Dancing Well provides social events with dancing and live music for veterans and families affected by PTSD and brain injury.

dance with us!

We would love to have you attend one of our events! Whether you are a veteran, a family member or loved one, or a potential volunteer, please contact us if you are interested in joining us. You are welcome to dance or simply come and enjoy the live music and company of other veterans, veteran families, and friendly volunteers. You can reach us here or by calling 502.889.6584.

Veterans may attend on their own or with family members or a friend. Our wonderful volunteers help fill out the dance sets and provide partners as needed. We provide a supportive family environment and an opportunity to connect and network with other veterans and veteran families. Children are welcome to attend and join in the fun.

All dances are taught and prompted by a caller. Our two wonderful musicians provide live music. No prior experience is necessary to participate, and dances are adapted to meet the needs of all dancers on the floor.

what to expect

We currently hold dances monthly at one of two locations. At our regular venue we meet in a spacious room with a hardwood dance floor, large windows, ample space for chairs and refreshments, and three entrances. One entrance is accessible by ramp, with another adjacent to a large parking lot. Lighting is low and non-fluorescent for the comfort of those with brain injuries. The building is fully ADA-compliant. We keep the location confidential, requiring a phone conversation for pre-registration before attending the first time.

Our second location for dances is the Robley Rex VA Medical Center, which is also ADA-compliant. The dance space is near the building entrance with cut curbs and handicap parking nearby. The room has two entrances, and chairs are available in both the dance space and an anteroom where refreshments are served. No pre-registration is required for dances at the VA, which are held in partnership with the VA Whole Health program.

Dance events last 75-90 minutes and feature top-notch live music, smiling faces, socializing, and dancing together in a low-pressure, safe environment. A typical event begins with a few minutes of socializing, then joining a large circle on the dance floor for introductions by first name and orientation to the space, including the Comfort Zone, an area anyone can use when overwhelmed. Those who prefer not to dance are then seated, while the others learn a dance from a professional dance instructor.

Moves are taught and prompted throughout the dancing, so there is no need to remember sequences or steps. Dances come from traditional, historic, and multi-cultural sources and are sometimes modified for the needs of the dancers. Most dances are performed as a group, not a couple, or in lines. Options are offered for those requiring the stability of holding onto a partner or experiencing any discomfort. At least one dance includes cross-body movements, shown to improve brain health.

Following a dance or two refreshments are served and people chat with each other or explore the resource table. A dance or two more and it’s time to say farewell to friends until the next event!

Transportation may be available, so please let us know if you would like a ride.

We hope to see you soon!

dance with us at home

As a response to the pandemic, Dancing Well Executive Director Deborah Denenfeld created “Deborah’s Dance Party.” This weekly Facebook Live event for ages 8 and up, featured fun, simple dances from various cultures, modified for dancing at home, as well as techniques to manage stress.

An uplifting song was taught each week, and participants were encouraged to sing along. About once a month, professional singer/songwriters from varied backgrounds and cultures, including Grammy-nominated and award-winning singers, appeared as special guest song leaders and shared information about their culture.

The dance parties were created for and marketed to our Dancing Well community and the military community at large, but events were open to all. In August 2023 the final Dance Party was held, in preparation for our return to in-person dancing.

More than 160 Dance Party videos were created. To date, they have been accessed more than 100,000 times by viewers across the country and around the world.