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Dear DWP Community,
October is a time of giving thanks here in Canada, and this season always makes me reflect on the incredible community that makes Dancing with Parkinson’s all that it is.
Looking back on September, I was deeply moved at the SuperWalk events across the country, and at the Spinning Wheels finale celebration. Everywhere I turned, I saw our dancers who are living with Parkinson’s surrounded by their care partners, children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, support workers, and friends. I met so many inspiring people all showing up for their loved ones, raising funds and awareness and good vibes all around!
This month, I want to give thanks to the circle of care that surrounds and supports our dancers. The partners, families and friends who manage the load — and who do so with love. Care partners are unsung champions. They make sure dancers arrive at class. Amid their own busy lives — sometimes overwhelmed, always balancing countless responsibilities — they still find the strength to encourage and inspire. That is no small task. That is love in action.
For the past 18 years, one thing has always been true: Dancing with Parkinson’s thrives because of this ecosystem of care — from families, friends, between dancers, within our wider community and amongst our partners.
So this October, from the bottom of my heart, thank you to the care circles in our DWP community who are there for our dancers. You help make everything possible.
Let’s dance,
Sarah Robichaud
Founder & CEO
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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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Thank You PC CARE Fund!
DWP gratefully acknowledges the funding support for our in-person Peterborough and Regina classes from Parkinson Canada through the PC CARE Fund. Thank you for helping us share our transformative movement programming with these wonderful communities!
If you are a person living with PD in the Peterborough or Regina area, we encourage you to join one of the Parkinson Canada PD Support Groups near you, and to come dance with us!
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Regina In-Person Class
Location: Regina Public Library - Sunrise Branch, 3130 Woodhams Drive, Regina
Day: Mondays
Time: 3:00 - 4:00 PM
Click Here to Register
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Peterborough In-Person Class
Location: Canterbury Gardens, 1414 Sherbrooke Street, Peterborough
Day: Tuesdays (excluding 3rd week of the month)
Time: 1:30 - 2:30 PM
Click Here to Register
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SuperWalks Across Canada — DWP was There!
We had a blast offering the warm up dance to all who joined the 2025 SuperWalk with Parkinson Canada at locations across the country!
All locations danced to the perfectly themed Barenaked Ladies song, “Gonna Walk,” led by DWP instructors in Regina, Winnipeg, Peterborough, Ottawa, Toronto, Mississauga, Cobourg and Vaughan who brought their signature energy and special brand of joy to kick off these important awareness events.
Click the button below to experience the magic of the Gonna Walk warm up dance with DWP!
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Celebrating with Spinning Wheels!
Wow...they did it again! Jim, Lloyd, Mike and their team of supporters finished the country-wide ride and we were there to celebrate with them! We loved cheering the riders on through their 2 month-long journey, having them pop into the Daily Dance Connect to share stories along the way, and dancing with them "live" at some of their overnight stays.
DWP’s Director of Communications, Lindsay, and her daughter, Tessa, linked up with the team, their supporters, family and friends to ride from Mississauga to Toronto, crossing the finish line all together. There was not a dry eye along the road as horns honked, bells rang, supporters and passersby cheered, and the hugs were extra tight as the teams rolled into the Legion — with a police escort no less!
We can’t wait to welcome Lloyd to the Daily Dance Connect in the coming weeks when he will share more! Stay tuned for details, and, in the meantime, enjoy this compilation of another memorable summer with our Spinning Wheels family.
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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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"Art-Based Therapies for Parkinson's": A Davis Phinney Foundation Webinar with DWP Board Member, Dr. Lorraine Kalia
The most recent "Live Well Today" webinar presented by the Davis Phinney Foundation featured one of DWP's incredible board members, Dr. Lorraine Kalia, a renowned neurologist at Toronto Western Hospital, assistant professor at the University of Toronto and former ballet dancer, who shared the role of art-based therapies in Parkinson’s care.
