Onco Ballet of Orange County uses dance to meet the mental and physical needs of people living with cancer.

Orange Co., Calif. (KABC) — More than 360,000 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, but when it is detected in its early stages, the 5-year survival rate is 99%. Even with these positive numbers, a cancer diagnosis comes with many challenges.

Onco Ballet, an Orange County nonprofit, uses ballet to address the mental and physical needs of people affected by cancer. “When I was facing my second diagnosis, I went back to the ballet bar and saw how ballet and the movement of dance helped me in my self-expression. And I wondered if I could share ballet, what I know, well, with everyone?'” says Anna Wassman-Cox, founder and executive director of Onco Ballet.

Wassman-Cox danced professionally, but began Onco ballet as a simple, easy approach to dancing. Real ballet moves, but fun regardless of level or ability. Founded in November 2023, classes are offered free at select Orange County dance studios and hospitals to anyone in the cancer community. “Ballet and dance offer people a chance to be creative and express themselves… especially in a time when you’re not sure what’s going on with your body and you just want to tap into where you are and express yourself as you are. says Estee Fratzke, owner of Fringe Dance Studio and breast cancer survivor.

Kerry Hedley, also a breast cancer survivor, adds: “Here you can feel free to do what you can do and everyone accepts it and you accept everyone.” While a sense of community is essential, ballet is much more than a mental stimulant. There are tangible physical benefits. “When you go through cancer, you then have a lot of physical disabilities and you think you might never be able to do certain things again… and today is proof that I can still be a ballerina.” , says Diana Mendoza, who is a breast cancer survivor and dances with Onco Ballet.

“Onco ballet, in particular, incorporates many bilateral movements and bilateral movements have been shown to reduce stress and anxiety and provide a feeling of calm,” said Marie Miao, an oncology clinical social worker at Hoag Health Center. Holding ballet classes here at Hoag Health Center has the added benefit of changing the perception of the building itself. From a place where someone was treated for cancer to a place where they learned ballet. Wassman-Cox remembers her time there well. “When I was going through treatment, I was right in the corner of this room and it’s nice to come here in a whole different way now where I know I’m bringing joy to the community, I’m bringing joy to myself.” Aimee Murcia agrees, “It’s something I’ve been looking forward to. It’s a wonderful mental distraction and physically it makes you feel good too and it was just a little bit of a normal thing.”

In a time when, physically and mentally, it would be very easy to fall into depression, Mendoza says Onco Ballet offers the ability to heal and bring people together. “Anytime you’re in a room with breast cancer survivors, it’s just amazing because you know that each and every one of you has been through a similar journey and that we are here and we are resilient and courageous .”

If you would like to help Onco Ballet in its efforts to continue providing free dance throughout Orange County, you can find its donation page here.