Listen: Gwen Korebrits tells Ben McEachen about why she is passionate about helping seniors to be active
By Ben McEachenThursday 31 Mar 2022Hope AfternoonsLifeReading Time: 2 minutes
Gwen Korebrits remembers how painful it was to see the effects of a stroke upon her dad.
In his mid 40s, her dad experienced such a physical decline that, decades later, Gwen vividly remembers how desperately she wanted him restored “to his former glory”.
Gwen was sharing this pivotal personal moment on Hope Afternoons during NSW Seniors Week 2022.
A dance and theatre student at the time, Gwen emphasises she was not a neuroscientist or doctor. Still, she embarked on a regime that she hoped would assist her dad’s holistic recovery.
“I worked with him every day by singing, dancing, reciting poetry,” Gwen said. “Together and with my love for him and his love for me, he was back on his feet within a year, walking and talking normally.”
Such an outcome ignited a passion within Gwen to pursue a positive relationship between dance and health.
Gwen is CEO and founder of Dance Health Alliance, a not-for-profit that brings dance programs to local communities in a bid to improve health and wellbeing. Many classes in New South Wales and Queensland are put on for senior citizens.
Gwen wanted to stress that age shouldn’t be a barrier and it doesn’t matter if you weren’t a dancer in your youth.
“The best people there have two left feet,” Gwen said. “There is no experience necessary and the moment you walk through that door, we just call everyone dancers.”
“There is no experience necessary and the moment you walk through that door, we just call everyone dancers,” – Dance Health Alliance CEO Gwen Korebrits
Gwen is on a mission to encourage older people to remain as active and as fit as possible. She has a pronounced interest in how regular activities, such as Dance Health Alliance classes, can assist in fighting against the corrosive effects of dementia, for example.
“Dance actually ticks all the boxes – physically, mentally, socially and, something I am extremely passionate about, creatively,” Gwen said.
“And dance helps us tick all the exercise boxes that we need.”
Listen to the full interview with Gwen Korebrits in the player above.
Feature image: Dance Health Alliance Facebook