She explained that Parkinson’s affects far more than movement, emphasizing the impact of the disease on mood, cognition, sleep, and social well-being, and how creative outlets like dance (complete with a shout out to Dancing with Parkinson's!), music, drama, writing, and visual art have can address these areas in ways that medications cannot.
Dr. Kalia explained how music can spark emotional responses, improve walking through rhythm, and strengthen the voice through singing. She also highlighted how dance challenges memory and coordination, helps build new neural pathways, and highlights the value of creative self-expression. She spoke to the growing evidence that arts interventions are not only emotionally enriching, but may also improve symptoms, offering a personalized, whole-person approach to living well with PD.
To watch "Art-Based Therapies for Parkinson's", click the button below.
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DWP is Coming to Offer Live, in-Person Classes in BC!
Do you know any dance instructors in Vancouver, Penticton or the Okanagan Valley? If so, we would love your help spreading the word that DWP is hosting a Dance for PD® Teacher Training Program in Vancouver in November!
Our two-day, hands-on training is co-led by the Program Director and founding teacher of Dance for PD®, David Leventhal, and DWP's Founder and CEO, Sarah Robichaud. Our globally recognized, research-backed method connects art, science, and community, and is literally changing lives across the country and around the world very single day.
Details:
Dates: November 13 - 14th, 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Location: The Dance Centre, Scotiabank Dance Centre, Level 6, 677 Davie Street, Vancouver BC V6B 2G6 Canada
Click the button below for all the information. Please share the link with anyone you know in British Columbia who might be interested in learning more!
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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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DWP Dances at The Grand Parade with the Toronto Council on Aging!
DWP’s amazing instructor, Sarah Murphy-Dyson (aka “Sarah Too”), warmed up walkers at the Toronto Council on Aging’s Grand Parade Toronto King West on Saturday September 20th! The energy and smiles in the crowd set a fun-filled tone for the day celebrating older adults in support of a more age-friendly Toronto.
A big thank-you to the event organizers for the opportunity to be part of this special occasion, and to Toronto Deputy Mayor, Ausma Malik, for joining in! Click below to enjoy a moment of the community dancing together before they embarked on their walk!
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Elysse Brings DWP to the Ottawa Council on Aging!
One of DWP's wonderful new instructors, Elysse Chennette, recently led a demonstration class in for the Ottawa Council on Aging's "Living with Parkinson's" events. Dance was included as part of a broader conversation about alternative support options for people living with Parkinson’s, sharing tools that can help ease daily challenges, reduce stress, and bring moments of connection.
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The Power of Dance in Richmond Hill!
In September, Laetitia Clément led a beautiful demo class for the Richmond Hill Parkinson’s Support Group. It was heartwarming to see dancers and care partners come together to move to music, share in community, and experience firsthand the power of dance — not only in easing some of the physical symptoms of PD, but also in lifting spirits and nourishing the soul.
To see the power of dance in action, click the button below!
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Dancing Together at Meaford Community Day!
It was such a gift to see Phoebe North from DWP lead this fantastic crowd in some spirited dancing at “Meaford Community Day”, right along the shores of Georgian Bay. The sun was shining, spirits were high, and it was a perfect reminder that we really can dance from anywhere!
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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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Highlights from DWP's Hybrid DDC Program!
Over the past 12 months, Dancing with Parkinson has been working with the Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation (TSHC) to bring a new hybrid dance program to life in four of their communities. Each week, residents gather in common spaces to log into the Daily Dance Connect, and once a month the group comes together for an in-person class, connecting in ways that bring renewed energy into the buildings.
The impact of this offering has been truly remarkable. Participants often share the physical, emotional and social benefits that come from dancing as a community, speaking to how the program lifts their spirits, helps them feel less isolated, and gives them something joyful to look forward to.
For a flavour of how DWP's groundbreaking hybrid program works in action, take a look via the button below!
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From Owen Sound to Online: Connections Through Dance!
Last week, Sarah Robichaud, made a road trip to meet our dancers in real life at our new Owen Sound location. Louise Stewart Potts and our phenomenal new instructor, Phoebe North, taught the class with such energy, humour and warmth — Sarah was smiling from ear-to-ear!
