Baltimore Washington Medical Center Urges Women To Dance, Dance, Dance!

Baltimore Washington Medical Center Urges Women To Dance, Dance, Dance!

The medical center joins national effort to promote cardiovascular awareness through dance

GLEN BURNIE, Md., Feb. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to improve women's heart health, Baltimore Washington Medical Center will host the 2006 Spirit of Women National Day of Dance on February 25, 2006 at Westfield Annapolis Mall in Annapolis from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Proving that exercise can be both enjoyable and beneficial to the heart, the program combines the fun of dancing to different forms of music, such as salsa, country and hip-hop, with health screenings and consumer education on heart disease and other women's health issues.

"Ever since I was a little girl, I danced to feel better," said Debbie Allen, choreographer, actress and member of the board for Day of Dance. "Now science tells me that I can live longer because I am dancing my way to a healthier heart."

The 2006 Spirit of Women National Day of Dance will take place in more than 30 cities across the United States, presented by affiliate hospitals of the Spirit of Women Hospital Network. Baltimore Washington Medical Center is the only hospital in Maryland hosting the event.

Baltimore Washington Medical Center's Day of Dance will be filled with free dance demonstrations and lessons from qualified instructors in everything from country line, hip hop and salsa to yoga and belly dancing. Baltimore Washington Medical Center staff will also conduct free cholesterol, anemia, bone density, blood pressure and body mass index screenings.

"We want this program to be as much fun for the community as it is educational about heart disease for women," said Kim Davidson, manager of community outreach at Baltimore Washington Medical Center.

Nearly 500,000 women die each year of cardiovascular disease, making it the #1 killer of American women. Heart disease kills six times more women than breast cancer. In the fight against heart disease, women need to understand risk factors that increase the risk for developing heart disease, such as high cholesterol.

In line with the goals of The Heart Truth, a national awareness campaign on women and heart disease sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the message behind the Spirit of Women Day of Dance is unique: Being heart healthy is about being happier and having more fun.

Several celebrities have also joined the national effort to encourage women to dance their way to heart health. Day of Dance celebrity board members include:

* Patrick Swayze - actor/dancer/choreographer
* Christina Applegate - actor/dancer
* Debbie Allen - dancer/choreographer
* Jillian Michaels - fitness personality

A schedule of events and directions to Westfield Annapolis Mall are included below. For more information about Day of Dance, please call 410-787-4367 or visit www.dayofdance.org.

Baltimore Washington Medical Center (formerly North Arundel Hospital) is an acute-care facility that is part of the University of Maryland Medical System. It currently has 278 beds and more than 2,400 employees and cares for more than 172,000 patients a year on an inpatient and outpatient basis.

Day of Dance 2006 Agenda

10:15 a.m. - Welcome/Opening Remarks

10:30 a.m. - Opening Dance/American Dance Artists

10:35 to 10:55 a.m. - Stretching and Yoga Demonstration/Sheila Light of
R U Fit

11 to 11:55 a.m. - Country Line Demonstration and Dancing/Country Gold
Steppers

12 to 12:55 p.m. - Hip Hop Demonstration and Dancing/Dancer's Dreams

1 to 1:45 p.m. - Belly Dancing Demonstration and Dancing/Gypsy Fusion

2 to 2:45 p.m. - Salsa Demonstration and Dancing/George Dennis

Directions to Westfield Annapolis Mall
2002 Annapolis Mall, Annapolis, MD 21401

From Baltimore: Take I-97 South to Route 50 East. Take Exit 23 (Rte. 450 and Parole) and bear to the right. The mall is two blocks ahead on the right.

From the Eastern Shore: Take Route 50 West to Exit 23B (Crownsville). Go straight through the light or take a left. The mall is directly in front of the intersection on the left.

Contact: Allison Eatough
410-787-4375
aeatough@bwmc.umms.org

Source: Baltimore Washington Medical Center

CONTACT: Allison Eatough of Baltimore Washington Medical Center,
+1-410-787-4375, or aeatough@bwmc.umms.org

Web site: http://www.bwmc.umms.org/
http://www.dayofdance.org/

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