Dancin Power

Dancin Power offers such a unique and valuable service! As a pediatric nurse, I see firsthand how hard it is for patients living with a chronic illness. Dancin Power provides physical and emotional benefits to my patients, and they have so much fun doing it!

Vania Deonizio, the founder of Dancin Power has an amazing ability to energize some of the sickest and saddest children through dance and movement. She gets them moving no matter what their ability is, and they feel great as a result. the children love her and look forward to her charming presence.

Dancin Power is an amazing organization run by a passionate and fearless leader Vania D. It was Vania's love of dance and compassion for children and families that helped her spurn this non-profit that seeks to provide a positive experience to children who are hospitalized and/or receiving hospice care. Dancin Power teachers visit children's hospitals throughout California, provide dance and wellness education to children, and bringing a bit of joy into their lives with fun and uplifting music and movement designed for all types of physical abilities. In addition to the health benefits the children also receive individual costumes, as well as stickers and t-shirts. Kids (and their family members) often leave class with their spirits lifted, and a little more hope with another class to look forward to. It truly is an amazing non-profit!

Fantastic organization working to help pediatric patients embrace their love of dance even when in the hospital!

Amazing program for my patients at Children's Hospital Oakland. Builds confidence, happiness, flexibility, and is fun!! This makes every visit better for my patients.

As a former Dancin Power teacher and current board member, I've witnessed the huge positive impact Dancin Power makes on hospitalized children and their families. Dancin Power gives all hospitalized children, regardless of their medical condition, the chance to express themselves through movement and music. I've seen hospitalized children who were initially sad and scared have their moods transformed through Dancin Power's special adaptive classes. By the end of class, they're smiling, giggling, and looking completely uplifted. Through Dancin Power, they transform from sick or injured patients back into fun-loving children. I've been proud to support this innovative organization with its effective and wonderfully compassionate mission since its inception a decade ago. I look forward to continuing to helping it grow and increasing its impact for decades to come.

My peer shares about Dacin Power and inspires me to get involved. The expressive arts are so powerful, and Dacin power is transforming the lives of these children.

The work Dancin Power does with hospitalized kids is unique and necessary. No other organization that I'm aware of gives kids in treatment such an important opportunity to express themselves physically, through movement and personal connection to music.

Dancin Power is an amazing organization for hospitalized children of all capibilities, utilizing dance and music to help bring healing and joy. It teaches children about dance from all over the world, and not only promote physical healing, but emotional healing as well!!! Please help support this amazing and unique non for profit for our littlest and most important patients!

Vania, the founder, has an amazing story herself which culminated in her selfless effort to bring joy to kids in hospitals. She knows suffering, which is why it’s commendable that she has transformed it into a force for good in the world. Dancin Power brings kids and families a reason to smile in such dire circumstances and all because of the selflessness and empathy of a woman who has beat all odds herself.

Dancin Power was a wonderful addition to our event at the hospital. The children loved their program and enjoyed having dancing as an activity. The staff at Dancin Power were great and went above & beyond to help the children.

I have been a board member of Dancin Power for several years it gives me great pride and joy to be involved in such a wonderful organization! This is a cause I believe everybody can get behind that serves some of the most vulnerable individuals in our society. It's amazing to see the transformations that can occur when dance and arts enter the lives of these young people and their families. I'm very excited for Dancin Power and the direction it will be moving in the years to come!

I have been involved with Dancin' Power since its inception. The compassion and passion of its founder is contagious. The effects on the children is marvelous. Seeing these kids move and smile in some of the toughest phases of their lives is really beyond words.

Dancin Power is a beautiful program, giving hospitalized children a chance to move and feel like children! I enjoyed working with this program and seeing the faces of children light up when it was time to dance. Providing free dance classes to children in hospitals is truly a gift. I saw firsthand how wonderfully it impacted the child, their family and their nursing staff as they all came together through dance to have fun and connect with each other.

