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Leading a Dance for Kindness event in your community is one of the most rewarding things you can do! You are bringing people of all ages together, all in the name of kindness and humanity! There is an incredible, powerful, positive energy and excitement in the air! It has become an annual tradition for us!

Orly Wahba, the Founder of Life Vest Inside, gives us an excellent support system along with a step-by-step Group Leader Handbook. New this year was an amazing platform guiding us through the process of completing all our tasks. Everything is clear and easy to follow.

I think back to my very first DFK in 2013 when I first met Orly. She said to me, “Terese, I don’t care if you dance alone, just represent the state of New Jersey!” She certainly took the pressure off! I knew by connecting with dance studios and promoting the event with friends and family, I wouldn’t be alone.

I have loved being a Group Leader for SEVEN events!!!

DFK2019 was my 2nd year as a Group Leader and I absolutely will participate next year. The kindness shared, laughter and smiles, the connections made- it’s truly a beautiful experience to watch come together. Thank you for creating this!

Higher Ground Core

The Promenade Shops at Evergreen Walk

Laurie Misenti

Jitu a. Huntley

Nicole Lane Yates

Nicole Powell

Friends, Family, HGC Students and Dancers!

Participating in Dance for Kindness as a Group Leader this year was exactly what I unknowingly needed. It forced me to challenge myself. It taught me the true value of teamwork, and it taught me that “when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it” (Paulo Coelho). There is no better feeling then seeing all the hardwork fall into place and it was the greatest gift to witness seeing others come together to celebrate kindness and be apart of making that happen. I would recommend it to anyone who is up for a challenge and wants to bring something meaningful to their life.

Rhesa Richards- Volunteer extraordinaire, day-of coordinator assistant
Adina Lichtman- hands-on-kindness partner
Ari Grunzeweig- video editor/creative
Nathan Tawil- DFK DJ
Damian Santucci- From Times Square alliance who guided me on the entire process to get Times Square for the event
Adam Polcek, Gregory Stern, Deric Bolland, Bridget Simon, Chloe Meston, Lisa Kerlik- for their help with American Eagle Billboard
John Romero- Videographer
Celia Banbahji- Photographer
Charlotte Harary, Rita Tobias, Nancy Ades, Joanna Heller and Ricky Wechsler- amazing volunteers
Falon and Brianna, Marie Sabasino from Pure Energy Dance Studio- dance instructors
Rosy Husni and Berta Yatcha- empowerment activity
Orly Wahba and Erin- being there and guiding us through it all
and ALL THE DANCERS

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.

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

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!

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

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 to:
Rosalie Gower – Photographer
Andrew Madden- Videographer
Jerry Lee Lewis – Drone Operator

Lead Dancers:
Brynn Aljabi, Regan Aljabi
Aurora Troxclair, Ariel Troxclair.