The following is a republished press release from a community organization or member and NOT written by the Ithaca Voice … to submit community announcements to The Voice, contact us at jalmendarez@ithacavoice.com.
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Movers, shakers, and dancers of all kinds are needed to meet the Dancing for a Cause Challenge during The Fourth Annual Dancing for a Cause on Saturday April 9th, 2016. This lively event will raise funds for the Crisisline of Suicide Prevention & Crisis Service. Dancing for a Cause gives everyone an opportunity to fundraiser through expressive movement, providing participants with a great way to exercise, reduce depression and anxiety, encourage mindfulness, and have fun.
Movement workshops will be held on Saturday, April 9th, from 1 until 4pm for participants who have raised at least $100. Seven local dance teachers will host fun and relaxing workshops, each involving a different kind of movement, in order to spread joy and engage fundraisers both physically and mentally. Participants will learn, and even help to choreograph, a new dance to perform during the gala party from 8 to 11pm at TheSpace@Greenstar, at the corner of Meadow and Court Streets in Ithaca, NY. The party will feature the four-piece dance band Radio London, returning for a second time to provide swinging and bopping songs from the 1960s and 70s.
Dance is not often associated with mental health but expressive movement has been found to be therapeutic for many mental health illnesses. According to an article in Psychology Today, dance can significantly decrease anxiety in people who struggle with anxiety disorders, as well as provide boosts in mood that can last over a substantial period of time. Dance also helps individuals to process feelings and express themselves personally through turning emotions into creative motion. This is especially helpful to victims of trauma who struggle with expressing feelings through traditional talk therapies.
Among the seven dance teachers leading workshops, Amy Bush, owner of Dancers Alley Studio in Horseheads, will teach a contemporary dance that involves improvised choreography that is initiated by visual cues. Erin Saddlemire’s workshop, to be held in Endicott, will start by generating a list of sight words for the development of movement phrases, shared and taught between the members of the group, and then used to make a dance.
All donations and funds raised through the event will support free, confidential crisis counseling by telephone and on-line chat for anyone across nine counties in the Southern Tier. The Crisisline is a member of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and serves as an important safety net for anyone struggling with emotions, difficult life situations, mental health, or suicidal thoughts. Founded in 1969, the Crisisline is staffed by highly trained peers and volunteers.
Those who would like to participate in Dancing for a Cause but do not want to dance or cannot attend the event are welcome to create their own dance challenge, or pick a fundraiser or team to support through a donation.
To sign up or learn more information about Dancing for a Cause and Suicide Prevention & Crisis Service, visit www.ithacacrisis.org, call 607-272-1505, or write to info@ithacacrisis.org.
Featured photo courtesy of Flickr.
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