Australian not-for-profit organisation Dance Health Alliance (DHA) is set to appear at the first Canberra ATSA Independent Living Expo, from August 27-28.
The Australian not-for-profit organisation facilitates dance programs specifically for people with disability to improve quality of life, help restore body and mind balance and combat ill health.
Dance Health Alliance currently offers three programs; DanceWell for people living with multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid/osteo arthritis and Parkinson’s disease; DanceWise for people living with dementia and DanceMoves for people living at home with limited functionality.
The classes are said to be the only dance programs of their kind in Australia, inspired by European ballet master Andrew Greenwood who has a background in injury prevention and rehabilitation for dancers. Greenwood originally created the dancing program in the Netherlands in 2012 to help a colleague who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
In April 2015, Gwen Korebrits, an ex-professional ballerina based in Australia, and Greenwood’s cousin, launched Greenwood’s dancing programs in Australia.
Based in Sydney, NSW, Dance Health Alliance offers training to teachers and allied health professionals around Australia on how to facilitate the DanceWell, DanceMoves and DanceWise classes.
Korebrits co-founder and CEO of Dance Health Alliance in Australia told F2L the programs connect people on a creative level as well as upskills the allied health professionals who complete the training.
“The beauty of the program is that it’s very adaptable. It can be used by people who are working with children who have special needs or developed for someone suffering from MS, Parkinson’s disease or with functional limitations,” she said.
Korebrits will be presenting on Day 2 in the seminar program at the inaugural Canberra ATSA Independent Living Expo. Shehopes her presentation, Dance on Prescription, will raise awareness of Dance Health Alliance.
“First of all I’d like to raise awareness on the importance of keeping people moving no matter what their ability is. I’d also like to raise awareness for the allied health professionals to know there is other things out there that they can do to activate their clients, and to keep it interesting for them.
“I’d also like to raise awareness on how important it is to give people the opportunity to create,” she added. “As a carer of someone with disability, you’re often left thinking ‘what can I do today that will make my patient connect on a different level?’ And the dance programs really connect people on a creative level. I think my target is to inspire people that there is more out there, and these workshops are available to them.”
For more information on Korebrits session, visit the ATSA Independent Living Expo website: www.atsaindependentlivingexpo.com.au/program.
To register to attend the first Canberra ATSA Independent Living Expo, visit www.atsaindependentlivingexpo.com.au/register.
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