Sarah is a classically trained dancer and choreographer who graduated from The Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow. Transitioning from dance Sarah became a North American Fitness expert on CBS Early Morning Show and CBC's Steven and Chris. She is also a published health and fitness author. Sarah's passion for Dancing with Parkinson's ignited in 2007 when working as a personal trainer with Andy Barrie to help him find ways to physically help his body manage his PD through Movement. She was inspired by the Mark Morris Dance Group's innovative PD dance class and immediately trained with them in NYC. Sarah is now the only certified Canadian in the Dance for PD Method and is a founding member of the Dance for PD Network Canada. Click for more info

Phoebe has been volunteering with DWP since 2018 and recently completed the Dance for PD introductory teacher training course with Sarah Robichaud and David Leventhal. Born and raised in Hong Kong, Phoebe obtained her BFA degree in dance from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, majoring in modern dance and choreography. Upon graduation, Phoebe danced and toured professionally with the City Contemporary Dance Company. She completed her Master's degree in Cultural Management and expanded her interest to organizing performing arts community projects for people of all ages, cultures, and abilities.

Originally from France, Laetitia graduated from l'Ecole Supérieur de Danse du Québec. Her spectacular dance history includes touring internationally and dancing in the Opening Ceremonies at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. In addition to being a highly certified and well-regarded dance teacher, Laetitia is a Silver Swan Licensee, a Hatha Yoga instructor, and part of the Dance Faculty at Georges Brown College, as well as a company teacher for the Ballet Jorgen of Canada. 10 years ago, Laetitia opened L'Arabesque Ballet in Thornhill where she teaches all ages and levels, and prepares students for their RAD Ballet examinations. Trained in the Dance for PD® Method, Laetitia is grateful and excited to have the fantastic opportunity to share her passion and joy of dance with DWP dancers!

Trained in the Dance for PD® Method, Brenda will be leading DWP’s first class outside of Ontario with U-Turn Parkinson's in Winnipeg! A professional performing artist since she was 16, Brenda graduated from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet (RWB). She has worked across Canada and in parts of Europe and the Middle East as an actor, singer, dancer, choreographer, director and producer. Brenda is the Artistic Director for StudioWorks Academy, the Dance Director of Manitoba Possible’s All Abilities Dancers, and works with MAC’s Artist in Schools Program. She also serves as dance professor at the University of Winnipeg, and is a Board member for the DTRC (Dancer Transition Resource Centre) and Creative Manitoba’s Youth Mentorship program.

Lainie has danced since she could walk, studying ballet, modern dance, expressive movement, contact improv, jazz, and musical theatre. She performed with Village Folk, an international folk-dance troupe, and is currently a dancer, choreographer, and Co-Artistic Director of the Toronto-based community dance company, PushPULL. She has trained with The Nia Technique and Ageless Grace, leading movement classes for people of all ages, genders, body types, abilities, and fitness levels. Lainie is also a non-denominational Metaphysical Minister, officiating at weddings and other lifecycle events. In everything she does she is committed to the important work of equity, diversity, and inclusion for all.

Formerly a company dancer with Toronto Dance Theatre, Robin holds a BFA in Dance from York University and a certificate of Expressive Arts Therapy from The CREATE Institute. With this extensive training and professional experience in both dance and expressive arts, she is passionate about sharing her love of movement with dancers of all ages and abilities. Robin teaches with MamaDances, DanceAbilities, for community organizations that support those living with the effects of COPD, Stroke, and Dementia, and for elementary students in the TDSB and TCDSB. Thrilled to be an instructor with Dancing with Parkinson's since 2012, Robin also served as the Rehearsal Director for DWP’s Intergenerational Dance Project (2016-17), and Bridging Generations Through Dance (2018-19).

Sarah toured the world as a Principal Dancer with Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet. She also danced with Alberta Ballet, and at the Banff Centre for the Arts. She coached Jennifer Lopez for the film Shall We Dance, has been a Stunt Double for Kate Beckinsale and Milla Jovovich and was in the North American Premiere of Dirty Dancing Onstage (Mirvish), which played at the Royal Alexander Theatre in Toronto for almost 2 years. Sarah has choreographed for stage and screen, including the production of Cabaret for the Lower Ossington Theatre. Sarah lives in Toronto, works as an actor, and continues to teach, coach, choreograph, and perform dance whenever she can. Teaching at Dancing With Parkinson’s is a career highlight, she loves sharing the powerful connection between music and dance.

Jianna (she/her) is a Tkaronto-based dance and theatre artist who was born and raised at Mile Zero of the Alaska Highway. She is a graduate of the Victoria Academy of Ballet (2017), and The School of Toronto Dance Theatre (2020), where she was honoured co-valedictorian and the two-time recipient of the Walker Wood Bursary. She also holds a BFA Hons. in Choreography/Performance from York University, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2023. Neufeld is currently working as an independent artist across Turtle Island with an impressive roster of performance experience. She is passionate about sharing dance for the wellness of both the person and the community with the DWP community!

Paloma was born and raised in Mexico. She has danced professionally in Mexico, USA, Cuba, and Canada since 2008.

She holds a BA in dance. While living in Canada she discovered Dance for PD in August 2017 and finished her Introductory Training Course and the Advanced Training/ Professional Development Workshop in New York. Paloma resides in Houston, TX where she offers Dance classes to seniors from different mobilities in Assisted Living Facilities and community centers in the Houston area.

Julia Sauve, MA has been performing, teaching, and choreographing dance on P.E.I. and in the USA for the past 44 years. She co-founded Montage Dance Theatre and Dance Umbrella, performed with the Charlottetown Summer Festival, and has choreographed for numerous community, school and theatre organizations. In recent years she taught with the Holland College School of Performing Arts and several ArtsSmarts Programs in the P.E.I. School System. Presently, Julia teaches a class entitled “Dance for the Health of It”, and has developed a movement program for stroke survivors and their care partners called, “Moving Life Forward Through Movement and Music”. Dancing with Parkinson’s is such a wonderful gift to her next chapter!

Claire is a graduate of the Teacher Training Program at Canada’s National Ballet School and holds an MA in Dance (York). She has taught at York University’s Department of Dance since 1990, specializing in contemporary ballet and dance education. Claire is also a certified instructor of 3-D Workout ™, an integrated fitness program based on the work of Bartenieff and Laban. In addition to her teaching, Claire is an experienced rehearsal director, an avid music student, and a passionate Argentine Tango student.

Claire joined the teaching roster of Dancing with Parkinson’s Canada in 2015 and is thrilled to be combining her love of movement and music in DWP classes!