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Dear DWP Community,
Did someone say DWP is coast to coast?! I am beyond thrilled to share that this past month, we danced with the newest members of our DWP dance family in British Columbia — bringing DWP truly coast-to-coast, from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
It was a meaningful and energizing week in the Okanagan Valley and Vancouver, where we trained teachers, strengthened partnerships, and led heartwarming community classes alongside our wonderful collaborator and friend, David Leventhal from Dance for PD®.
This expansion was sparked by the passion and determination of two incredible champions: Richard Mayede in Vancouver and Nikos Theodosakis in Penticton. Their advocacy helped introduce DWP to local Parkinson’s support groups and gave us the nudge to bring this work West. Read on for their stories below.
In partnership with Dance for PD® and the Dance for PD Network Canada, we trained a new cohort of dance artists in the Dance for PD® method — rooted in research-backed movement, narrative, and embodied learning. Witnessing this group embrace the work with such enthusiasm and heart was truly magical. We are endlessly grateful for the many talented artists joining this journey, united in our shared mission to bring connection and creativity to those living with Parkinson’s disease.
Some of the most unforgettable moments came from meeting members of our Daily Dance Connect family in person — from Nikos in Penticton to Malcolm, Charmaine and Sherry in Vancouver. There is simply nothing like experiencing the joy of movement together.
Increasing access to our programs takes a village, and we are honoured to have such committed partners helping us spread the word across BC. Thank you to everyone who danced with us, supported us, and welcomed us so warmly.
We cannot wait to launch regular classes in Penticton and Vancouver in the new year. Until then, we are basking in the glow of new friendships, shared laughter (and a few tears!), and a beautiful reminder that connection moves us — everywhere we go.
Let’s dance,
Sarah Robichaud
Founder & CEO
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Richard Mayede and Nikos Theodosakis have been instrumental in bringing DWP to British Columbia. Their leadership and passion helped launch our first classes in the province, ensuring more people living with Parkinson’s can access connection through movement. We’re grateful for their support — and proud to share their stories.
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Richard Mayede:
A West Coast Champion for Dance & Community
Born and raised in Vancouver, Richard has always embraced movement and creativity. A lifelong hockey player who still loves the thrill of scoring goals, he built his early career in marketing. But after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2005 — a moment he describes as “disappointing for a brief second” — he chose a new direction. Guided by his Buddhist faith, he felt called to become a positive force for others, and today he expresses that purpose through filmmaking and community leadership.
Richard discovered Dancing with Parkinson’s at the World Parkinson Congress in Barcelona in 2023, during a group discussion on apathy and PD. There, he met DWP's Jessica Dargo Caplan, and soon after Sarah Robichaud, who extended an enthusiastic invitation to try the online Daily Dance Connect class, with the promise of Beastie Boys music to seal the deal. On July 11, the day after returning home, he logged in for his first class at 8:00 a.m. Vancouver-time. He has been dancing ever since.
For Richard, dance has been transformative. A Dance for PD® class he took in 2016 helped him overcome a fear of how he looked when dyskinesia appeared. “It opened my mind,” he says, describing a personal breakthrough in seeing dance as a powerful form of expression and confidence.
That experience fuelled his passion for bringing DWP to Vancouver. Having recently joined the DWP Board of Directors, he hopes to help build a West Coast hub where more people living with Parkinson’s can move and feel connected. “DWP is like an extension of family,” he says. “It keeps us social, committed, and supported — anything feels possible with Sarah’s infectious positivity."
His message for others is simple: “Everyone should try dancing at least once. It doesn’t matter how you look — it's the joy that matters.”
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Nikos Theodosakis:
Bringing Dance to the Okanagan
Nikos Theodosakis lives in Naramata, BC. His family, originally from Greece, ran Theo’s Restaurant in Penticton, an established gathering place that brought people together around food, art, and storytelling. An educator, filmmaker, soccer enthusiast, and lifelong advocate for purpose, it was the same spirit of connection that inspired Nikos to bring Dancing with Parkinson’s to the Okanagan Valley, with the inaugural community class taking place on November 11th.
Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2017, Nikos first heard about DWP through our mutual friend and DWP board member, Richard Mayede, who shared how daily dance classes had transformed his mornings. “I wasn’t sure at first,” Nikos admits, “but once I tried it, I understood. It’s forgiving. You do what you can, and that’s enough. On the days I dance, it’s a gift to myself.”
