Swaying to a caring beat

There's a dance coming up at the Fly Arts Center, which isn't unusual. This one, however, is a fundraiser for one nonprofit held by another nonprofit, which is unusual. The Bedford County Arts Council will hold a sweetheart dance at the Fly on Saturday, Feb. 20, and some of the proceeds have been dedicated to the American Heart Association.

"We used to have a dance at the Fly every month," said Nancy June Brandon, who is sponsoring the dance. "This year, we've cut them back to four a year, so we're trying to make them a little more special. The proceeds go to support the Heart Association and projects of the Arts Council. We're calling it the Arts for the Heart dance."

February is American Heart Month, but that's not the only reason the Arts Council chose to include them in the dance project. Nancy June has some very personal reasons, too.

"I don't usually sponsor dances," she said. "But this is going to be a little different. I'm going to do this in memory of members of my family who died of a heart attack or heart disease -- there is such a history of heart disease in my family."

Nancy June lost her mother, Clara M. D. Searcy, and her husband, Bill Brandon, to heart disease, as well as four beloved aunts, one recently.

"Melba Culbertson, Dale Bowden, Evelyn Massey and Marie McGlasson -- every one of my aunts had heart trouble. It is the number one killer for women," she said. "My husband would be delighted to be counted among all these lovely ladies."

Donna Stearns Smith with the Heart Association is eager to spread the word.

"It's the number one killer -- not breast cancer, not anything else," she said. "We want to get that through to people."

Using a dance to promote heart health is appropriate, said Nancy June, who is also a dance teacher.

"Dancing is a wonderful exercise for the heart," she said. "I have a wealth of information about how seniors all across the country are doing ballroom dancing for their health. It's good for the heart as well as good for the mind."

The Heart Association will have a display table at the dance where volunteers will have information about the disease and will also be accepting donations. A portion of each $10 ticket will go to the organization, and another portion to the Arts Council itself -- another agency that is near and dear to Nancy June's heart.

"It's hard to ask money for the arts when so much is needed for other reasons," she said. "But I don't think people realize that the arts are the kind of thing that will draw people to our community who will then go on to help support those programs. We could offer so much.

"There are lot of children who can't play ball. This is something they can do. We have a wonderful program for children -- arts programs, children's theater. A lot of those children would be left out if they didn't have these programs."

If you go

The Arts for the Heart dance will be held from 7 to 11 p.m. Feb. 20 at The Fly. The Cripple Creek Review band will perform. For tickets or more information call 703-7613.