Staff at the Gizhewaadiziwin Health Access Centre have their dance shoes on.
They got together for a choreographed line dance to the tune of Footloose as a group activity.
They are now challenging others to do the same.
Executive Assistant Chelsea Greig says it was an opportunity to build staff relations and to reengage with their partners.
“We pitched the idea to our staff and put up a signup sheet. As a healthcare organization, it’s important for us to model healthy workplaces and healthy lifestyles. Dancing is fun, but it’s also great physical activity. Some of our staff haven’t done line dancing before, and it was fun to try and get people outside of their comfort zone. We really encourage others to get out, get active and try new things,” says Greig.
The one-minute video opens with one person dressed as Willard from the movie holding up the Gizhewaadiziwin Health Access Centre flag. The camera pulls back as a group of dancers join in and through the dance routine.
It ends with Willard returning and turning his back to the camera to reveal the words on the back of his shirt, ‘We Challenge You.’
“We found a video which kind of broke down the steps. A few of us learned it beforehand and then taught it over three 15-minute coffee breaks. We refined the dance over a lunch hour. Our students and interns, they helped out so much, and they kind of planned out the videography and did the filming,” notes Greig.
Their challenge was issued to staff at the United Native Friendship Centre, which has accepted.
They have about a week to respond.
Greig is hoping it spreads district-wide.
“We decided it would be fun to keep the momentum going and ask them to kind of pass along. If other agencies, businesses or communities want to try it, definitely start their own. It was something that was so fun and engaging with kind of our team members. If they want to make it part of the challenge, we started using the #RRDdanceoff.”
Click here to view Gizhewaadiziwin Health Access Centre’s video.
