SDP VETERANS OUTREACH

The Syzygy Dance Project Veteran's Outreach program was initially conceived and developed by SDP founder, Sylvie Minot. The VA program offers open dance movement classes to veteran recovery services at local VA hospitals, such as the VA Palo Alto Health Care System. These uplifting and powerful events utilize dance both as a form of movement therapy and a way to practice positive social interactions.

SDP veterans outreach facilitators join in dance with proud men and women who have served the United States in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Some of the veterans are recovering from substance abuse, others are in wheelchairs--only able to move parts of their upper torso or one side of their body, and a few of the veterans are confined to beds. 

Many of the veterans suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). 

Often, the veteran men and women in the dance classes find the idea of moving their bodies embarrassing, scary, or physically challenging. Nevertheless, after the music starts, most end up dancing in their own way--whether it is joining hands and lightly swinging their arms together, tapping a little toe, smiling with the music, or standing on the side of the room shaking a dance rattle to the beat. 

There are even a few of the veterans who end up creating cool 5Rhythms Staccato moves and lively 5Rhythms Chaos dances.

At the end of each dance class, SDP facilitators construct a live sculpture to connect everyone in a moment of stillness and honor each veteran's unique way of moving to music.

At VA Hospitals, Syzygy Dance Project dance facilitators see the transformative power of dance. The simplicity of movement always emerges as the class focus shifts away from how much they can move and what dance steps they take. 

“I feel so much gratitude. I just returned from Afghanistan two months ago and did not know if I could ever feel joy again.
​Now, I know that I can. Thank you so much.”
- Medic, 40 year old male veteran

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​Please consider supporting our work with veterans. Every dollar helps. Whether it’s a one time donation or on-going support to the SDP Veterans Outreach Program, you can help us continue our work on helping veterans heal.
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Veterans Dance

Below are images from when Syzygy Dance Project invited its public dance community to join them to dance with veterans in our program at the VA in Menlo Park.

​It was a huge success and a sight to see - the seamless bridging of two diverse communities. This is what it's all about!

“These folks have impacted the veterans so much. The groups are so popular. I work with vets coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan, and these guys have a lot of PTSD. When the vets come back the first thing they say is, ‘We really appreciate the 5Rhythms group.’ The vets come with a lot of anger, frustration, and depression and they just get out there and move.” - Darrell Green, Counselor, VA