Kids In Hospitals Get Free Dance Classes To Lift Their Spirits

“We believe when a child is sick, it truly affects the entire family,” she told HuffPost. “By having the whole family, and at times their doctors and nurses too participating, we create community, a very supportive and fun one.”

The classes have a big impact on the kids’ outlook, Deonizio said. The children may be a bit uncertain at the start, she said, but once they get involved “the shyness goes away, and laughter and joy come in.”

Dr. Mai Ngo of UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital has seen the program in action. She told HuffPost in an email that it is “one of the most feel-good services offered to patients” ? and that it’s especially helpful to kids recovering from severe injuries.

“Getting them out of bed and into a wheelchair to move their bodies in Dancin Power helps prevent de-conditioning, so their muscles do not get even weaker from immobility,” she explained. “It improves their mood and builds their confidence in the control they have of their own bodies in medical situations when they feel completely out of control.”

And the patients aren’t the only ones who benefit from the program.

“Every time I teach I learn something new from my students/patients,” Deonizio told HuffPost. “[A] few of the most important lessons I take every time I teach is the reminder of being completely present, appreciate the moment, have gratitude and never give up.”

To learn more about Dancin Power, visit their website here.