Cheryl Burke Dance studio at 1400 North Shoreline Boulevard in Mountain View will host a fundraiser open to the public for Dance 4 Health on Friday, September 21, 5 to 7 p.m. A $10 admission includes performances, a dance class and refreshments.
Dance 4 Health is a San Jose-based nonprofit program that promotes dancing as an integral component in a healthy lifestyle.
Founded in 2006, the program reaches out to economically disadvantaged adults and children in the South Bay who are at higher risk for chronic diseases. Dance 4 Health offers parents and children 8 to 10 years of age an innovative after-school program, a team approach that involves health care and nutrition specialists, dance teachers, and elementary school staff.
Facing sharp cuts in government and sponsorship funding, Dance 4 Health relies heavily on private contributions. The organization gratefully accepts individual monetary donations, dance shoes, costumes and dance outfits for younger dancers.
The $10 fundraiser admission fee includes a West Coast Swing lesson, kids’ performances, professional dance demonstrations by Cheryl Burke Dance studio staff, general social dancing, auctions, raffle prizes, and refreshments.
A special performance by world-class Tango Master Instructors Andrea Monti and Gato Valdez is set for 6 p.m. The acclaimed couple will demonstrate "Salon Style" Argentine Tango, an advance preview of the dance style they will teach at the studio, starting in October.
As an additional bonus, anyone paying the $10 donation can attend all Friday drop-in classes and dancing that same night – from 7:15 p.m. to 1 a.m. – for an additional $7 fee – half off the studio's usual Friday night admission.
Dance 4 Health was developed by Elaine and Alex Dziekanowski, two health care professionals with over 50 years of combined experience. Elaine, a registered nurse, worked at Stanford Medical Center, and Alex worked in physical therapy at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. They are also accomplished ballroom dancers, having danced socially and competitively for three decades
