Following graduation from high school, I adopted the cause of preventing cardiovascular disease. As a dancer, my training and performing have centered on learning routines “with every beat” which seemed to be a natural correlation to my heart education initiatives. Just as the human heart beats in rhythm, each step I have learned and performed as a dancer to a musical selection is accomplished beat by beat. Thus, the idea of “With Every Beat” was born.

As my involvement in my platform activities increased, I understood the need to raise funds for cardiovascular research in addition to promoting my education initiatives. Using the relationships I had forged in the dance community over the last fifteen years, I coordinated a dance showcase in 2007 for area dance studios and dance teams to raise money for the American Heart Association (AHA). The inspiration for the showcase was my friend and tap teacher Meredith Ward who died at age 26 due to a heart condition proving again that cardiovascular disease can strike anyone at any age, in any socioeconomic group, and in any race - it is nondiscriminatory.

The 2007 showcase was a great success, giving the dancers an opportunity to perform and share their talents while raising $1,550 for the AHA and increasing awareness of this “silent killer.” I sponsored the Dance Showcase again in 2008 and raised over $2,000, which was matched by the Natalie Henry Fund, which was established to provide an “Infant CPR Anytime Kit” to families with high risk newborns before hospital dismissal.  T-shirts that I designed were also sold to raise funds, as well as a raffle for door prizes from donations made by area businesses.  The Third Annual Dance Showcase, held on February 7th, 2009, featured over 180 dancers and raised $2400 which was donated to the American Heart Association.

The Fourth Annual Dance Showcase will be held on Friday, February 26, 2010, at Pelham High School at 7:00 PM.