What is Dance for the Cure?

Belly Dance Instructor Nina Amaya teaches at Dance for the Cure in 2009

Over the course of six hours, participants choose from 24 dance classes ranging from Flamenco to Square Dance, Ballet to Hip Hop - four classes offered every hour.

Dance teachers from around the Baltimore region and as far away as New York City guide participants of all ages and levels of expertise through fun dance classes in disciplines like ballroom, salsa, swing, Irish, tango, Afro Caribbean, hula and belly dancing. One of Monte's doctors, Stephen Yang, Chief of Thoracic Surgery at Johns Hopkins and ballroom dance aficionado, will even teach a class.

This year, for the Third Annual Dance for the Cure, we will end this spectacular day of dancing with a special awards ceremony for our top CancerDancers and dance party for everyone with popular emcees and dancers from Glyde Productions.

Proceeds fund efforts to increase public awareness and funding for medical research in esophageal cancer. In 2008 & 2009, the First and Second Annual Dance for the Cure were huge successes - raising nearly $20,000 each year and lots of awareness about this deadly disease.

Why Dance for the Cure?

Dance for the Cure began when Mara Mordecai of Baltimore, Maryland decided she wanted to do something to combine her love of dancing with her hate for the cancer which took her father’s life. In April of 2007, Mara Mordecai’s father was diagnosed with esophageal cancer, one of the deadliest forms of cancer. Find out more

After a fierce struggle to fight this devastating disease, Monte Mordecai lost his battle on March 27, 2008. But Mara isn't giving up her battle.

Mara wants to raise money for more research to cure esophageal cancer. And she wants to let people know about this disease, especially since its diagnosis is increasing at a faster rate than any other cancer in America.

Many people don’t know anything about esophageal cancer – like the fact that it can result from heartburn or reflux disease. Find out more