“We are encouraging women to bring out her entire family to come out and dance before the big game,” said Jennifer Dentler, Spirit of Women coordinator at AGH. “Not only will we combine the fun of dancing to different kinds of music, but we will turn the event into a pre-Super Bowl Party. “

“Day of Dance for Health not only increases awareness of heart and vascular disease and its risk factors, but inspires immediate action for better health. This program has resulted in millions of consumers exposed to the powerful concept that doing something fun like dancing is taking the right “steps” to a healthier future,” said Tanya Abreu, president and national program director of Spirit of Women.

Taking place from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 7, this free community event will include dancing, exercise classes, prominent physician speakers, screenings, and other activities to remind participants that preventing cardiovascular disease and a healthy lifestyle can be a fun and energizing experience.

A few of the dance styles that will be taught at Day of Dance include ballroom, salsa, swing, hip hop, clogging and belly dancing. “Participants will then have the opportunity to take a thirty minute lesson to learn a few steps of a particular dance,” explains Dentler. “Plus we will have other forms of exercises that are good for the heart including yoga, zumba, cardio kickboxing and jazzercise. We are also excited to have the Otsego cheerleading team to be teaching a class to show young girls some cheerleading moves.”

Nearly 500,000 women die each year of cardiovascular disease, making it the leading cause of death for American women. One in two women will die of heart disease, yet they continue not to personalize their individual risk for cardiovascular disease.

Spirit of Women focuses on dance as a way to take steps for a healthier life because dancing can burn as many calories as swimming, walking, or riding a bike (as many as 200-400 calories per hour). If done on a regular basis as a form of exercise, many health benefits result including weight maintenance or weight loss, blood pressure and cholesterol management (lowering), increased energy, decreased sadness and depression, increased coordination and muscle strength and an overall sense of well-being.

Although in its sixth year nationwide, this is the 3rd year that Allegan General is participating. More than 75,000 participants across 65 communities nationwide are expected to dance for their health in the hopes of creating healthier communities. Individuals can register online for Day of Dance at aghosp.org or call (269) 686-4231.

Allegan General Hospital is a community hospital that focuses on providing exceptional, compassionate and personalized healthcare to the community it serves. Allegan General provides a wide range of healthcare services, including emergency, diagnostics, bariatrics, surgery, sleep center, physical rehabilitation and mental health. For more information on the hospital, visit aghosp.org.