Dancin Power has been an incredible asset to our patients at CHOC Children's! Their generosity has provided hours of fun, movement and excitement. We can't thank them enough for sharing their time and talents to inspire and encourage our kids.

Dancin Power is amazing! Their staff are able to adapt to the varied abilities of our patients, due to their ability to assess what our patients CAN do and play on those strengths. They also work well with our family members and staff-bringing dance and music to all.
It is so great to see patients that are fairly unresponsive, "light up" and interact with the Dancin Power staff. Everyone looks forward to their weekly visit and we wish they could come more often!

For the past 10 years this inspiring non-profit has provided dance programs to hospitalized children. As a board member and staff member at one of the hospitals served I see first hand the impact this program had had. I believe every children's hospital should have a similar program.

Dancin Power has been providing dance experiences for pediatric patients at UCSF Benioff Hospital Oakland for many years.
It is a high point for the children each week.
Movement sessions are tailored to the needs and abilities of these young dancers. Whether they have I.V.s, wheelchairs, or other physical challenges, the staff from Dancin Power always creates a meaningful encounter in which every child is able to contribute. For some of our patients, Dancin Power has been one of the most powerful vehicles for encouraging self-expression. It has been quite transformational and we are grateful for their involvement.

Dancin Power has been helping hospitalized children for 10 years now and Vania has been the driving force. She now has well trained facilitators who are able to use music and dance to get children moving and smiling, when just minutes before they were sad or in pain. Its not a miracle, it is the power of music combined with the enthusiasm of the Dancin Power team! Highly recommend support of this non profit.

This program is amazing!!! I feel so Alive when I dance. Thank you to the founder and teacher for this great experience.

I was a bit dubious about Dancin Power until I had the opportunity to join them at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital and saw them in action -- they are amazing! Not only did they bring joy to the patients that they worked with, their sense of inclusion of the whole family was fantastic. The healing power of music, of movement and of a break from the medical environment cannot be measured -- but it it immense!

I have patients who benefited greatly both physical flexibility and strength and mental relaxation fro Dancinpower. I hope more children can benefit from program expansion outside the Bay Area.

Danicin power is a wonderful program to bring dance to healing children. Dance changes physiology, quality of life and heals. I congratulate Dancin power for being one the best dance healing programs in the world.
Michael Samuels, M.D
director Art as a healing Force

On my travels in San Francisco exploring the dance scene, studying with Anna Halprin and volunteering with dancin power, their friendly teachers and participants show passion and enthusiasm for dance it's a joy to witness and be part of their charity. As a mover and community dance practitioner I understand the necessity of movement in anyone's life, especially when they are unwell, and dancin power are an incredibly talented charity reaching more and more children everyday. I wish them every success in their projects and future projects to come. Well done! :)

Dancin' Power provides our hospitalized patients with an empowering dance experience. It's enjoyed by patients and parents alike. It's unlike any group that comes to visit our kids and we are so lucky to have them come.

Dancin Power brings adaptive activity into medical facilities as part of the healing process. The energy and enthusiasm of their volunteer instructors engages patients and helps them to smile and forget the struggles of medical treatments. Everytime I see photos and videos of the children participating in dance, I smile too. Please support the great work Dancin Power does for patients and the community they serve.

I am so honored to be a member of the board for this wonderful nonprofit! The passion in which they teach their classes to bring joy to the children is truly inspiring. I am grateful to be part of this organization!

Dancing power is a such beautiful, inspiring, heart touching and important project for the sick kids inside hospitals!
This project promotes hope, healing and happiness to the kids and their families ♡ Renata B.

I have seen the joy first hand that Dancin Power (DP) brings to children and families. The hospital environment can be scary and overwhelming. The DP program brings a lightness and opportunity for expression that is liberating for children and their families. I was eager to join not only as a teacher but as a board member in order to support this amazing organization. The founder Vania is an amazing tireless advocate for the children and I am excited to be a part of it!

