Celebrating World Mental Health Day & World Teacher’s Day

At Rahway Dance Theatre, we believe that mental health is as crucial as—and arguably, inseparable from—physical well-being, especially in the demanding world of dance. As we recognize World Mental Health Day on October 10, we’re reminded of the importance of supporting dancers in both mind and body.

Our Artistic Director, Armanii Shults, has been instrumental in making mental health a priority at RDT, helping expand our mission to welcome and advocate for dancers who often face marginalization in the dance world. Whether it’s our BIPOC dancers, boys and men, adult non-professionals, or individuals with mental and emotional disabilities, we are committed to providing a safe, inclusive environment where all dancers can thrive.

Ms. Kristine, certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid, also brings her knowledge and care into our community. ASL is implemented into the curriculum, and mental health resources are strategically placed throughout the studio, including in our dressing rooms. Additionally, we’ve shared key phone numbers and websites in previous blog posts to ensure dancers and their families have access to necessary support.

This month, we’d like to uplift:

• ADHD Acceptance/Empowerment Month
• Down Syndrome Awareness Month
• Mental Illness Awareness Week (October 6-12)

In addition to these, October is also National Arts and Humanities Month and National Disability Employment Awareness Month, both of which align with RDT’s mission to ensure arts are accessible and inclusive for everyone. We’re proud to foster an environment that encourages the intersection of mental health, the arts, and accessibility.

This focus on mental health goes hand-in-hand with the work our teachers do every day. As we also celebrated World Teacher’s Day on October 5, we want to recognize the incredible impact our instructors have on, not just the technical development of our dancers, but their emotional and mental growth as well.

Teachers, we encourage you to explore the following Mental Health Blog for Dance Educators, Toolkit on Careers in the Arts for People with Disabilities, and the Workplace Mental Health Toolkit to further support your students’ growth (and yours!) in all aspects of their lives.

• Mental Health Blog for Dance Educators— Stress in dance educators can impact not only their own well-being but also their students’ mental health, as studies show that stress is contagious, affecting cognitive function, learning, and classroom environments.
• Careers in the Arts— an online resource promoting equity, access, and inclusion for people with disabilities seeking careers in the arts.
• Mental Health America’s Workplace Mental Health Toolkit— U.S. workers spend so much time on the job and commuting that workplace stress significantly impacts mental health, with 78% reporting its effects and 7 in 10 struggling to concentrate, affecting well-being, productivity, and job satisfaction.

Our commitment is clear: at RDT, we’re building stronger dancers, inside and out.

In our commitment to supporting the mental, physical, and emotional well-being of our dancers, we’ve also curated a collection of insightful reads shared by our Level III ballet and pointe instructor, Ms. Anneliese. These articles offer valuable perspectives on dance as a tool for healing and resilience.

In “A Transformative Rx for Burnout, Grief, and Illness: Dance,” dance is highlighted as a profound remedy for life’s challenges, revealing its power to restore balance and joy in times of struggle. This aligns with our philosophy at Rahway Dance Theatre, where we believe in dance as a medium for holistic well-being.

The Guardian’s Joseph Sissens interview explores the experiences of dancers of color in traditionally exclusive spaces, emphasizing the significance of representation and inclusion—values that are core to RDT’s mission.

Finally, Misty Copeland’s words in “How to ‘keep dancing’ through challenges” remind us of the resilience required to navigate both personal and professional obstacles in the dance world, echoing the mental health support we aim to provide for our dancers.

Together, these pieces inspire us to keep moving, healing, and dancing through life’s challenges.