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Dear DWP Community,
As Parkinson’s Awareness Month comes to a close, I find myself reflecting with gratitude on the strength, resilience, and spirit of the extraordinary community we are building together.
What began as a simple, heartfelt wish to share the joy and benefits of dance with people living with Parkinson’s has blossomed into something much more meaningful - a national community grounded in creativity, connection, and the belief that living well is always possible.
At its core, DWP has never just been a dance class. And it still isn’t.
What we see every day is something very real: friendships forming through movement that extend far beyond the class itself. People who first meet online become in-person friends. Relationships, belonging, creativity and care are at the heart of what we do.
This is where the deeper work of DWP lives. In many ways, we touch the real pillars of aging in place: daily movement, meaningful connection, and the experience of being seen and part of something.
In a world that is increasingly fragmented, where so many systems leave people isolated or disconnected, this work feels like the opposite. A quiet antidote. A return to community, to presence, and to each other.
We also see it so clearly in the intergenerational moments that naturally unfold in our spaces. The children from Rosedale Day School moving alongside our dancers brought such presence and joy. There is always something to learn and something to share, in both directions.
This was also powerfully felt on the 10th during our "Dance Me to DWP" celebration, when each of our locations across Canada created a piece of movement that came together in one shared moment. Across distances, we were truly threaded together. It felt like more than 400 of us moving as one community, held by a shared intention to experience joy, love, freedom, connection, and belonging.
That is what this work continues to reveal: when people are given space to move, to be seen, and to connect, something deeply human happens.
I am incredibly grateful to our dancers, instructors, volunteers, board members, and partners who continue to shape this work with such care, compassion, and passion!
Together, we are not just growing a program, we are shaping something much larger about what it means to age, to belong, and to live well in our communities.
And I am very excited for what comes next, including the World Parkinson Congress! Arizona here we come!
I cannot wait to continue dancing with you, near and far, online and in-person, everywhere you are.
With gratitude,
Sarah Robichaud
Founder & CEO
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Dance Me to...Celebration!
On Friday, April 10th, more than 400 dancers from the DWP community came together online and in-person across the country to celebrate 18 years of community, connection, and belonging.
We are deeply grateful to Marcel and Zack of Ballets Jazz Montréal for sharing their artistry with us, to Cary Shields for performing his beautiful original song, and to TO Live for welcoming us so warmly into their home, and of course to our grade 5 friends from Rosedale Day School!
Most of all, thank you to our entire DWP family for sharing your hearts and making this celebration so unforgettable. Together, we raised $120,000, allowing us to continue offering free, accessible, and inclusive programming to those who need it most. We couldn't do this without you!
To enjoy highlights from this incredibly memorable day, click the button below!
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Dancing Together on World Parkinson's Day!
On Saturday, April 11th, the global Parkinson’s community marked World Parkinson's Day with "Spark the Night", an inspiring initiative led by legendary PD advocate Larry Gifford from PD Avengers and volunteers around the world. More than 700 landmarks, homes, and gathering places lit up in blue — from Niagara Falls to castles, stadiums, and front porches — to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and improve care for people living with Parkinson’s.
The campaign also celebrated “Sparklets,” personal acts of support that anyone can take in solidarity with the Parkinson’s community. At DWP, we were proud to take part as "Sparklets", moving together in community.
For a snapshot of how we celebrated, click the button below!
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The Gift of Dance for Moms and Dads
It’s that time of year when we celebrate moms and dads — a moment to honour those who are with us and to remember those we hold close.
In recognition of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, Dancing with Parkinson’s invites you to make a gift in honour of your mom, your dad, or both. Your support helps us continue bringing movement, connection, and joy to people living with Parkinson’s and seniors, which the Fernandes family has experienced firsthand.
For just $30, you can give one dancer an entire month of unlimited opportunities to move, connect, and belong.
