IV 112th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 725 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 9, 2012 Ms. Norton submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce RESOLUTION Expressing support for dancing as a form of valuable exercise and artistic expression and for the designation of July 28, 2012, as National Dance Day.

Whereas Nigel Lythgoe, executive producer and celebrity judge for the dance-themed television show So You Think You Can Dance, in association with the Dizzy Feet Foundation and the Larry King Cardiac Foundation, has encouraged the creation of National Dance Day in countries around the world, beginning with the first National Dance Day in 2010; Whereas National Dance Day has captured the imagination of people throughout the United States and around the world and has helped popularize dancing for fun and as a form of exercise; Whereas National Dance Day encourages many forms of dance expression representing the United States rich artistic, regional, and ethnic diversity; Whereas National Dance Day features the spectrum of dance, from classical to popular to line and partner dances; Whereas dancing helps improve heart health, burn calories, strengthen muscles, and improve flexibility for people of all ages; Whereas health officials have repeatedly documented an overweight and obesity epidemic in the United States and elsewhere in the world; Whereas childhood obesity in the United States has more than tripled in the past 30 years; Whereas dancing, in all its variations, is a popular form of physical exercise; Whereas the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has encouraged the arts throughout the National Capital region; Whereas National Dance Day in Washington, DC, has been held on the National Mall since the first National Dance Day in 2010; Whereas the Dizzy Feet Foundation and WMATA, in conjunction with the office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, will celebrate National Dance Day Saturday, July 28, 2012, in Washington, DC, on the National Mall, near the reflecting pool; and Whereas July 28, 2012, would be an appropriate date to celebrate National Dance Day: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1)supports the designation of National Dance Day to celebrate the commitment to physical fitness, education, and dance across the United States; (2)acknowledges that dance is making an important contribution to health by encouraging physical fitness and reducing overweight and obesity; and (3)commends Nigel Lythgoe for his leadership in promoting National Dance Day.