At Company Distilling, we believe in the power of gathering – of bringing people together in spaces where they can feel seen, connected, and at home. This June, we are honored to announce that Dancing Well: The Soldier Project has been selected as a recipient of our Gather Around Giving Grant.

About Dancing Well: The Soldier Project

Dancing Well: The Soldier Project is a Louisville, Kentucky-based nonprofit with a mission as joyful as it is powerful: to restore the well-being of veterans and families affected by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and brain injury through community dance. Founded on the belief that every person has the resilience and ability to thrive, Dancing Well creates safe, welcoming spaces where veterans and their loved ones can come together with the broader community for uplifting dance, joyful live music, and genuine human connection. Their work has earned national recognition from the Creative Forces® NEA Military Healing Arts Network – an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the U.S. Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs – which awarded Dancing Well programming grants in both 2022 and 2023 and invited the organization to lead participatory workshops at its annual convening in Washington, D.C. in 2024.

Programs Offered

  • Community Dance Events: At the heart of Dancing Well’s work are their monthly community dances – intentionally small, inclusive gatherings where veterans, loved ones, and community volunteers come together for an evening of movement, music, and socializing. Dances draw from a wide range of traditional, folk, multicultural, and novelty styles paired with live music, creating an experience with broad appeal regardless of dance background or ability. Events are held at community venues as well as onsite at the Robley Rex VA Medical Center through a partnership with the VA Whole Health Initiative, which recognizes Dancing Well as both a mental health support and a self-care resource aligned with veterans’ values and goals.
  • A Program Designed for Veterans: Dancing Well doesn’t simply hold dance events – they carefully tailor every element of their programming to the unique needs of veterans coping with PTSD, brain injury, and other physical and mental challenges. Events feature low, non-fluorescent lighting; a designated Comfort Zone where participants can step away if they feel overwhelmed; and in-the-moment modifications to dance moves and tempo for those managing anxiety, mobility challenges, pain, or other needs. Cross-body movements are woven into each session to build new neural pathways, a foundational component of healing from PTSD and brain injury. Simple memory tools, like a red ribbon tied around the right wrist, help participants with cognitive challenges navigate the dances with confidence and ease. All volunteer dancers receive training on the impacts of PTSD and brain injury, ensuring every person on the floor feels supported.
  • Ongoing Veteran Connection: Dancing Well’s commitment to participants extends well beyond the dance floor. The team stays in contact with each veteran between events through texts, phone calls, and occasional visits, and holds a special graduation celebration at the close of each dance series to recognize the courage and dedication every participant brings to the floor.

Impact

Dancing Well’s outcomes are not just felt – they’re scientifically documented. A peer-reviewed study published in the Journal of Veterans Studies (July 2019), conducted by Western Connecticut State University and the University of Louisville, found significant improvements in wellness across all participants, regardless of PTSD status. Veterans reported increased feelings of worthiness and connectedness, reduced tendency to isolate, and improved mood and outlook on the future. Pre- and post-dance surveys have since shown further improvements in mood, memory, sleep, physical health, and anxiety levels, with some participants even reporting a reduction in physical pain. Perhaps most powerfully: 100% of veteran participants with PTSD report feeling welcome, feeling a sense of community, and saying they would recommend the program to others.

How You Can Support Dancing Well: The Soldier Project

Your support helps ensure that more veterans and their families have access to the healing, connection, and joy that Dancing Well brings. Here’s how you can help:

  • Donate: Dancing Well relies on the generosity of their community to fund their monthly events, live music, trained staff, and ongoing outreach to veterans between dances. Every contribution helps keep the dance floor open for those who need it most. Visit dancingwell.org to make a tax-deductible donation.
  • Volunteer as a Dancer: One of the most meaningful ways to support Dancing Well is simply to show up and dance. Community volunteers dance alongside veterans at every event, helping create the welcoming, connected atmosphere that makes the program work. No dance experience is necessary – just a willingness to be present and have fun. Visit the volunteer page to sign up.
  • Sponsor a Dance: Dancing Well’s Sponsor a Dance program gives individuals and businesses the opportunity to underwrite a dance event or series, making it possible for veterans and their families to participate at no cost. It’s a direct, tangible way to invest in community healing.
  • Become a Partner: Organizations, healthcare providers, veteran service groups, and community institutions can partner with Dancing Well to extend the program’s reach and bring the healing power of dance to more veterans in the Louisville area and beyond.
  • Attend Events: Dancing Well holds monthly dances that are open to veterans, loved ones, and community members. Attending is one of the simplest and most impactful ways to support the mission – your presence helps build the community that makes the program so effective. Visit the events page to find an upcoming dance near you.
  • Spread the Word: Follow Dancing Well on Instagram @dancingwellthesoldierproject and on Facebook and share their story with veterans, families, and community members in your network. You never know whose life a single post might change.

Join Us in Making a Difference

At Company Distilling, our Gather Around Giving program empowers communities by supporting organizations like Dancing Well: The Soldier Project. We invite you to join us in this mission. By supporting Dancing Well, you contribute to a cause that reminds us all that healing doesn’t always look like a hospital – sometimes, it looks like a dance floor, a hand extended to a stranger, and a song that won’t let you stop smiling.

Visit Dancing Well’s website to learn more about how you can get involved. Together, we can help more veterans and their families find their rhythm again.

Company Distilling’s Gather Around Giving program supports nonprofits that create positive change in their communities. To learn more about our initiatives and how you can participate, visit our Gather Around Giving page.