Vania Deonizio has been a self-care, self-love and body love activist. For over 15 years she has been actively ghting for hospitals to treat their patients as humans who bene t from having access to arts during hospitalization to improve their quality of life. Her commitment led her to found Dancin Power, a nonpro t organization that uses mindfulness, movement and music as a way to improve patient's quality of life. Dancin Power has been breaking barriers in medicine since 2006. Vania developed and launched the rst-of-its-kind program with a revolutionary approach of teaching adapted dance lessons to hospitalized children to reduce the negative impact of hospital stays on their health, self-esteem, and emotional well-being. NBC, NowThis, and The Hu ngton Post have featured Vania, where a video of her innovative work went viral, garnering the attention of millions of viewers worldwide. After seeing how her work uplifted so many lives, Vania decided to explore ways to create a more substantial impact, which led her to delve into the academic perspective and earned a master's degree in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Expressive Arts Therapy. Aside from the many hats she wears, Vania has devoted time to work as a psychotherapist providing free mental health services to children and adults survivors of sexual violence, where the use of self-love and self-care is a must for healing to take place.
Vania's keynotes have been inspiring and moving audiences in the United States, Europe, South America, and Australia. "In tears as I listen to keynote speaker Vania Deonizio share her incredible story of grit, perseverance, and dedication and how it led her to her life's calling". -Angelo Lima, IHI
After leaving Brazil in her late twenties, Vania and her only son Reydrick found in Oakland, California a place they now call home.
Vania carefully customized her keynote to align with her client's needs and event themes. As a natural storyteller and former professional dancer, the stage is one of Vania’s most comfortable places to be.
With her relatable, high energy, warm and welcoming personality, she is able to connect deeply with the audience by sharing various parts of her life story.
Key Themes Include:
How to not allow your dreams to be killed by obstacles. Vania got accepted and graduated from a
Masters Degree program in Counseling Psychology without ever having a Bachelor's Degree. The only other person we know who has done that is Dame Jane Goodall.
The making of achieving her version of the American Dream.
How listening to her life-calling transformed her life.
Teen single mother, who despite hunger and trauma was able to overcome life-threatening obstacles, and thrive in life. Using the power of music and dance to heal from trauma.
The making of achieving her version of the American Dream. Which includes the highlight of being an immigrant mother separated from her child for over 4 years.
The self-love, self-care and body image acceptance and love story is one of her dearest talks. Vania’s story connects with one of our deepest challenges as humans living in today’s world of social media pressure to look “perfect”. Her story highlights how she was able to develop the profound unconditional love she has for the body he is in right now. She talks about the importance of learning to pause, and check in with our bodies and selves, and provides audience members with tools to develop that love.
Vania’s signature move in all the keynotes she has delivered around the globe is her innate ability to encourage the audience, to stand up and dance. It doesn’t matter how conservative they might be, or if we are talking about hundreds or thousands of people. With her energetic and loving personality, she invites them, with no pressure and everyone participates and loves it.