Exit12 Post Tour Report - Lebanon VA
Exit12 Dance Company
Post-Tour Report
Exit12 workshop and performance
VA Medical Center, Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Participants: 20 veterans (many residents, several wheelchair users), staff, and recreational therapists
Friday, August 29, 2025
Overview
Exit12 Dance Company traveled to the Lebanon VA Medical Center to facilitate an Exit12 Movement Workshop in collaboration with the recreational therapy team, followed by a small performance for veterans and staff. The program engaged 20 veteran participants, many of whom are long-term residents at the VA and several of whom were wheelchair users.
The workshop was designed to foster connection, expression, and community through movement, with exercises emphasizing mirroring, trust, teamwork, and creative participation.
The performance component offered the veterans and staff an opportunity to experience professional dance while reflecting on shared humanity, camaraderie, and resilience.
Participant Feedback & Impact
The feedback from veterans and staff at the Lebanon VA was deeply meaningful and highlighted the transformative power of movement and performance in this setting.
Inclusion & Acceptance
One participant shared that although she experienced physical pain and had to take a break from one of the activities, she was grateful for the way she was included and accepted “just as she was.”Unexpected Breakthroughs
A recreational therapist, noted:
“I’ve worked with many of these participants for years, even through in-home nursing care, and I’ve never seen them do half of the things they did in that hour and a half.”Renewed Connection
One veteran engaged so fully in the workshop that his wife was moved to give him a kiss.Relief from Routine
Several participants expressed that the workshop broke up the boredom and monotony of hospital life.“It brought me out of my boredom.”
“I didn’t feel alone.”
Teamwork & Camaraderie
Veterans reflected on the workshop as a space for teamwork, camaraderie, and a shared mission—values deeply familiar and resonant within the military community.New Perspectives on Ballet & Dance
Many who attended the performance said they were surprised by how much they enjoyed it and expressed a new interest in ballet:One participant announced he would be the first to sign up if Exit12 returned.
Another reflected that he wished he were strong again so he could dance with the Exit12 artists.
Trust & Belonging
During the mirroring exercise, participants reported feelings of trust, belonging, and freedom:“A room full of strangers didn’t feel so strange anymore.”
“I felt ridiculous at first, but then I looked around and saw everyone in the same boat. That gave me freedom—no shame anymore.”
Breaking Down Barriers to Participation
Staff echoed these sentiments, with one recreational therapist remarking that the session “broke down barriers very quickly.”
Outcomes
The Lebanon VA workshop and performance demonstrated the power of dance and creative engagement to:
Foster inclusion and acceptance, even across different physical and emotional capacities.
Encourage emotional breakthroughs and strengthen personal relationships.
Disrupt the monotony of hospital life with meaningful creative activity.
Promote trust, camaraderie, and teamwork, echoing veterans’ military values.
Inspire new appreciation for ballet and the arts among veterans who had not previously engaged with them.
Conclusion
Exit12’s time at the Lebanon VA Medical Center created moments of joy, connection, and transformation for veterans, staff, and family members alike. The feedback we received affirms the importance of bringing high-quality, trauma-informed arts programming into veteran care spaces.
Exit12 is grateful to the Lebanon VA Medical Center’s recreational therapy team for their collaboration and hospitality, and to the veterans who trusted us with their time and presence. We look forward to opportunities to return and build on the connections we began here.
