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

Having recently completed the Dance for PD teacher training course with Sarah Robichaud, Heather is excited to help launch a pilot program of Dance for PD in Regina, SK.

With a Bachelor's Degree in Contemporary Dance from Concordia University (Montreal), Heather moved to Regina in 2005 to co-found FadaDance Troupe, a contemporary dance company that creates innovative dance experiences, performing in alternative venues and fostering cross-disciplinary arts collaboration.

For Heather, living life and creating art are inseparable. She views her role as an artist like that of an explorer—venturing, playing, provoking, illuminating, and inspiring.

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.

Tessa Rae Kuz (she/her/hers) is a dance artist, performer and teacher based on the Treaty 4 Territory of Regina Saskatchewan. She is a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University's Performance Dance BFA program and an active participant of Margie Gillis’ Legacy Project, a project devoted to transmitting concepts of creation, teaching and humanitarian vision to the next generation of dance artists. Tessa facilitates Inclusive Dance for youth of all abilities and has recently completed the Dancing with Parkinson’s teacher training course with Sarah Robichaud.

Kathleen Legassick was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario where she trained at the Canadian School of Dance for 15 years. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Toronto Metropolitan University’s (formerly Ryerson University’s) Performance Dance Program. She danced professionally with many dance companies in Toronto.  

During her dance career in Toronto, she started volunteering with Dancing with Parkinson's and it quickly became the highlight of her week which led her to become trained to teach the classes. She is now teaching Dancing with Parkinson's classes again in Ottawa in addition to working as a certified Occupational Therapist in the community. Kathleen is thrilled to be blending her work as an OT and her passion for movement and dance by continuing her work with Dancing with Parkinson's. 

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.

Grew up in the lush and rolling hills of the Annapolis Valley, NS. Sarah (she/her) completed her B.A. in Theatre at Dalhousie University before moving to Toronto to continue her studies and career in physical theatre and dance. Sarah’s performance experience includes productions with the Halifax Fringe Festival, Neptune Theatre, the Jazz Dance Centre, and SummerWorks Theatre Festival in Toronto, where she now lives with her partner, son, and 2 cats. After teaching Hatha yoga and movement for over a decade, she turned her attention towards teaching movement for People with Parkinson’s. In her Dancing with Parkinson’s classes, Sarah invites dancers into a space to play, create, and express themselves wholeheartedly!  (https://www.sarahmartensfromthegroundup.com/)

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.

Nancy took the Dance for PD introductory teacher training course for the first time in April 2023. A graduate of Canada’s National Ballet School Teacher Training Program, and a life member of both Cecchetti Canada, and The Royal Academy of Dance, she has been actively teaching ballet for more than 45 years. The Dance for PD course inspired her to refocus her path, and it has led to many soulful moments. She is currently working as a Senior Outreach Coordinator in the Ottawa area, representing DWP at various PD events, and teaching classes.

Louise began her dance journey at age 5 and has trained in many dance styles. A certified Dance It Out instructor and Personal Trainer, Louise has also completed the Dance for Parkinson’s Training and is a certified TIME (Together in Movement and Exercise) instructor for Parkinson’s.

 Currently Louise is teaching classes for Dancing with Parkinson’s, Living Better with Parkinson’s and at many nursing homes in Georgian Bay. She was the 2019 recipient of the Corporation of the Municipality of Meaford’s Accessibility Recognition Award for “creating an inclusive environment and providing exceptional customer service.”

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!

Cassie started with Dancing with Parkinson’s during an Intergenerational Project in 2017, and has been volunteering ever since. She’s a graduate of the Dance Performance Program at Holland College as well as the Triple Threat Program at Randolph College for the Performing Arts. Cassie is a singer, actor, dancer, choreographer whose performance credits include the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and working with the Canadian Contemporary Dance Company Le Fils d’Adrien Danse. She completed her Dance for PD Teacher Training course in 2023, and has loved getting to share her passion for music and dance both online and in person.

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!