Exclusive: Carrie Ann Inaba Moves to Heal

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Therapy is part of the cure

"The therapy allows the children to express themselves and to release some of the trapped emotions in their bodies, allowing for more flow of their own life force. Also, the therapy empowers the kids to be in control of their body during the session, which is completely empowering. During cancer treatments, on many levels, these children surrender their bodies to their doctors and nurses. And they disconnect. The therapy allows a reconnection to themselves and gives the therapist clues to what emotional state the children are in. That way, they can then delve deeper into what is happening to help them through these often challenging treatments.

And although not all sessions incorporate music, when there is music involved and we get to "boogie" a little, it's fun. And the joy of being alive comes through all of us and even if for a brief moment, we are once again celebrating our lives."

Photo: Courtesy of Drea's Dream

The Power of Positive Movement

"I met Susan at a taping of 'Dancing With the Stars.' She was sitting to my right during the show with a young girl who had been involved with the program. I was actually drawn to her and the young lady she was in attendance with. I could tell that the young girl had either recently been through treatments or was going through them. I was happy to see them at our show and wanted to say, 'hello.' I asked Susan a little about herself and as it turned out, she had been trying to reach out to me as well about her foundation, Drea's Dream, which she created in honor and memory of her very special daughter, Andrea Rizzo. She told me about the foundation and I was immediately interested.

My family has a history of cancer and in the past four years, my mom has been diagnosed with breast cancer and my father was diagnosed with stage IV sase of tongue cancer and stage III colon cancer. My mom's whole family has passed away from various forms of cancer as well. I have seen how difficult it is to go through these treatments and the idea of bringing young children movement and dance therapy while undergoing such difficult and challenging treatments was something that made sense to me. I come from a creative movement background and have experienced first hand the healing benefits of dance and movement therapy."

Photo: Courtesy of Drea's Dream

One-on-one visits allow Inaba and other therapists to get to know kids

"Dréa's Dream helps children manage pain, improves self-esteem and body image, develops effective communication skills and relationships. Patients explore their emotions while becoming attuned to their bodies. Dance therapists work to create new options for coping with problems. Through the use of props such as colorful scarves and long increase mobility, flexibility, and range of motion, as they encourage children to reflect on the use of personal space. Dance, combined with other multisensory therapies, has proven to be especially useful for alleviating children's pain.

It is most rewarding to hear a parent say that after watching their immobile child sadly lay in their hospital bed, they are so grateful to see them active and smiling when the dance/movement therapist has their child engaged in a session. We are truly bringing strength and comfort to the entire family...and sometimes they all participate together giving them new ways to relate during a time that is so tumultuous. One teenage patient said, 'Dréa's Dream was the one thing that got me through my chemotherapy treatments with a positive attitude. I don't know if my healing would have happened as quickly without the dance/movement therapy sessions.' "

Photo: Courtesy of Dréa's Dream

Colorful scarves and other creative props come in handy

"There was a very young child who came to the movement session in a little red cart. When she first came in, she had a listless energy to her. She seemed bewildered and a bit disconnected to the environment around her as well as to herself. I could understand why—it would be much easier to disconnect from your body while it's going through so many treatments. She had tubes and bandages all over her. Her hair had fallen out and her cheeks were swollen from the chemicals swirling around in her body.

At first, she just watched quietly as we went through our warmup, not looking to be involved. However, as the session progressed, she slowly began to follow along with us. Her movements were very small and careful, as she had many tubes and IV's connected to her—but what was so miraculous was that her eyes began to light up. Her expression also changed and she was more alert and present in the room. By the end of the session, there was a smile. And this smile was gorgeous and lit up my soul when I looked at her. It brightened the room."

Photo: Courtesy of Drea's Dream

Inhibtions don't last long

"The Andréa Rizzo Foundation is responsible for the inception of a research study that is ongoing at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center documenting the effects of dance/movement therapy on pain management. It has been observed that less pain medication is needed during the very painful treatment for children with neuroblastoma. Due to our work, a dance therapist is now a critical part of the medical team when this treatment is administered."

Coming together during a session

"Readers can go to Dréa's Dream (www.dreasdream.org) for more information on this amazing charity."

Photo: Courtesy of Dréa's Dream

Almost three years ago, Carrie Ann Inaba signed on as spokesperson for Dréa's Dream, a nonprofit foundation that raises funds and provides dance therapy to kids with special education needs and cancer. Since then, she has visited children in hospitals and spoken out about the wonders of dance as therapy. The cause honors the memory of Andréa Rizzo, a cancer survivor who was studying to be a dance therapist when she was killed by a drunk driver. Her mother, Susan Rizzo Vincent, heads up the organization. Says Inaba: "[Dréa] benefitted from movement therapy and wanted to give that gift back."

Topics

Action + Impact, Arts + Entertainment, Dancing With The Stars, carrie ann inaba, drea's dream

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Therapy is part of the cure

Photo: Courtesy of Drea's Dream

The Power of Positive Movement

Photo: Courtesy of Drea's Dream

One-on-one visits allow Inaba and other therapists to get to know kids

Photo: Courtesy of Dréa's Dream

Colorful scarves and other creative props come in handy

Photo: Courtesy of Drea's Dream

Inhibtions don't last long

Coming together during a session

Photo: Courtesy of Dréa's Dream

TakePart Pics

Comments

Exclusive: Carrie Ann Inaba Moves to Heal

Therapy is part of the cure

Photo: Courtesy of Drea's Dream

The Power of Positive Movement

Photo: Courtesy of Drea's Dream

One-on-one visits allow Inaba and other therapists to get to know kids

Photo: Courtesy of Dréa's Dream

Colorful scarves and other creative props come in handy

Photo: Courtesy of Drea's Dream

Inhibtions don't last long

Coming together during a session

Photo: Courtesy of Dréa's Dream

TakePart Pics

Comments

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