Paula Abdul believes in the healing power of dancing

Singer Paula Abdul is convinced dancing helped her sister beat breast cancer.

The Straight Up hitmaker was by her sister Wendy's side as she battled the disease back in 2000, and she helped to keep her sibling's spirits up by having her dance away her health woes.

She eventually overcame the illness, and Paula firmly believes staying active played a big part in curing Wendy of cancer.

"See, dance gets into your blood, it gets into your veins, it gets into your heart, into your soul and it doesn't leave," the 54-year-old tells People.com.

Paula recalls busting out her best moves to Wendy's favourite songs, including tracks by Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind & Fire, and The Jacksons, during the toughest of times.

"The fact that my sister has been a dancer, we still danced even if she couldn't leave the house," she says. "Even when she was violently ill, we kept playing the music and we kept dancing and smiling and laughing, and I gotta tell you, that was one major focal point that kept her going."

"It's the one aspect of entertainment that I think changes your life," she adds. "Dance is healing, dance is necessary, it's vital and it's critical that we keep it alive."

Paula has been spreading breast cancer awareness ever since her sister's struggle, and earlier this year (16), she teamed up with officials at the I'm a Dancer Against Cancer non-profit to draw attention to the cause, which provides funds to dance teachers, students and parents affected by the disease.

Vanessa Hudgens, Chita Rivera, and former Dancing With the Stars professionals Derek Hough and his sister Julianne also signed on to the campaign to help raise awareness.