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The Fernandes Family
Celebrating the Gift of Dance, Joy and Connection
Malcolm and Charmaine’s journey with Dancing with Parkinson’s is rooted in a lifetime of partnership, resilience, and love. From their home in British Columbia, Malcolm is navigating MSA-P, a rare form of Parkinson’s, while Charmaine has stepped into the role of care partner. Since discovering DWP’s Daily Dance Connect — which they log into religiously at 8:00 a.m. local time — they have found something extraordinary through dance.
What began as a 30-minute class has become a daily ritual — a moment each morning to enjoy the simple pleasure of moving to music, side by side, from the comfort of home. “Despite my physical limitations, the class always leaves me invigorated,” Malcolm shares, while Charmaine adds, “I can’t think of a better way to start the day than with music, movement, and connection.”
The ripple effect of that joy has reached their daughters, Danielle and Kaitlyn, who made the 2.5-hour journey with their parents to attend DWP’s inaugural in-person class in Vancouver last fall. For them, the experience was both profound and lasting — especially witnessing the sense of fun, freedom, and lightness their parents have rediscovered through dance.
For Danielle and Kaitlyn, both of whom grew up dancing competitively, it has been a wonderful surprise that their dad has become the most dedicated dancer in the family. “He shows up almost every morning, and my mom is right there next to him,” Danielle shares. “There is no denying how much the DWP community has come to mean to both of my parents.”
Beyond movement, the foursome has found something deeper: a new way to connect as a family. “Expressing emotions through movement is so powerful,” Kaitlyn reflects. “I’m thankful they can share this together, and that we can share it as a family.”
“Thank you, DWP, for bringing so much joy into all of our lives,” Charmaine says. “The camaraderie at every class, whether in person or online, and the feeling of belonging is like a warm hug. It truly is a gift.”
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DWP is Headed to the World Parkinson Congress!
The World Parkinson Congress (WPC) is a remarkable global gathering that takes place every three years, bringing together clinicians, researchers, people living with Parkinson’s, and care partners from around the world to celebrate, learn, share resources, and advance what it means to live well with Parkinson’s.
Dancing with Parkinson's is deeply honoured to have such a strong presence at this year’s Congress. Founder and CEO, Sarah Robichaud, alongside David Leventhal, Program Director and Founding Teacher at Dance for PD, and Dr. Priti Gross, Movement Disorders Neurologist and DWP Board Member, will present “Deconstructing Dance – Multi-Disciplinary Perspectives” in the Renewal Room to an audience of more than 100 attendees.
Sarah, together with co-choreographer Sabine Woertman, will also lead the prestigious Closing Ceremonies - a powerful moment of artistry, community, and celebration.
We are proud to share our research through our poster presentation and to co-host a welcoming table with our partners at Dance for PD.
Come visit us, take a class, or join the Closing Ceremonies! We can’t wait to connect with you there!
And…want help us get there? Please donate Aeroplan points! It is so simple: click here to log into your account and donate your extra unused points!
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Chatter That Matters
What if dance could do more than move the body? What if it could unlock joy, restore confidence, build community, and support brain health?
We are so grateful to Tony Chapman, host of Chatter That Matters, for the opportunity to sit down for this thoughtful conversation.
From one class to a national movement, DWP is helping people reconnect with themselves, and each other, through music and movement.
To listen to the podcast, click here.
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Movement as Medicine
On April 14th, Sarah joined "Toronto Today" host Greg Brady on 640 AM Toronto to talk about the power of daily dance.
From improved mobility and brain health, to lifting mood and supporting emotional well-being, regular movement plays a vital role for people living with Parkinson’s and for all seniors.
But as Sarah shared, it’s more than just physical. Dance is a holistic, mind-body-spirit practice… and the bonus? Connection, belonging, and shared joy.
To hear Sarah's chat with Greg, click here.
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Sarah Shares the Story Behind DWP!
We are so grateful to Jeff McArthur and Carolyn MacKenzie on "The Morning Show" on Global for helping us share the story behind Dancing with Parkinson’s.
