Testimonials of The Care to Dance Effect
Your card in memory of Rita was so precious. It brought tears to my eyes and joy to my heart and how much love you and your team have for the residents you serve. What a privilege to know you! I will be sure to get the card to her family. I am going to share it with the Chaplain who held her memorial service and her family who posted some pictures of her dancing. God bless you both!
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Sharon Larson, Activity Director
The Estates at Carpenters, Lakeland, Florida
Activity Directors at places Care to Dance dances often comment that some of the residents smiled or exerted energy or showed excitement for the first time while being involved and that's what it's all about. Care to Dance focuses on what the resident CAN do.
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Mary Toothman
Central Florida Health News, November 2017
Debra and Buddy observed their audience and noticed that when the dancers marched into the room dressed in matching shirts sporting the Care to Dance logo and hauling trunks behind them, the audience visibly sat up and took notice. The act of being "an act" struck a chord with people who were used to being parked in a seat or a wheelchair while life went on around them. Focused activity, sounds of people wheeling trunks, the smells of a performance venue combined with a little extra 'bling' on costumes made it clear that "something big was about to happen!" Seniors noticed Care to Dance and Care to Dance responded. Simple, specific and plain presentations morphed into elaborate presentations complete with props and the glitter and glam of a stage production. No longer was the audience passive while others lived around their sedentary chairs. The audience responded until they became part of the show.
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Carey Mulligan
Ballroom Dance Connections, February 1, 2018
Care to Dance offers high-energy interactive programs that are about an hour in duration. Having instructed various forms of social, country and ballroom dance for almost 15 years, Johnston creates choreography for selected program themes and works with program volunteers to teach them the routines. They find that themed programs called "Reminiscing Therapy" elicit maximum impact for participants, awakening their senses by using various forms of stimuli. Every detail is structured to begin creation of new neuro-pathways and to get participants interacting with the volunteers.
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Mary Marcia Brown
Your Guide to Better Living, March 19, 2017
To Buddy and all of the awesome dancers. May God bless you! Thank you for the wonderful afternoon of dance, music and friendship. You are all so talented. Your friends at the Rohr Home.
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Pam Jones
The Rohr Home, Bartow, Florida
Outcomes from the programs show that residents come into the program weak, lethargic and unwilling to speak, but leave smiling and energetic. Some continue to be interactive following the show. Others are less agitated and more physically balanced.
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Kiki Itacy, Activity Director
Consulate Healthcare, Kissimmee, Florida
The Care to Dance interactive program continues in popularity with residents and family members. Support from Activity Directors has been key to spreading the word about the program throughout the community and has helped make it most popular with everyone.
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Jody Streussnig, Activity Director
Brookdale Assisted Living Facility, Winter Haven, Florida
The Care to Dance program director, Buddy Johnston, likes to announce in his opening comments that the Care to Dance dancers are only the opening act, but the main attraction is when the residents dance...and they do!
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Sinfonia Magazine, Lakeland, Florida Spring 2016
When Santa walked out, our kids were so excited. The students were smiling, laughing, clapping and reaching out to the dancers. The kids were just mesmerized by the bright, flashy outfits, the music and the dancing. Teachers who were previously nervous about a Christmas show for 260 students now were pleased. This is amazing!
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Tammi Griswold, Teacher, Victory Ridge Academy, Lake Wales, Florida
From Kathy Leigh Berkowitz, The Ledger Newspaper, December 15, 2018
"I did not think I would ever get to dance with him again, but he sang every word of the song to me and he danced and even remembered to twirl me!"
A wife with heartfelt joy tearfully speaking of her husband after he danced the closing song, "You Make Me Feel So Young" at a recent program which included family members
"I kid you not, in the two years I have been here, your team of dancers has surpassed any show we have had. It filled my heart to see people who seldom leave their wheelchairs or walkers, up and dancing. In a million years I could not thank you enough."
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The Activity Director at an Assisted Living Facility
"I did not think she could stand from her wheelchair!"
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A caregiver sharing her surprise when a resident stood and waltzed