This is our fourth year participating and each year it just keeps getting better! I cannot wait for next year! I feel that each year we reach out and touch more lives in Cincinnati and have a greater impact. What an amazing experience this was for so many people! This year we actually had people who asked to join us as we were setting up. The celebration is always beyond words. It is truly an opportunity to show that anyone can bring kindness into the world. Kindness does not need words to communicate. Kindness can be found simply in the eyes of a child. In Cincinnati, we celebrated all of the unique gifts we bring to our city and how we use these gifts to spread kindness each and everyday. It is as simple as a hug, a kiss, or a smile. Take a moment and make the world a beautiful place…be the difference…make the change. It was an honor and a privilege to be the group leader for Dance For Kindness 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio in the United States of America. To be able to bring together so many unique individuals was a humbling experience. Thank you to all of you for believing and dancing with me. Until next year…keep spreading the kindness…keep dancing. Peace.
Special Thanks
Paula Anstaett and Ben Schneider- This event would not have been possible without you…Thank you for EVERYTHING!
Photographers and Videographers:
Matthew Nichols and Michael Nichols- Videographers
Live Feed to facebook- Stephen Nichols
Event’s Logistics and Support:
Ben Schneider- Sound system and Music Support
Paula Anstaett- Technical support
Peggy Behm- Summit Park Location Support
Publicity:
Ann Marie Reinke and Mindy Zellner- Maple Dale Elementary
Mallory Bonbright from Sycamore Community Schools
Terry Tyrrel, Eleanor Denning, and James Telles from St. Xavier High school
Beth Roach from the Blue Ash Police Department
Michael, Matthew, and Joseph Nichols- Xavier University and St. Xavier High School
Rachel Kemper-St. Ursula High School
Frank Forsthoefel- Superintendent Sycamore Community schools
Special Thanks
My amazing preschool staff and students who practiced spreading kindness with their contagious enthusiasm every single day.
Matthew Nichols for creating our posters, flyers, and videos each year!
Shane Battershell from Fabulous Frames and Art- Mounting the posters
Lead Dancers:
Julie Swart and the amazing dancers from Queen City Dance Academy
Queen City Dance Academy Dance Team:
Anna Hope, Jillian Kreimer, Lydia Taylor, Leora Stern, Lucy Gath, Rebekah Elluru, Hannah Elluru, Grace Bidwell, Connor Bidwell, Ava Escudero, Gabriella Escudero, Izzy Escudero, Justine Head, Caroline Lum, Anna Shuler, Maddie Kulwicki, Lily Arnett, Julia Mott, Amisha Jha, McKenna Neville, Olivia LIvingston AnnaClaire Millard, Abby Hager, Hailey Eversole, Camille Evans, Shreya Vijayvargiya, Anushka Mohan, Rylie Godin, Dylan Godin, Kristin Alverson, Julie Swart
What a privilege to be involved in such an incredible global event! Love the unity, love the passion and love the message! I have been so blessed in organising Dance for Kindness for our school for the second year. Our message this year was, “Be kind to yourself, be kind to your family and be kind to everyone!” Sometimes it is easier to be kind to strangers than it is to the people we love the most – our own families! It has been beautiful to see our students embracing this message and also just having a great time dancing and having fun! Being a Group Leader for Dance for Kindness has empowered and enabled me with some very useful skills and has encouraged me to stretch and grow. I am truly thankful to Orly and her incredible team for organising such a powerful event.
Special Thanks
Staff at Alice Springs School of the Air
Families and Home Tutors of Alice Springs School of the Air
My awesome husband Ben and amazing children Mitchell, Jemima and Alice
Being a Group Leader for Dance for Kindness convinced me of the power of Kindness to change the world because it has changed me and I’m part of the world. I felt pure joy when participants exposed me to how much they enjoyed to Dance for Kindness. Through the program, I was given an opportunity to develop my organizational skills, my communication, and event planning skills. This program challenged me to step out of my comfort zone, to grow and to communicate with people, asking them for help and support. Really, It has helped me to be aware that I am also capable to do great things. As we are well supported with resources, tools, and advice from leaders from all over the world; we can fully dedicate ourselves and lead our community towards a great event. Applying to become a Group Leader will challenge you, will help you to grow, will change you and will change the world to be a better place.
Special Thanks
Komitim-pivondronana SAMPATI Oliva Maitso 201ème FJKM Ankadimbahoaka
Mpandrindra sy Mpiandraikitra SAMPATI Oliva Maitso 201ème FJKM Ankadimbahoaka
Menafify SAMPATI Oliva Maitso 201ème FJKM Ankadimbahoaka
Children from Antsahabe
Anjara; Fanantenana – helped me with advice to make the event happen
Being a DFK Group Leader definitely has it’s rewards. I’m happy to have done it 2 years now. It’s exciting to see the participants be excited and rewarding to see how happy they are having been a part of it! I’m looking forward to making it bigger and better next year!
