East Bay Dancer Raises Sick Children's Spirits

Vania Deonizio is nothing if not persistent.

Once she decided that teaching dance to sick children at Children's Hospital and Research Center Oakland was her mission in life nothing was going to stop her.

Not even after they politely said no to her offer. Three times.

So Vania devised a plan where she ended up getting an entry-level job at the hospital just so she could teach dance to the young patients during her lunch break.

It was the birth of a nonprofit, Dancin Power, that now boasts a dozen teachers, a myriad of dance styles and a second hospital.

To see Vania in action, and learn just what motivated her to want to help sick children with dance, watch Garvin Thomas' story above.

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