Dancing is known to keep not only people fit and staying in shape, but healthy and happy as it helps to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and others.
With this in mind, the Namibia Frontline Health Workers are calling on young medical interns to take part and sweat off their stress, and be part of a dancing competition that will see one future doctor-cum-dancer walk away with a cash prize.
Namibia Frontline Health Workers is an initiative established by Namibian citizens with the aim of providing psychosocial support such as counselling, massaging and yoga to healthcare providers.
In tough trying times that are challenging the country in so many ways, healthcare workers around the world, including Namibia – on top of providing healthcare – do things to foster relationships with patients. These are cemented by trust, understanding, cordiality, thoughtfulness, empathy, human connection and decency.
In this regard, Namibia Frontline Health Workers aims to give them the care they give patients as a token of appreciation.
“The therapies we provide are free. We are looking for 50 fourth-year and above health interns and students to participate in a dance event titled ‘Dance for Health’”, explained spokesperson Irja Stefanus.
“The event was initiated for the sole purpose of having fun. Young health interns are drained by massive amounts of work – from practicals to studying, and then clinical rounds. Dance is a great stress reliever, especially for those who love it. To add on, socialising staves off feelings of loneliness, and that is why we strive to bring people from different fields of study together.”
She added that the interns will be required to know how to dance one type of dance, whether it be ballet, hip-hop, house or others.
Registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
Stefanus said at the beginning of the event, they will be taught five different types of dance styles by a professional dance instructor. Thereafter, they will be allowed to show their moves by dancing continuously, and the last man or woman standing will be awarded N$2 500 on 12 March 2022.
The event will be split into two Saturdays in March – 5th and 12th – and will be facilitated by Trixie Munyama, a movement performer and choreographer at her dance studio in the capital.
Munyama is a lecturer in Dance Studies at the College of the Arts in Windhoek.
Her professional training stems from participating in traditional Oshiwambo dances as a child born and raised in exile in Angola. - psiririka@nepc.com.na