I am extremely honored to be part of Dancin Power as a board member. Seeing the progress the organization has made since day one, and its positive impact in the lives of over 11,000 hospitalized children and their families for all these years, to now, nearly 10 years later, makes me proud and grateful. I am committed to use the power of music and dance to continue to empower and inspire children who are facing life-threatening illnesses and need support and encouragement to face their battles.

Dancin' Power makes such a difference in the quality of life for hospitalized children! It's a unique and powerful program.

Dancin Power brings together patients and their families with joy, creativity and inspiration. Young patients are given the opportunity to move, dance and express themselves with music within the hospital setting.Vania Deonizio is the brilliant guiding force behind Dancin Power. Vania is joined by a team of dedicated and enthusiastic volunteer dance teachers. We are trained and supported personally by Vania, and given the tools to best serve our participants. A dance class is specially created to give kids a fun and rewarding class, while increasing their self-esteem in an encouraging environment.
I am a volunteer dance teacher with Dancin Power, and am so grateful to have found this incredibly worthwhile nonprofit organization.

Dancin Power has been a tremendous source of joy for children who desperately need it. Driven by Vania's energy and passion to help others, Dancin Power also reaches the hearts of others in the community. I am proud to support this great non-profit!

This is a great example of a grass roots nonprofit that accomplishes so much with such a great impact on the lives of a vulnerable population, extremely ill children.

Dancin Power touches the lives of sick & injured children every day. Their volunteers inspire hospitalized children to express themselves through dance & movement, and in doing so bring so much positive energy and much-needed joy to the children and families that they serve. Their tireless work is both instructional and therapeutic. They teach the children to be in touch with their bodies and comfortable in their own skin while at the same time offering them an irreplaceable escape from their strenuous and painful circumstances.

Dancin Power is a truly inspirational organization that provides an invaluable service to the beloved children that it serves.

Dancin Power, touches the lives of children, parents, staff and teachers in such an incredible and unique way. A way through dance, which is often set to the side as a crucial role in therapeutic settings, but one that has the ability to turn a life around. My work with Dancin Power, has not only effected my own interpersonal grown and transformation, but I have literally been a witness to this change in families and children. Dancin Power, is a very special and wonderful program that brings a smile to the face of someone who often hasn't felt one in a while, which becomes a domino effect of smiles all around. I love this program!

Vania and her team are doing in valuable work for the precious children whose strength you could never imagine. Those undergoing cancer treatment way too young and survivors of burn incidents Vania is bringing a true gift to them and their families. I have been able to see firsthand The joy and energy that these children in exude because they are part of the Dancin Power program. They deserve a huge voted big knowledge meant and I hope their programs expand far and wide!

I volunteered with Vania ( the founder) one day at Children's Hospital Oakland ( where I am a data analyst) and it was just wonderful. Dance therapy really does make children with mobility issues feel better, laugh and be kids.

What an amazing video...the joy this organization brings to sick children is so inspirational. Music in the hospitals for ill children brings them life, and movement is what they need to forget about the pain. As a music teacher for 30 years, I know the power of movement and music in everyone's lives, but for sick children, this is beautiful!
Marcia S, Portland OR

This is the most amazing group of volunteers I have ever seen! They do not think twice about going into a difficult situation to bring joy to the children they serve. For 1 hr. out of a 24 hr. day, a child is able to forget the pain and sickness they are feeling and just dance and have fun. You can just feel the excitement in the room! It is nice to know there are still people in this world that care enough to give of their time and spread kindness to other people. Dancin Power YOU rock!!! Keep up the fantastic work.

Dancin Power volunteers their time to bring much needed joy into the lives of children who deal with illness and injury. This kind of healing is immeasurable and should be encouraged. It’s a truly great program.