As an educator, Nikos has always been drawn to helping others find meaning in what they do. His school project, In Still Life, encouraged students to connect learning to real life by creating art and giving back to the community — a philosophy that mirrors DWP’s mission to use movement and creativity to foster purpose and connection.
Nikos also facilitates the South Okanagan Parkinson’s Support Group, where people gather to share stories, strategies, and strength. Through his own experience, he’s explored the grace, humour, and resilience that life with Parkinson’s requires.
Now that DWP has locally trained teachers and the community class in Penticton was a resounding success, Nikos is excited to see others in his community experience the same sense of belonging. “There’s something special about being in the same room… talking between the cracks,” he says. “That’s what DWP is really about — movement with purpose, art that heals, and a community that lifts us all."
To enjoy some of Nikos’ work, click here, and to see him in action, click here.
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With Your Support, We Can Get More Dancers Dancing!
Giving Tuesday is just around the corner, and we’re asking for your support to help keep more than 6,000 dancers across Canada moving, connecting, and thriving.
Your generosity ensures that seniors and people living with Parkinson’s can continue accessing free and welcoming dance programs — whether online from home, in underserved seniors’ housing, or in new communities we’re reaching across the country.
When you give, you’re helping someone rediscover confidence, purpose, and joy through movement. Together, we can keep this life-changing work going strong.
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Everyday at DWP, we are so fortunate to experience countless magical moments — those heart-filling, soul-warming connections that happen when dancers come together. Whether online, in person, or even on their own time and initiative, these bonds are sparked by the shared experience of DWP's programs. It is in these moments that we are reminded of the true power of what DWP offers: connection and community.
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Malcolm and Charmaine: In Real Life
Malcolm and Charmaine’s journey with DWP is rooted in resilience, family and the joy they find in moving together each morning. As a person living with MSA-P, a rare form of Parkinson’s disease, Malcolm is paving a new path with Charmaine by his side as his wife and dance partner!
Since joining Daily Dance Connect, Malcolm says the classes leave him “invigorated,” helping him explore movement in new ways, and he enjoys being part of “a judgment-free space that makes me feel like part of the family.” Charmaine calls the experience “liberating,” a shared ritual that lifts them both at the start of each day. For both of them, DWP continues to offer not only exercise, but belonging, confidence, and community. A community that expanded when we got to meet this incredible pair in-person at DWP’s first Vancouver community class earlier this month. They drove 2.5 hours and brought the whole family to be part of the celebration.
After months of early mornings dancing together through the screen, it was a true gift to dance side-by-side with this wonderful pair. Thank you, Malcolm and Charmaine, for being such an important part of our virtual and “real life” dance families!
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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 New Friendships
We are grateful for the chance to connect more closely with some of our great friends and partners during our time out west.
We were thrilled to welcome Parkinson Society BC’s CEO, Joanne Baker, and to catch up with our wonderful friend Larry Gifford from PD Avengers to dance with us at our Vancouver community class.
We look forward to continuing to work together to support and expand access to transformative programming for people living with PD across the province.
Many thanks to our new friends at Nurse Next Door (Penticton) for providing healthy and delicious snacks, sharing their amazing volunteers and dancing with us to help make our first community class in Penticton such a success! We hope to work with you with our weekly classes in Penticton coming early 2026.
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Connecting at Parkinson's IQ + You
DWP took part in Parkinson’s IQ + You hosted by Parkinson Canada in Toronto — an incredible opportunity to spread the word about our transformative dance and movement programs, reconnect with our dance family, and catch up with important partners in the Parkinson’s community.
Led by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Parkinson’s IQ + You is a free, accessible event series that empowers people living with Parkinson’s and their care partners with practical tools, the latest research, and strong community connections. These events support individuals at every stage of their journey — and we are honoured to contribute hope, education, and joyful movement to the experience.
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A a | a B : B E N D Workshop
On Friday, December 5th, the DWP community from across the country and around the world are invited to join in a very special online and in-person workshop at TO Live, dancing with artists from A a | a B : B E N D.
This powerful show brings together choreographer Aszure Barton and composer Ambrose Akinmusire in a kinetic dialogue between dance and music. DWP dancers will have a unique opportunity to learn from and connect with this extraordinary creative process.
