Dancing Toward Connection

Balaban instructs students in a fun exercise.

Rachel Balaban lead DAPpers participants through movement exercises that celebrate intergenerational connection and self-expression.

Students have fun with one another performing Balaban's exercises.

Rachel Balaban, dancer, educator, and founder of DAPpers (Dance for All People), shared her passion for using dance as a bridge between generations during her October 2024 session with medical students. Through guided movement and open conversation, Balaban encouraged participants to explore how dance fosters empathy, communication, and a sense of belonging.

A Teaching Associate at the Warren Alpert Medical School and Regional Coordinator for Dance for PD (Parkinson’s disease), Balaban emphasized that movement is not only physical—it’s emotional and communal. “Through dance and intergenerational connections, we learn to understand ourselves and each other,” she explained. “We thrive by unlocking people of all ages, physically and spiritually.”

Balaban and students perform synchronized exercise.

Students experienced firsthand how dance can be a powerful tool for healing, vitality, and connection. The session reminded participants that the arts can play a vital role in promoting wellness and human connection in healthcare and beyond.

Balaban leads the first exercise of the session.

Rachel Balaban leads medical students and community members in an intergenerational movement exercise