Our Story
The Launch of the Dance Health Alliance Australia
Dance Health Alliance™, a not-for-profit organisation, began in 2015 with a vision to transform lives through the power of dance. Inspired by Andrew Greenwood of Switch2Move and founded by Gwen Korebrits, the organisation launched at the Sydney Dance Company with overwhelming support from healthcare professionals, researchers, and participants. Driven by the success of community and care home classes, Dance Health Alliance™ evolved into a registered charity, developing research-based teacher training programmes tailored for the Australian market. These programmes empower allied health professionals, dancers, and facilities to help individuals stay active, inspired, and connected through movement.
Focusing on the person rather than the illness, Dance Health Alliance™ pioneers innovative dance methodologies to support those living with conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Dementia, and Arthritis. Offering certified training, ambassador programmes, and ongoing education, they champion the integration of dance into healthcare systems. Through collaboration, research, and advocacy, Dance Health Alliance™ continues to expand its reach, harnessing the transformative power of movement to promote holistic well-being.
Our Vision
At Dance Health Alliance™ is to empower individuals and transform lives through dance and movement, embracing joy, resilience, and connection.
Our Mission
Our mission is to harness the transformative power of dance to promote holistic well-being and improve the lives of individuals across diverse communities.
We believe in the inherent healing qualities of movement and seek to bridge the gap between dance and healthcare, pioneering innovative programs and initiatives that integrate dance’s physical, mental, and emotional benefits into therapeutic practices.
Change Makers
Dance Health Alliance's Gwen Korebrits: The World Health Organisation talks about total wellbeing. A lot of people with dementia don’t have that (social, mental and physical) balance. They can get that back through a dance program. MORE: https://bit.ly/2YU55h2 #changemakers
Posted by Sky News Australia on Saturday, April 6, 2019
The Proven Benefits
In a world facing global health challenges like Dementia, Aging Population, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s, and ageing populations, Dance Health Alliance™ champions dance as a vital, cost-effective solution to improve health and well-being. Dance engages individuals holistically—physically, mentally, and emotionally—enhancing brain health, immune function, neuroplasticity, confidence, and social integration. Research highlights dance’s unique benefits, from improving coordination, balance, and agility to fostering cognitive reserve and slowing brain deterioration, positioning it as a transformative tool for addressing today’s pressing health issues.
Benefits
Falls & Balance
Builds and enhances stability, strength, and reflexes, reducing the risk of falls.
Multiple Sclerosis
Improves mobility and muscle coordination, helping manage and maintain independence.
Parkinson’s Disease
Promotes fluid movement, motor control, and rhythm, easing physical and cognitive challenges.
Dementia
Stimulates brain activity, memory, and neuroplasticity, supporting cognitive health and emotional connection.
Our Movement Practitioners
At Dance Health Alliance™, our Movement Practitioners are the heart of our programmes. They are highly skilled professionals with a deep understanding of the connection between dance and well-being, blending technical expertise with compassion to create meaningful experiences for participants.
Trained to work with people of all abilities, our practitioners ensure classes are inclusive, safe, and tailored to individual needs. They foster environments where participants can explore movement, build confidence, and express themselves freely. Whether helping improve balance, encouraging social connection, or promoting mental clarity, our practitioners are dedicated to empowering individuals and transforming lives through the power of dance.
Our Story
Empowering Well-being Through Dance
Dance Health Alliance (DHA) was founded on the belief that dance and movement can enrich lives—bringing together physical activity, music, enjoyment, and social connection in a way that is inclusive, engaging, and meaningful.
Over the past decade, DHA has grown from this vision into an organisation working across health, aged care and community settings. Our evidence-informed dance and movement programmes are designed to support physical, cognitive and social wellbeing, while making movement accessible to people of diverse ages and abilities.
Today, DHA does more than deliver programmes. We partner with health services, aged care providers and communities to build skills from within — training and supporting staff with the knowledge, practical tools and confidence to make meaningful movement part of everyday care and wellbeing.
At the heart of DHA remains a simple purpose: to change the way people move, connect and thrive through the joy and shared experience of dance.
Gwen – Founder & CEO