At the heart of it all is Sarah’s deeply moving connection with Andy Barrie (CBC Metro Morning) — a moment that sparked something much bigger than a single class.
18 years and counting of community, connection and a whole lot of joy...
To watch the full clip, click here.
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Ask an Expert with Sarah Robichaud!
Many thanks to our wonderful friends at Parkinson Society British Columbia for featuring Dancing with Parkinson’s in the Spring issue of Viewpoints!
We’re so grateful for the opportunity to share our story, and even more so, to help shine a light on the many and wide-ranging benefits of dance for people living with Parkinson’s. Because dance is so much more than movement — it’s connection, expression, and a powerful pathway to feeling better, every day.
For the Spring issue and to read the article on DWP's work in British Columbia, click here.
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Art with Heart: Linda’s Auction for DWP
We are thrilled to share the success of a truly special community-led fundraiser organized by longtime Daily Dance Connect dancer and talented artist, Linda Wan.
Linda generously hosted an online auction featuring her beautiful one-of-a-kind brooches, handcrafted from repurposed jewellery, with all proceeds supporting Dancing with Parkinson’s. The sale was streamed live during our in-person class at Trinity-St. Paul's Centre, giving bidders a joyful glimpse of the very community their purchases were helping to sustain.
With multiple volunteers supporting the event and many guests donating above and beyond their purchases, the fundraiser raised an incredible $1,400. Linda’s creativity, generosity, and heart were on full display — a beautiful reminder of the many ways our community helps keep DWP moving.
Thank you again Linda for all of your hard work and dedication to raising funds for DWP with your art and heart!
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Have an idea for a fundraiser in your community?
Bake sale, garage sale, special event? We would love to hear about it!
Let us know how we can support you! Send us a note at jason@dancingwithparkinsons.com.
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Partnership is at the heart of Dancing with Parkinson’s. By joining forces with like-minded organizations that support people living with Parkinson’s and seniors, we are able to extend our reach and deepen our impact. It is an honour to work alongside so many incredible partners and leaders in the field, and to celebrate our shared commitment to the communities we serve.
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Celebrating Our Partner Inverso Productions and the LIFT Festival
We’re proud to celebrate our wonderful Vancouver partner, Inverso Productions, and their upcoming "LIFT Festival", an inspiring intergenerational dance festival that brings people of all ages together through performances, workshops, conversations, and connection.
Taking place in Vancouver this spring, the festival highlights the power of movement to bridge generations, challenge assumptions about aging, and build community through the arts.
We encourage our West Coast friends and supporters to learn more, attend, and take part in this beautiful celebration of creativity and togetherness.
Learn more about the "LIFT Festival" by clicking the button below!
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From Dance Floors to Open Roads with Spinning Wheels
We are deeply grateful to our fantastic partners, Spinning Wheels, for their incredibly generous donation of $15,000 in support of DWP’s transformative dance and movement programs in Peterborough and Regina!
It has been an absolute joy to dance alongside this inspiring group as they cycle from coast to coast to coast, connecting with people living with Parkinson’s in communities across Canada. Their energy, dedication, and commitment to raising awareness and support continue to move us all.
Through the winter and spring, we have loved welcoming Lloyd and Mike from the Spinning Wheels crew to our in-person classes at Trinity St Paul in Toronto, where they join us every week to get ride-ready for the season ahead. This summer, they will once again take to the roads, and we will be cheering and dancing alongside them on every pedal of the way.
Thank you, Spinning Wheels, for your generosity, partnership, and the powerful difference you continue to make in our country.
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From coast to coast, dancers are experiencing the joy and benefits of moving together to music with Dancing with Parkinson’s. Our aim is to make our programs accessible, inclusive, and to meet you where you are.
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April Fools at Christie Gardens
A surprise guest joined the weekly dance class at Christie Gardens on April 1st! We love a good laugh any day of the week, but this one was extra exciting!