I had the opportunity to play music for one of Dancin Power's classes at the Shriners Hospital in Sacramento. I never thought I would be playing loud, high energy samba music in the atrium of a large children's hospital, but it worked wonderfully. The class was quite interactive for both the children and adults in attendance! Though little pressure was put on people to participate, most were engaged and visibly having a good time. The class was set up so each person could do as much or as little as they wanted or could do. At one point we went around the room and everyone made up their own dance moves for the whole class to try, which got people creating and laughing. Vania does an excellent job helping people to enjoy the basic pleasures of dance and music, in many different states of capability, age, and enthusiasm.

My name is Mor'gaan I was 13 years old when I started dancing with dancing power during the 8 months that I spent in Children's hospital. I had never took a dance class in my life but thanks to dancing power I not only learned how to do dance i felt empowered enought to Peform 3 dances along with 20 other dancers for a audience of over 200 people at the hospital. It was one of the best days of my life and I will never forget it changed my life forever . Thank you dancing power !!!!!

Dancin Power is a specialized movement and music program that brings dance classes free of charge to hospitalized kids facing chronic and life-threatening illnesses.

Dancin Power is a wonderful non-profit organization that brings dance and music to young patients at Oakland Children's Hospital, and beyond. But more than that, it's brings huge heart and soul, and much needed joy to the families and all involved. Vania Deonizio, the founder, is a selfless and passionate leader who has managed to put this programming together on a shoestring, with the help of friends, family, and volunteers. Brava to her, and to all her helpers and supporters.

Dancin Power is fueled by the love and passion of the volunteers. It is amazing to witness the love of dance and music being shared with patients and families. Dancin Power has the ability to bring kids and their families together in a way that no other program can. The magic that happenes when dance is brought into stressful or otherwise negative situations is truly incredible. The positivity and belief in possibility that Dancin Power has is contagious, and has opened my eyes to what can happen when ideas and dreams are pursued.

Dancin' Power is a fun and therapeutic outlet for many of the patients I work with at Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland. All ages and ability levels can enjoy the music, movement, creativity, and comaraderie! I hope to continue to work with Miss Vania and Dancin' Power in the future.
-Sara, speech therapist

This is a fantastic nonprofit organization. I volunteered with Dancin Power from 2011-2012 as a dance teacher and assistant. Visiting Children's Hospital Oakland with Dancin Power was one of the best parts of my week. Seeing the children's faces light up once we got moving, or seeing kids start out shy and grow more confident as the class progressed always gave me the "warm fuzzies" and made me look forward to coming back the next week. Witnessing the children reclaim their body to dance and have a good time was incredibly inspiring and just thinking about it makes me miss the being part of the program.
In addition to going to Children's hospital, I also went to Shriner's with Vania. This was an awesome experience because not only did she teach a children's class, she also taught a class for mothers of children in the hospital. The mothers' class was popular and a wonderful outlet and moment of self-care for them. Parents often forget to take time for themselves, and it was great that Vania was willing to give these devoted mothers a some time to let loose.
Overall, I definitely felt my time was well spent there.

Dancin Power is great! It has serve our Oakland patient tremendously, by engaging them in fun activities that they truly enjoy.

I have been fortunate enough to witness first-hand the amazing affect this program has on children in the hospital. I have seen children who were initially withdrawn come out of their shell and flourish through dance and music. I have seen children who previously thought they couldn't do things based on their disabilities or being in a wheelchair be empowered by the modifications Dancin Power was able to make to allow them to move and groove. The children can laugh, smile and get some exercise all at the same time. It's a great program that brings joy to so many hospitalized children and their families.

Dancin Power brings smile, laughter and motivation to our overweight kids who never thought it can be fun to move and be comfortable with your own body. Vania is such a great dance instructor! She makes every child in our Healthy Heart program feel unique and important even when you don't know how to dance or move. Every hospital should have a Dancin Power, but most importantly have an invigorating leader like Vania.

I am a pediatric physiastrist at Children’s Hospital Oakland. I witness first hand the positive effects of Dancin Power on the quality of life of my hospitalized patients. The kids love it and beam with joy during the classes. Their success in learning dance moves carries over to their performance in their intensive physical/occupational/speech therapy sessions. I am fortunate to be on the board of an organization that has such an ineffable presence in my workplace.

