Dance Yourself Thin!

Mario Lopez (“Dancing with the Stars” & “Extra”) and TONY Award Winner LaChanze (“The Color Purple”)

Join Forces to Launch the SMART SPOT DANCE!!

DATE: WEDNESDAY MARCH 14th

LOCATION: McBurney YMCA, 125 West 14th Street

TIME: 6:30PM



-- PROGRAM ADVOCATES A HEALTHIER WORLD THROUGH DANCE IN URBAN COMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY-



Features Partnership with The National Urban League, The National Council of La Raza and America On The Move to encourage active lifestyles…through Dance!







WHO: Mario Lopez, “Dancing with the Stars”

LaChanze, Tony Award Winner for The Color Purple

Maria Torres, Broadway Choreographer

Marc Morial, President and CEO, National Urban League

Liany Arroyo, Director for Hispanic Health National Council of LaRaza

Dr. James Hill, Co-Founder, AOM

Kevin Shermach, Senior Executive Director, YMCA Marketing and Communications

Jeannette Jordon, Registered Dietician

Claudia Gonzalez. Registered Dietician

WHAT:

· Mario Lopez, LaChanze, and Maria Torres are joining PepsiCo and Smart Spot Dance! to get people dancing

· Smart Spot Dance! is a multi-city dance program that offers a fun way for families, especially Moms, to get active across the country with stops in NYC, Chicago, LA, Houston, Miami, DC and St Louis

· Come and dance with LaChanze and Mario Lopez in an instructional routine created by Maria Torres. A fusion of Latin jazz and urban rhythms, the routine has been designed to get you moving and feeling energized

· Registered dieticians will be on-hand to discuss the importance of making smart choices when grocery shopping

· Get tips on how to put a healthy twist on classic snack recipes

· Listen to community leaders from the National Urban League and the National Council of La Raza comment on the rising obesity epidemic

· Finally…leave feeling inspired to lead a more active and healthy lifestyle – and dance!

· Upload video footage of your own dance moves at www.smartspot.com

· The Smart Spot symbol makes it easier to identify PepsiCo products that contribute to a healthier lifestyle.




WHEN: Wednesday, March 14th, 2007

Media Check in at 6:15pm; Doors at 7pm



WHERE: The McBurney YMCA, 125 West 14th Street



ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND

Smart Spot Dance! is a way encourage Moms to learn how dance can help them get active. A

recent study reported that dance is an effective and fun way to increase physical activity and help

prevent weight gain.