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Incognito Day on the Daily Dance Connect
One of our amazing dancers dressed up as Sarah for "Incognito Day" on the Daily Dance Connect. She even changed her background to Sarah's living room! Can you tell who is who?
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Mirroring at Thorncliffe Park
We always love dancing with our friends at Thorncliffe Park, whether we are in-person or joining the online Daily Dance Connect. It is so powerful to see how dance has brought this community together through moments of connection, joy and self-expression.
Click here to experience the power of dance!
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Regina Goes to Vegas!
Our dance family in Regina had the most fun grooving to "Life is a Highway", their imaginations taking them to Las Vegas! It's amazing how powerful visualization and story-telling can be, which is the method behind DWP's transformative program.
To watch the road trip, click here!
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Our Kelowna Family is Growing!
It is wonderful to see the DWP community in Kelowna thriving already! In partnership with the Seniors Outreach & Resource Centre, we are offering a monthly class for all seniors. Through music, movement, and connection, DWP's program is transforming lives, coast to coast and around the world.
For a list of seniors residences where we dance, click here.
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Jaleh Dances in Penticton!
Jaleh, who regularly attends DWP's weekly program at Trinity St Paul in Toronto, joined the new class in Penticton while she was recently visiting the West Coast! We love that our dance world is so interconnected, and that DWP has classes available wherever you are and wherever you are visiting!
Curious where we are dancing? Click here to find a location near you!!
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Experiencing a DWP class firsthand is the best way to understand its impact, so in addition to our regular 30+ weekly in-person and online classes, we are always on the go offering demonstrations, presentations and webinars. Here is where we shared the magic this past month!
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Sharing Movement, Joy, and Connection
We are so grateful for the opportunities we have to dance with new communities across Canada.
Through the month of April, DWP danced with the Barrie PD Support Group with Clair Wooten (click here to see the joy in action!), at North York General Hospital, the Lampton House Senior event and Wellings Health & Wellness Expo.
In May, Sarah Robichaud will be leading the warm up at Parkinson' Canada's SuperMom Walk/Run in Toronto on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 10th! Also on Mother's Day, we look forward to re-connecting with our friends at Spinning Wheels where Robin McPhail-Dempsey will be dancing with the crowd at "The Lawn Ball" at the Baby Point Club. Later in the. month, Nancy Pidgeon will be offering a DWP demonstration session for Parkinson Canada's Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) support group in Ottawa. We are grateful for these important opportunity to share the joy and benefits of dance!
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Calling All Volunteers!
Volunteers play a vital role in creating a welcoming, safe, and supportive space where dancers can feel comfortable to move and express themselves. This is meaningful, heart-led work — an opportunity to give back to a beautiful community through art, connection, and self-expression.
Join us and be part of something that truly makes a difference in the lives of others! Click the button below to learn more about the various volunteer oppportunies available with DWP.
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Follow Us on LinkedIn — New Page Alert!
DWP has moved on LinkedIn! Our new official Dancing with Parkinson's page is live, and we would love for you to connect with us there.
If you have been following our previous page, please make the switch so you stay connected and don't miss any of our updates, stories, and announcements.
Click the button below! It takes two seconds and means so much to us.
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DWP is passionate about introducing our fun and beneficial program to new dancers by offering free demo classes, presentations and webinars!
For more information about booking one for your group, please email us at info@dancingwithparkinsons.com.
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Many thanks for the joy, passion and healing energy you offer to those of us with Parkinson’s; each day of dance feels like a metamorphosis. I am so grateful!
~ Karen, DWP Dancer
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Dance with Us Anytime, from Anywhere!
Did you know that DWP has a YouTube channel with Daily Dance Connect classes? So you can log in from wherever you are, whenever you like to dance! Watch this space as we'll be adding new DDC videos over the course of the year.
To enjoy music from DWP's online classes, listen "live" here!
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Why Does DWP Matter?
Every day, people tell us how our research-backed programs bring joy, friendship and connection to their lives, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Click below to make a donation to help keep our programs free of charge for all who wish to participate.
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