting is a feat in and of itself. But for Franciscan Alliance it’s a cinch. They know what the people want, and they’ve been educating the public for four years now in Northwest Indiana with the annual Spirit of Women Day of Dance at the Radisson Star Plaza.

Click here to see more photos from Day of Dance!

In its 11th year running nationally (it was brought to NWI in 2011), Day of Dance has become the largest dance party in the US. Men and women came out from all over the region to shake hips and get tips on how to take care of their body, mind, and spirit.

Throughout the event, that was free and open to the public by the by, people could take part in some sweet shopping, listen to informative lectures by local physicians in what’s called “Dessert with the Docs”, take part in some snazzy raffles, and dance like maniacs on the floor.

It began with a welcome with Master of Ceremonies, Marci Crozier, Regional Director of Marketing & Sales at Franciscan Omni Health and Fitness.

"This is a great way to get women to come together for some camaraderie and also to remind them how special they are and that it's okay to take care of themselves today," Crozier said. "The message that we want to send is that we can rest as hard as we work and that we can find rest in movement."

Peppy instructors from Franciscan Omni Health lead ladies (and some brave gentlemen) in some lively Zumba routines, then things were calmed down for some tai chi. The dancing continued throughout the event with yoga, open dance, and more Zumba while other things took place. Some people went up to get their free health screenings which included bone density tests, blood pressure, blood sugar, consultations from Franciscan Health professionals, and a lot more. 

Around the entrance and exit of the health screening room, vendors set up their booths and showed off their wares to the shopping pursuits of the ladies. There was even a photo booth with props for anyone who wanted to capture the great moments that they had at Day of Dance.

The doctors who took the time to speak to the ladies at "Desserts with the Docs" touched on pertinent topics that kept everyone informed and interested. Michael Nicholas, DO, FACC, FACOI spoke on atrial fibrillation, Revathy Ameerudin, MD, delved into the unique risks that stokes pose to women, and C. Richard Smith, DO, FACC, FCCP, COCC, had the topic of varicose veins.

Amy Delahunty, Regional Outreach and Wellness Specialist for Franciscan Alliance is the event coordinator. She and many volunteers and staff of Franciscan Alliance worked their hardest to make sure that this event happens every year. 

"We feel that it's important to reach out to women because women are the primary decision makers for health care within their families," Delahunty said. "This is a great way to bring women together and educate them about health and wellness in an environment that's fun and entertaining. It gives them an opportunity to get entertained and learn at the same time."

 The day wrapped up with a raffle drawing and everyone left happier and wiser. If you missed this year's event, there's always next year! Think of what kind of things the Spirit of Women Hospital Network will be planning for 2016!