World of Happiness in partnership with Atlantic Health System-Overlook Medical Center, Community Health Department

Virtual Physical Activity Program for Families READ MORE…

 - For Recovery and Rehabilitation Centers

- For People with Health Issues

- For People Working on Weight Management

For Recovery and Rehabilitation Centers

     Movement in dance:

• Helps overcome injuries and other limitations in a fun way.
• Works all muscles to build strength.
• Increases positive mood levels when individuals may be feeling down.

For People with Health Issues

    Dancing regularly:

• Builds stronger muscles to enhance the quality of everyday life.
• Improves balance and strength to reduce the risk of falling.
• Boosts confidence in performing daily activities, which can ease loved ones' concerns.

For People Working on Weight Management

Ballroom dancing:

• Is an enjoyable activity for controlling weight and keeping trim.
• Can reduce the risk of heart disease, improving cardiovascular health.
• Releases endorphins to keep mind and body happier.
• Increases confidence as overall health improves.

Elementary and High School Dance Program

     Ballroom dancing:

• Is an amazing skill to learn at a young age and carry throughout life.
• Is a healthy and fun alternative for kids who may not be as skilled at ball sports. 
• Increases empathy, communication, and confidence.
• Teaches that anything is possible when striving for your goals!

College and University Dance Program

     Ballroom dancing:

• Is rewarding to learn as a young adult, to carry the skills throughout life.
• Increases friendship-making and social skills.
• Is a fun, stress-relieving activity for the overachieving academic!
• Increases self-confidence.

- For Senior Citizens

- For Families

- For Meet-ups

- For Single Parents and Their Children

For Senior Citizens

     Ballroom dancing:

• Is an amazing skill to learn at any age. You are never too old to dance! 
• Increases empathy, communication, and confidence.
• Teaches that anything is possible when striving for your goals!

For Families

     Ballroom dancing:

• Is a fun and unique activity for families to do together.
• Improves the health of every family member!
• Creates friendships across all age groups.
• Relieves the stress of daily life.

For Meet-ups

     Meet-up ballroom dance programs:

• Provide a fun, fitness-focused way to make new friendships.
• Offer the opportunity to learn new dance skills to show off at social gatherings!
• Eliminate the feeling of being left out due to the nature of social dance.
• Increase confidence among the shy!

For Single Parents and Their Children

     Ballroom dancing for single parents and their children:

• Is a fun activity that can increase the bond between parent and child.
• Takes the mind off of other things!
• Is a naturally occurring social activity for parents and children.
• Is great for learning new, impressive skills.

World of Happiness would like to share the scientific research demonstrating the positive effects of ballroom dancing on people with different types of disease and disability. Ballroom dancing has been shown to improve rehabilitation outcomes, improve balance in the elderly, reduce cardiovascular risk, among other exciting findings.

Ashburn, A., et al. “A Design to Investigate the Feasibility and Effects of Partnered Ballroom Dancing on People with Parkinson Disease: Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol.” JMIR Res Protoc. 2014 Jul 22;3(3):e34. doi: 10.2196/resprot.3184.

Cruz, C., et al. “Resting Bradycardia, Enhanced Postexercise Heart Rate Recovery and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Recreational Ballroom Dancers.” Res Q Exerc Sport. 2017 Sep;88(3):371-376. doi: 10.1080/02701367.2017.1318202. Epub 2017 May 16.

Da Silva Borges, E. G., et al. “Postural Balance and Falls in Elderly Nursing Home Residents Enrolled in a Ballroom Dancing Program.” Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2014 Sep-Oct;59(2):312-6. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2014.03.013. Epub 2014 Apr 5.

“Effects of Ballroom Dancing in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review.”

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323310015_Effects_of_ballroom_dancing_in_patients_with_Parkinsons_disease_A_systematic_review

“The Effects of Dance on Depression, Physical Function, and Disability in Underserved Adults.”

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/255954453_The_Effects_of_Dance_on_Depression_Physical_Function_and_Disability_in_Underserved_Adults

Hwang, P., and Braun, K. “The Effectiveness of Dance Interventions to Improve Older Adults’ Health: A Systematic Literature Review.” Altern Ther Health Med. 2017 Jun 29. 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5491389/

Kunkel, D., et al. “A Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial Exploring Partnered Ballroom Dancing for People with Parkinson’s Disease.” Clin Rehabil. 2017 Oct;31(10):1340-1350. doi: 10.1177/0269215517694930. Epub 2017 Feb 1.

Lakes, K. D., et al. “Dancer Perceptions of the Cognitive, Social, Emotional, and Physical Benefits of Modern Styles of Partnered Dancing.” Complement Ther Med. 2016 Jun;26:117-22. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2016.03.007. Epub 2016 Mar 9.

Merom, D., et al. “Cognitive Benefits of Social Dancing and Walking in Old Age: The Dancing Mind Randomized Controlled Trial.” Front Aging Neurosci. 2016 Feb 22;8:26. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2016.00026. eCollection 2016.

Rudolph, I., et al. “Ballroom Dancing as Physical Activity for Patients with Cancer: A Systematic Review and Report of a Pilot Project.” J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2018 Apr;144(4):759-770. doi: 10.1007/s00432-018-2606-8. Epub 2018 Feb 8.

• World of Happiness special community events can attract tourists and visitors at the regional, national, and international level. 
• Fundraising can help World of Happiness with supplemental funds that will enhance what our nonprofit organization is able to do.
• Our open houses allow us to promote World of Happiness, introduce new programs and services, mingle with community members, and even turn attendees into new members, supporters, and volunteers.

"I started dancing as a child; it was ballet at first. Later I wanted some social interaction too and ballroom dancing seemed ideal. The real change came when I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. I really believe that dancing was the best rehabilitation which saved me from life in a wheelchair."

 Ludmila Engelbach

"Ballroom dancing is a wonderful part of my life. It makes me happy and has increased my confidence in social situations. It challenges me physically and mentally. It’s a great workout and it feeds my creativity. I have also made so many new friends through ballroom dancing. Great people who have the same aspirations as me in dance and who are fun to be with. There is nothing better than an evening on the dance floor!"

Tanya Desharnais

“I’ve been doing ballroom dancing for a year now. Dancing is good for the soul; it just makes you feel happy! Dancing is a great aerobic activity which helps you improve your coordination, balance, and muscle strength! For older adults, dancing is great for posture and helps strengthen your muscles and spine to keep you erect! It is great exercise for our brains as well. Remembering steps and dance routines is a great challenge for memory! You meet a lot of wonderful like-minded friends at dance who love to do it as much as you!”

Nancy Polisin

"Ballroom dancing for me is a physically energizing and cognitively engaging passion that is the antidote to aging!"

Angela Morrison