Date: Friday, December 5th
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET
Location:
Online: On Zoom immediately following the Daily Dance Connect (register to get the link here)
In-person: Meridian Hall, 1 Front Street East, Toronto
We hope you will join us! If you are able to attend the workshop in-person, please click the button below to RSVP.
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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’ve been having the best time leading demos and dancing at community events over the past couple of months. Sarah Murphy-Dyson got all dressed up for a great afternoon at our Friends of Regent Park October Fun Fest. Louise loved leading the support group at Living Better with Parkinson’s, and Heather got everyone moving at Eden Care, an organization that operates community-based housing and care options for people of all ages, among many others.
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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.
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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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Seasons of Change in PEI
In keeping with tradition in PEI, the Charlottetown class puts together a “seasons of change” dance to celebrate the transition from one season to the next. Here they are welcoming Fall.
Click here to watch the dance!
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Getting Footloose in Ottawa
Nancy and Elysse choreographed a fantastic number set to the classic "Footloose", which the Ottawa class put on with true showmanship! We love the energy of this group dancing together!
To enjoy their performance, click here!
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Collaboration and Expression MAL
We were so moved watching the beautiful phrases put together by small groups at our Mississauga class.
Click here to enjoy their stunning work!
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Mirroring Connection at Thornhill
The way our Thornhill community inspires each other truly is heartwarming to see. We love hearing their laughter and witnessing their joy!
Click here to watch the power of mirroring.
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Dressing Up on the DDC
DDC dancers know how to make the online dance class an occasion. Fridays through the month of October were for dress up, and they brought their best for wedding day, sports day and colour day — all leading up to the main event: Halloween!
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Halloween Comes to Meaford
Phoebe inspired the Meaford class to get dressed up for Halloween and did they ever! We love how they got right into it, and made the most of the opportunity to dress up and dance together to spooky music!
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Reconnecting with Thorncliffe Park
We are thrilled that our hybrid class at Thorncliffe Park is up and running again! This amazing group brings such incredible energy, making the most of the opportunities to get together every week to dance and connect as a community.
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Growing and Grooving in Smith Falls
The wonderful Parkinson's support group in Smith Falls fills the room with joy and connection every month. It’s always such a pleasure coming together with this community — we love seeing our dance family continue to grow!
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Dancing Together at Seniors Residences Across the Country!
Did you know that we offer dance classes in over 20 long-term care homes, seniors’ residences, and community organizations? One of these very special locations is Forest Hill Place. We always love connecting with this fun-loving community!
For a list of where we are dancing, click the button below!
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Dancing with Parkinson’s frequently contributes to and follows fascinating and important research that highlights the impact of arts interventions, like dance, for people living with Parkinson’s and seniors. We share these findings to offer our community easy access to knowledge that can enhance, inform and support overall well-being.
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DWP is Published in "A New Blueprint for Brain Health"!
Dancing with Parkinson’s has established vital research and evaluation partnerships that deepen our understanding of our methodology and community impact. Working with the Ontario Brain Institute and the Evaluation Centre for Complex Health Interventions has strengthened our program measurement, while recent learning with Sanjeev Sridharan and Manulani Aluli Meyer at the Social Science Research Institute, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, expanded our evaluation capacity through new, relational frameworks.
These collaborations extend beyond traditional research, leading to DWP’s contribution to OBI’s open-access publication "A New Blueprint for Brain Health", where we highlight how centering participant voices — and blending quantitative and qualitative insights — drives equitable, creative, and community-led approaches to brain health.
To read DWP's submission, click the button below.
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DWP Launches in Penticton
Thank you to the Penticton Herald for joining us to celebrate and share the wonderful news that DWP is launching a regular in-person class in the Okanagan Valley in the new year!
Stay tuned for details, but in the meantime...click here to read the article!
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Click image to download the Annual Report
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Looking for a Meaningful Volunteer Opportunity?
We are always looking for kind, enthusiastic people to join us in supporting our dancers! If you’re seeking a meaningful way to give back and want to help us connect with and uplift a truly special community, we would love to hear from you.
Click the button below to learn more about the various ways you can get involved with DWP and to apply!
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“Dancing with Parkinson’s means the world to me. It reminds me that I matter, that I am not alone, and that there is a community expecting to see me. I would be lost without my dance family.”
~ DWP Dancer
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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 above to hear what DWP's free, accessible movement classes mean to our dancers, and click below to make a donation to help keep our programs free of charge for all who wish to participate.
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