Kofi Boakye - Board Chair - Kofi is a researcher in Computer Vision for Yahoo Research. He has had considerable exposure to dance, first through a student group, Echoes D’Afrique, at Princeton University and later through his involvement with capoeira, Afro-Brazilian dance, and salsa here in Oakland. A long-time Oakland resident, Kofi has supported Dancin Power from its early days, first joining the board in 2011 and later becoming President in 2017.

Vania Deonizio, Founding Director - is a dancer, choreographer, and an advocate for cultural change fighting for hospitals to treat humans as individuals who benefit from having access to creative and expressive arts during hospitalization. Born in Rio de Janeiro and raised throughout Brazil, Vania founded Dancin Power in the spring of 2006, while living in the United States. Thanks to her passion and determination, today, more 19,000 hospitalized children and their families at eight children’s hospitals across the United States have been positively impacted by the power of music, movement, mindfulness, and dance. After years of seeing the practical impact of her work, she decided to delve into the academic perspective and has been pursuing a graduate degree in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Expressive Arts Therapy. Vania has been featured by NBC, NowThis, and The Huffington Post, where a video of her work went viral, garnering the attention of millions of viewers worldwide. She has been awarded the Front Line Scholar Award from TEDMED and was recently named by the British Medical Journal as their International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare 2018’s Artist-in-Health Resident.

Catt Olazabal - Treasurer -  Catt is a financial professional who has worked with Dancin Power since 2016; initially hired as a contractor then transitioning to serving on the board of directors. Her expertise lies in finance, governance, operations, and human resources. She currently runs her own business supporting a variety of non-profit organizations throughout the bay area in industries such as education, social services, arts, housing and philanthropy, and concurrently serves as Chief Financial Officer at Hispanics in Philanthropy. She is passionate about Dancin Power’s mission to serve hospitalized children by improving their quality of life through the power of music and dance.

Diane Oviatt, RN - Board - As a dedicated Registered Nurse at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland for over 43 years, has witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of Dancin Power. Her work in the Infusion Center has allowed her to see the liberating joy that Dancin Power brings to chronically ill children, describing it as life-changing. Diane’s passion for the organization's mission runs deep, and her commitment to helping Dancin Power continue its work is unwavering. As a board member, she hopes to see the organization thrive and continue bringing joy to those who need it most.

Maricar Boyle, MPA, CFRE - Board - Maricar Boyle is a well-rounded leader and development professional with over 20 years of experience spanning health, global environmental conservation, and children’s welfare. Her background working in a children's hospital has given her firsthand insight into the transformative impact of programs like Dancin Power. Passionate about improving both physical and emotional well-being, Maricar is dedicated to uplifting children during their most challenging moments and is thrilled to bring her expertise and heart to the Dancin Power board.