Dancing Saved My Life: Fundraising effort uses dance to help women with cancer

EMERYVILLE, Calif. (KTVU) - Rain or shine, a group of Bay Area women and men have been getting out in public to dance in front of complete strangers, in a unique effort to help those battling cancer.

Last Sunday, dozens of dancers busted out their Zumba moves in the middle of Emeryville's Bay Street shopping center for a dance class.

The outdoor class was part of a multi-event fundraiser called "Dancing Saved My Life," aimed at helping women manage the overwhelming stress involved with going through cancer.

The money raised from these events go toward financial assistance for women who want to attend a special stress reduction retreat.

The retreats called Healing Circles are held in Bolinas and designed to equip women, in their early 20's through mid-50's, with tools to help them deal with the emotional toll brought on by cancer including anxiety, stress, fear, and the feeling of helplessness.

Zumba instructor Andreina Febres helped launch the annual fundraising effort after her student Joy Glasier, who was going through chemotherapy, came to her in 2014 to tell her how her class has helped lift her spirits and offered her some much needed respite from the stress she was experiencing.

In addition to the dancing, Glasier said she was taking a stress relief course which she also found invaluable.

"I can honestly say it has been the biggest gift of my breast cancer experience," Glasier said. "For that reason, I feel strongly that these retreats can help women in a tangible way at a time when they really need it."

So an idea was born and the "Dancing Saved My Life" project has set out to help women with cancer learn to maneuver through the emotional difficulties they face. 

As part of the retreat, experts walk participants through stress relief techniques and practice ways to work with grief and loss. The group also explores using art and writing as tools and creative outlets. 

Organizers say the retreats are based on "principles to build companionship, support and trust in the inherent wisdom and compassion of each individual and the group."

And those who want to help these woman have come out in force.

On Oct. 16, when heavy rain threatened to get in the way of an outdoor dance class in Emeryville, the "Dancing Saved My Life" troupe decided they weren't going to let the weather hamper their efforts.

So what did they do? They got a little creative and with some help from the Barnes and Noble on Bay Street, the class was held inside the book store.

The pictures were posted on Facebook with one supporter calling the group "UNSTOPPABLE!!!"

Another post about the event read, "The rain can't keep us down!"

As part of the ongoing fundraising efforts, a silent auction is scheduled for November 4th at Flying Studios in Oakland.

The next Healing Circle retreat is set for Memorial Day Weekend, May 27-29.

One woman who attended a past retreat said, “It was such a rewarding and life fulfilling thing for me to meet these wonderful, amazing women to get the support network.”

Part participants say they have felt empowered knowing they are not alone.