A Dance Party for Better Health

UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Spirit of Women will present its 9^th annual Day of Dance® for Health on Saturday, February 28, from 10 am to 2 pm at the Marina Center in South Sioux City. Attendees will dance their way toward better health. Free health screenings will also be available throughout the day, including blood pressure checks, pulse readings, mini-lung screens and body composition checks.  UnityPoint Health nurses and diabetes educators will be on hand to answer questions.

The family-friendly event offers an array of performances from local dancers.  Attendees can also learn dance steps themselves from area instructors, hitting the dance floor for Zumba, Swing Lessons, and more.

            The very popular Dancing with the Siouxland Stars competition will be held at 1:30 pm with local celebrities vying for the coveted red shoe trophy.  This year’s dancers include husband and wife team Michael Billings, President of Sioux City GO and Renae Billings, Board Member for Startup Sioux City. This team is led by Tracey Bennett from Siouxland Movement Arts.   Representing iHeartMedia is Z98 Radio Host Eric Bishop. Bishop is partnered with Dr. Laura Danis of UnityPoint Clinic Family Medicine in Sergeant Bluff. They are coached by Erin Oliver from Dancing with Celeste. ABC9 News Weekend Anchor Allison Warren and Weekend Sports Anchor Alex Walker have teamed up this year and are led by Kayla Kellen from Rhythm Avenue Dance Academy.

Day of Dance is a great annual reminder that being healthy can be fun.  “It turns out that all the things that keep your heart healthy are the same things that are good for your overall health.  Dancing can help with weight maintenance and weight loss, decrease your blood pressure, manage your cholesterol, and even improve your memory skills. It also makes you feel more energetic, decreases depression, increases coordination and muscle strength, and builds confidence.  People of all ages, shapes and sizes receive a wide range of physical and mental benefits by dancing on a regular basis,” said Dr. Laura Danis.

            Sponsored by Cardiovascular Associates, KG95 and ABC9 News; UnityPoint Health - St. Luke’s Spirit of Women’s Day of Dance is free. For more information, call (712) 279-1850 or visit to unitypoint.org/dayofdance.