I, personally, am suffering with a brain tumor. I no longer can dance. But, Dancin Power reminded me that I can dance with the movement I do have in my body. I find such joy and strength dancing with the children and the other volunteers, even if we're sitting down, even if we can't raise our arms above our heads. Dancin Power shows us that, yes, we can express ourselves with our bodies even in the midst of our pain and limitations. To feel empowered again in our bodies - even in the midst of the trauma - heals the mind.

Dancin Power has been a wonderful addition to the School Program in our hospital. Dancin Power staff have been able to work with kids that have various physical challenges. They have always found a way to empower the children to participate in movement activities. Kids can work from their wheelchairs or their beds and move in whatever manner works best for them. Once Dancin Power facilitated a movement session for a paraplegic child in which she was able to dance her hands to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star from her bed.
They have contributed a great deal to helping children have a positive sense of self-esteem and body image. Staff's gentle and warm approach has been a great success. This is a favorite hospital activity for many of our students.

Healthy Hearts is an obesity clinic at Children's, and we have had the pleasure of having many of our patients get to experience the magic of Dancin Power. We have been so incredibly impressed with how comfortable kids feel when they are part of a Dancin Power session. We have had family members come up to us afterwards and say how they had never seen their child enjoy dancing before!

Dancin Power helps kids feel comfortable with movement and encourages them that exercise can be fun and makes you feel good to your core. Dancin Power has helped Healthy Hearts kids feel inspired to move and be heatlhy.

Dancin Power is a wonderful organization! They bring such joy to children of all ages. They allow kids to be kids and forget about their illnesses while engaging in dance activities. The level of activity is tailored to the children's physical abilities, leaving no child left out. The dance instructors are really creative and fun! I have participated with Dancin Power as an adult and had so much fun! An amazing organization doing amazing things for amazing children!

Dancin Power transforms young lives with music and movement. I've known Vania professionally and personally for many years and Dancin Power is her passion, her joy, her life's work.

I saw firsthand the transformative power that this programs brings to children who are hospitalized. The energy, positivity and accepting attitude that Dancin Power brings to these kids is almost magical. A wonderful program that all children should have the opportunity to experience!

The joy of music and movement lifts children from their afflictions to a positive, happy and empowered place.

This is a great program for kids! Alicia is awesome :)

I have had the powerful experience of witnessing the profound effect Dancin Power has on the children at Children's Hospital Oakland. I am proud to be a dance teacher with this organization as I see the affect of kids change instantly when they see us walk into their rooms with our stereo and bright t-shirts, they know it is dance time; and time to forget they are in the hospital. Their room becomes their sanctuary, their stage, their time to dance with Michael Jackson; whatever they are wanting to experience that day we bring it to them through dance and movement. My most powerful moment as a teacher with Dancin Power was dancing with a young boy, age 8, who was residing in the Oncology unit. He was able to stand up out of bed for the first time in a few days when I started the music. We danced to all of his favorite Michael Jackson hits, we moonwalked with our fingers, and ended with his favorite, "Man in the Mirror", I will never forget the peace that came over his face as he closed his eyes, snapped his fingers and sang his little heart out. He was definitely on stage, not a hospital room.

Dancing Power is an amazing organization created by an amazing woman who is clear in her purpose. She uses dance to make sick children feel better. I feel blessed to be a part of Vania's larger dance community and am proud and inspired by what she has created with Dancing Power.

My first 'class' with Vania was in the corridor of Childrens Hospital Oakland about 4 yrs ago, with a girl who had serious asthma and another who was in a wheelchair. In 3 wods, it was wonderful! With Vania's help and huge smiles on their faces, the girls moved their arms and legs to the salsa beat. We laughed at our antics and encouraged passerbys to join in the fun. Vania's loving, generous heart and warm spirit continue to follow her in her great work. The world really needs her vision and I hope it never fades.

