The Belonging Project is a flexible, trauma-informed creative movement and wellness program designed for older adults in nursing homes, individuals in substance use recovery, and military veterans. Rooted in Roxey Ballet’s 30-year history of delivering arts-based healing programs, this initiative meets participants where they are physically, emotionally, and socially—ensuring that individuals of all abilities, cognitive levels, and life experiences have access to creative expression, community connection, and practical tools for managing stress and improving overall well-being.

 

The program can be delivered in a variety of formats—including multi-week residencies, single or recurring workshops, and interactive performances—allowing it to adapt to the unique needs of nursing facilities, recovery centers, and veteran-serving organizations. Whether experienced as an ongoing series or a one-time engagement, each offering is designed to be accessible, engaging, and responsive to participants’ abilities and comfort levels.

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Grounded in research demonstrating that music and movement can reduce anxiety, improve mood, increase body awareness, regulate blood pressure, enhance flexibility and coordination, and support emotional regulation, the program offers meaningful benefits across populations. For nursing home residents, individuals navigating substance use recovery, and veterans coping with service-related stress or trauma, the non-verbal language of movement provides a gentle and inclusive pathway to self-expression, emotional processing, and renewed sense of identity. By emphasizing shared experiences and collective creativity, the program helps reduce isolation, build trust, and foster a strong sense of belonging.

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Programs are facilitated by 2–3 professional teaching artists and support staff trained in trauma-informed practices and adaptive engagement strategies. Offerings may be scheduled throughout the year in partnership with host sites, with formats and duration tailored to meet each community’s goals. Multi-session programs encourage consistency and relationship-building, while workshops and performances provide impactful, low-barrier entry points for participation.

Each engagement—whether a single workshop or an extended residency—follows a thoughtful, supportive structure designed to create safety, encourage choice, and maximize engagement for individuals with varying physical, cognitive, and emotional needs.