The class is already building meaningful connections, like with Sabine, who, in addition to coming out to the Owen Sound class, joins the Daily Dance Connect online every day. It’s a beautiful reminder that community can flourish in all dimensions — both in real life and in the virtual world.
Are you in the Owen Sound area? Click here for a taste of the fun this group has together, and click the button below to come dance with us!
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DWP's Cantonese Class in Action!
Our in-person class at Woodgreen Seniors Active Living Centre is now open to the public! Led in both English and Cantonese by DWP’s incredible instructor, Phoebe Chu, the Woodgreen group has blossomed into a truly special community. Laughter fills the room, milestones are celebrated, and friendships thrive, with dance at the heart of it all. We hope you will join us!
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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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Bryna & Arnie: Dance, Community, and Giving Back
Bryna first joined a DWP class in 2018, about six months after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. A friend at the Canadian Ballet had recommended the program, but it was a phone call from Sarah Robichaud, who reached out simply to welcome her, that sealed it. With that genuine, caring gesture, Bryna knew this community was something special.
For awhile, she went to class on her own. But when making the trip became more challenging, her husband Arnie stepped in. Seeing how much DWP meant to her, he insisted on driving her each week. While Bryna danced, he’d take an hour for himself — time to grab a coffee and briefly step outside his role as a full-time care partner.
For Arnie, it was Sarah’s invitation to join the closing circle that allowed him to experience the DWP magic firsthand. He was deeply moved by the transformation he saw in the dancers. “You see it right in front of you,” he says. “People leave lighter, happier than when they arrive.” Arnie describes this moment of coming together as the most meaningful part of the class: a chance to be fully present and to feel the collective energy of people supporting one another.
Their connection to DWP also inspired Arnie’s fundraising efforts. A longtime supporter of charitable causes, he shifted his focus after Bryna’s diagnosis to raising funds for Parkinson’s research and also DWP. He reached out to Sarah for help in creating a peer-to-peer fundraising page, sharing it with friends and family so they could contribute to this program that means so much to Bryna, and to help keep it accessible for her community of dancers. “Research is vital,” he says, “but when you’re dancing with DWP, you see the impact in real time — in Bryna, in me, around the closing circle.”
Together, Bryna and Arnie embody the spirit of Dancing with Parkinson’s: resilience, joy, and the healing power of community. Their gratitude extends to Sarah, Cassie, the phenomenal volunteers and dancers at Trinity, and the teachers and online community who make it all possible.
Would you like to learn more about how you can create your own peer-to-peer fundraising page? We are here to help! Click the button below and we will be in touch!
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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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Mime Over Mind: A New Layer of Movement for DWP Instructors
On September 30th, Dancing with Parkinson’s hosted a special professional development workshop for instructors featuring "Mime Over Mind", a program created by artist, advocate and friend of DWP, Barbara Salzberg Mathews, with funding provided by the Parkinson Canada CARE Fund.
Drawing on her background in mime and her personal journey with Parkinson’s, Barbara's approach is designed to support people living with PD in improving posture, balance, and movement through playful, imaginative exercises.
Barbara, together with DWP's multi-talented instructor, Sarah Martens, shared the power of mime with our teaching team, equipping them with tools to weave into their in-person and online dance classes.
We are excited to keep adding to our creative toolkit so that we may continue to serve our dance community. We can’t wait to share what our team has learned, but in the meantime, click below for a sneak peek!
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A Sweet End to Summer at Copernicus Lodge
All summer long, classes led by Robin McPhail-Dempsey at Copernicus Lodge have been sprinkled with fun “ice cream” themed dances, so after the final class of summer, the idea came up to enjoy a real frosty treat together. Thanks to two dancers who arranged for the ice cream, the group was surprised with a sweet celebration after class. It was the perfect cherry on top of our summertime vibe!
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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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"Thank you for the wonderful classes! It's so nice to see everyone here, so that I can have social connection and enhance my resilience!"
~ 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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