Dancin Power is to put it simply... a blessing! I have had the great pleasure of observing and participating in this amazing program. Vania and her dedicated and talented team provide such a valuable service to our community of kids at CHRCO; an opportunity to be transported through world music, fun movements, and engage with other kids (and sometimes their caregivers). it's so wonderfully healing to the human spirit while going through some of the darkest hours these kids and families will ever face. Thanks so very much Vania - for your passion and selfless attitude!! Cheers to Dancin Power!

I saw Dancin Power (DP) way back when it started and am so proud and pleased to see how it grows today! DP serves so many patients, siblings, and families who so desperately need to feel normal, to feel alive and to feel worthwhile. Watching people participate in DP programs you watch magic come to life. People forget their pain, their stress, their worries for a period of time and are transformed into a person, living in their body, breathing, moving, dancing, laughing, smiling. They are beautifully, simply, perfectly ALIVE! They continue to bring community together with music and movement and are an empowering force, brining people and patients the highest quality of life possible. Thank you Dancin Power for all you do!

Dancin Power is an amazingly inspiring program, and I can't say enough good thing about it! When illness or injury comes into our lives, it can feel incredibly isolating--ironically, just when the need for connection is at its greatest. Dancin Power meets children who are carrying the burden of serious illness right where they are. It provides a safe and supportive space for these kids to experience whatever kind of joyful, health-supportive physical expression they can, guided by volunteers who help them find movements that feel fun and comfortable, despite any physical limitations. Anyone who sees a Dancin Power session as "just a dance class" is just not paying attention! A Dancin Power session, lead by its tireless leader Vania or any one of the team of dedicated and caring volunteer instructors, is an incredible reminder to children who are often no strangers to pain or discomfort that their bodies can still be a source of expression and fun. As a Dancin Power volunteer, I have been privileged to witness firsthand the simple joy that movement can bring to a room-bound kid or the awakening to one's body not as a source of embarrassment or shame but as a source of fun and self-expression. Dancin Power truly delivers on its mission to inspire and empower kids through movement.

Dancin Power has empowered many children and family members dealing with disease and stresses associated with hospitalization. Under Vania's leadership, patients are introduced to dance within the medical setting. She has been able to accommodate children with all kinds of mobility challenges and does so with grace and respect for each child. She works around IV poles, wheelchairs, paraplegia and pain to help kids be able to move in a way that is supportive to the medical plan as well as therapeutic to the child. The end result is that everyone around is vicariously uplifted. It is not uncommon to see a nurse pop in to a Dancin Power session and sway to the beat! This is such a powerful medium and one that is incredibly uplifting to everyone involved. Encore! Encore!

I donate to this organization because they do incredibly important work. Do you remember how good it feels to move your body to music? How alive and how connected you feel? Vania and Dancin' Power empower children in hospitals to have the same feeling. They're incredible, and we're so lucky to have them in our communities!

I volunteered for a dance class and it was one of the most inspiring, empowering, and fun experiences I've had. Volunteers, attendees, kids, adult, all became one entity, without differences or boundaries, enjoying the experience, music, and movement. Truly a gem of an organization, ran by whole-hearted people!

Vania is a truly inspired individual. She works incredibly hard for this organization and is completely dedicated to its success. I have seen the inspirational atmosphere she creates in every Hospital room she enters. The volunteers are also amazing and really work well with kids and families. This is a truly enthused group with great intentions and hugely passionate hearts.

Our organization Soccer Without Borders has worked with Dancin Power for the past two summers in Oakland and San Jose, CA where Dancin Power teachers have led amazing dance workshops with our youth during the Oakland and San Jose Refugee Community Soccer Camps. Dancin Power staff injected a tremendous amount of positive, warm energy into the camp and gave many of the kids a chance to express themselves and learn new dance moves while building community. The founder Vania is an amazing person bringing the joy of dance and movement to kids who truly need it.