Dance Be+Cause takes the relaxing activity of dance and turns it into an opportunity to better the community.

Dance Be+Cause, taught by Deb Kline, is a modern, free-form dance class offered at the Unitarian Univeralist Fellowship of Ames, located at 1015 N. Hyland Ave. in Ames.

Instead of paying a fee to join, participants instead are asked to give a donation to a non-profit group of their choice. The only requirement for the non-profit group is that it must benefit the Ames community.

“I wanted to combine my passion for dance with social action. And have donations from dancers go to a non-profit organization that directly impacts the Ames community,” Kline said.

Dance Be+Cause originally started out as group called Kinetic Spirits in 2004 and participants just danced for fun without being asked to donate. Kline said she wanted to make sure that what the group was doing had a purpose, so she changed it to Dance Be+Cause.

The class is focused on releasing stress and tension in the body by doing free form movements to relaxing music. Participants are not strictly focusing on the movement, but rather on how the body wants them to move.

Kline said sometimes the idea of free movement dancing intimidates people, but she ensures the class is a no judgment zone, and people are free to move however they are comfortable.

“I like Dance Be+Cause because I like dancing and movement as a way of relaxation, particularly when I do not have to learn any particular set of steps or routine,” said class participant Rhoda Mansbach.

Kline said free dance movement is a great form of stress release because in today’s busy society, adults are confined to restricted and set movements.

“Kids get to run around and be goofy all the time and no one tells them not to. Adults have restricted and confined movements that are considered appropriate,” Kline said. “Sometimes it is nice to be free to move how you want and need to and not worry about society’s judgments of that.”

Kline said Dance Be+Cause is a unique opportunity for people in the community because she does not think there are other free form classes like this offered anywhere else, particularly that are free of charge and benefit a non-profit organization.

“When Deb started Dance Be+Cause, I finally found an outlet for my need to move to music, however it feels right to me. No judgment, no expectations; just freedom. It brings me such relief and such joy,” participant SueAnn Peck said.