Dance4Life

The theme is “Start Dancing, Stop AIDS, Dance4Life,” and a group at Post Falls World Gym intends to do just that.

World Gym is sponsoring a Dance4Life event Thursday at 7 p.m. and next Saturday at 11:30 a.m., and everyone is encouraged to participate.

Dance4Life, is an international fundraising effort to benefit HIV/AIDS projects aimed at young people, care, awareness, training and prevention in those areas of the world most affected by HIV/AIDS.

The dance is appropriate for ages 12 and up and includes dance styles such as Bollywood, Brazilian samba and hip-hop.

Television shows like “Dancing with the Stars,” “So You Think You Can Dance” and “Dance 360” have helped to “rekindle a dance craze in America,” according to Brenda Blankenship, owner of the Expressions School of Dance.

Blankenship has been dancing since she was 3 and always dreamed of owning her own dance studio. That dream became a reality nine years ago when she opened Expressions School of Dance with a 700-square-foot studio and 40 students. The Post Falls studio currently has 4,000 square feet and 270 students.

Blankenship says it is good to see dance back in the popular movies and commercials.

“Dancing for fitness gives people the opportunity to dance their hearts out and have fun, no matter what their age or sex,” she says.

HIV, which stands for human immuno deficiency virus, is the virus that can cause AIDS. White blood cells, which everyone has to defend against illness, are broken down by HIV. The word AIDS is used only when a person’s immune system is broken down to the point that serious infections occur. AIDS patients always have HIV and are HIV positive, but being HIV positive doesn’t necessarily mean a person has AIDS.

HIV itself doesn’t usually cause death, but people become critically ill from viruses and bacteria as a result of HIV.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Web site says that in 2003, 1,039,000 to 1,185,000 people in the United States are living with HIV/AIDS.

Dance4Life’s future plans include celebrating World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, 2012, with at least 1 million people dancing simultaneously around the world. Organizers hope this powerful statement of hope will send a message to the media and to governments that fighting HIV/AIDS is a global challenge.

The Post Falls fundraiser will feature Bodyjam, an addictive fusion of the latest dance styles and music that puts an emphasis on breaking a sweat and enjoying the beat. Bodyjam is an international dance program designed by worldwide fitness company Les Mills International.

Bodyjam instructors Blankenship, Millie Eylar, Heather Eylar, Trisha Madsen and Lisa Hoffeld have volunteered to lead the group.

Special collection boxes displayed at World Gym Post Falls, World Gym Hayden and the Coeur d’Alene Ironwood Athletic Club will be available for donations. Cami and tank-style shirts also will be for sale with all proceeds going to Dance4Life.