Special Thanks
Katie Parks – participant and taught choreography
Participants:
Hayley Epstein, Gwen Epstein, Gabby Allen, Sophia Paxton, Kathryn Hickey, Brandon Frazier, Eden Williams, Beth Warnaby, Gabby
Donators:
Marley Sue Ann Hess
Stacy TenHarmsel
Karen Ryan
Mike TenHarmsel – supplied music
Sponsors
Mike Illg and the City of Homer Recreation Program
Videographers: Jake Kitzmiller & Anoop Nair
Photographers: Cathy Harder, Amy Russell, Seth Spencer & Christina Whiting
Katie Jo Gamble, Falcom Greear, Barbara Kaun, Karen Murdock,cDavid Northup, Catriona Reynolds, Maria SantaLucia
What was your experience as a Group Leader for Dance for Kindness? Two word: Life Changing. It made me see how much we can do and achieve in Curacao. My favorite part was the seeing how excited the children where to practice. The event brings people together for one great purpose. It gives you the opportunity to plant a seed of kindness in people around you.
Special Thanks
Yureilly camacho : thank you for all help with the choreography and your love.
Julissa Welvaart: Thank you for pushing me to go for it.
St.Albertus College (Teachers/Kids/Parents/building manager):
Thank you for all trust and standing with me in this amazing journey.
2BEGR8 (kids/teachers): Thank you for taking this journey with me.
Crusaders Family Curacao (Leaders/Kids/Parents) Thank you for all prayers, spiritual covering. Thank you parents for trusting me your loved ones.
Renço Curie & Team (soundteam):Thank you for making my assignment lighter and being there for us
Cathy Chirino Leito & Kas di Cultura: Thank you for all love.
Irceline Sabat (DMO):Thank you that even on your free day, you reached out.
Special Thanks
A.M.O-Project (photographer): Thank you for being there for us and believed in us and all great advice.
Ariadne Flores-Sophia & Team (photographer & Videographer): Thank you for sharing your dream with me, to have DFK on Curacao.
Korant Extra: Thank you for some awesome pictures in the newspaper.
Punda loves You:Thank you for promoting our event and believing in us.
Mrs. Mavis Albertina: Thank you for standing with us. Thank you also for inviting us back to your event.It really made the kids excited.
THANK YOU CURAÇAO !!!!!!
Last but definitely not least, thank you God for making a way, where it seems to be no way, to bring kindness to the heart of people around us.
#My.heart.rejoice
Dance for Kindness is special to me for many reasons one of which I will share with you today. In December of 2014 I was asked to list personal weight loss goals that I would like to achieve. The 3 things I listed were: 1. Get off of Medication (Diabetes & Hypertension) 2. Fit Comfortably in Theatre Seats 3. DANCE Again! After losing over 100 pounds I decided to look for an outlet to Dance that would mean something. That’s when I found Orly Wahba and Dance for Kindness. The joy I got from being able to Dance again was minor compared to the joy I got, and still get, from being a Dance for Kindness Leader. This is my Fourth Year and I hope to continue to share Dance for Kindness to anyone who will listen! Let’s Make Kindness go Viral!
Special Thanks
Special Thanks to:
Rosalie Gower – Photographer
Andrew Madden- Videographer
Jerry Lee Lewis – Drone Operator
Lead Dancers:
Brynn Aljabi, Regan Aljabi
Aurora Troxclair, Ariel Troxclair.
Being a Group Leader for Dance for Kindness was an amazing experience. It was wonderful to bring people in my community together to dance, laugh, love and come together for one common goal…to spread kindness! This experience brought me out of my comfort zone by taking on a leadership role within my community and learn to delegate and ask others for help. The Freeze and Flash Mob were so fun and I had tears in my eyes and was so proud of the participants. I want to continue to be “the change I wish to see in the world” and encourage everyone to do the same!
Special Thanks
Kabir Bhatia- Local DJ on local NPR station (Kent State University) donated his time and equipment to play the music.
City of Hudson for allowing me to use our Green space for the event
City Councilwoman, Beth Bigham for coming and spreading the word and supporting this event.
Amy Miklos from Ohio Organics and Nature store for her support.
I thought that taking part as a Group Leader the second time around might not be as exciting as the first time. But boy was I wrong. It was just as exciting and even more so because more and more students expressed their interest in spreading the love and kindness around. Being a Group Leader allowed me to witness first hand what a community is all about; how people come together to help out, how they support one another and how they lift the spirits of everyone around them. One should consider applying to become a Group Leader because it teaches one to leave their comfort zone and learn more about themselves and how capable they are as a person if one only pushes themselves a little further and trusts in the magic of kindness. The handbook, the tutorial and the Group Leader Facebook Page provide you with so much information that it would be difficult not to find the support that you needed.
Special Thanks
KABS (Videographers)
Wendy Birdwell
Danya Dajani
Molly Van Cleave
