Dear DWP community,
We did it! Because of your efforts and participation we reached our fundraising goal for You Got Me Dancing!
I am still overwhelmed with all the feels over Sunday’s 15th anniversary event at the AGO. I cannot fully express the complete and total gratitude that I feel for each and every one of you who supported this milestone event in your own way. To have had the opportunity to share this day with you and DWP’s honorary Chair, Andy Barrie, will be a memory I will cherish always.
We still cannot get over the incredible lineup that made for such a spectacular event. Walker Court was filled with joy, movement, connection and energy as we celebrated 15 years of DWP magic. Thank you to Guillaume Côté for gifting us with his spectacular choreography to "A Thousand Kisses Deep". Carleen Zouboules and Connor Mitton from Côté Danse were nothing short of absolutely breathtaking with their performance to “Tonight Will Be Fine”. Cary Shields and Laura C. Bates sent chills around Walker Court with their stunning duet to “So Long, Marianne”, and Fan Wu’s brilliance shone through when he read the collaborative poem that he co-created with DWP dancers in our Leonard Cohen-inspired Poetry and Movement workshop. In a surprise grand finale, the New Choir gospel singers, accompanied by Cary and Laura, brought the crowd to tears singing Leonard Cohen's iconic “Hallelujah” as guests danced mirroring each other.
My heartfelt appreciation to our DWP dancers, instructors, volunteers, the DWP team and board, and all of our donors, sponsors and supporters for making our 15th anniversary celebration such a success.
A very special thank you to our partners at the AGO for co-creating such a rich program for all of us to enjoy both in-person and online.
And lastly, a very special thank you to the incredible Anisa Tejpar for your tireless effort in coordinating and producing this show. I could not be more grateful for your friendship, your humour, and the boundless energy you brought to help make my vision come to life.
With the joy and inspiration of Sunday’s event uplifting us, we have our sights set on a very bright and exciting future. DWP will be expanding its reach across the country to share our programming with people living with Parkinson’s and seniors from coast to coast. We are more committed than ever to our goal and mission of reaching isolated, marginalized and racialized communities through the power of art and movement that connects us all. Watch out Canada — here we come!
Your love and support was on clear display on Sunday, and I will carry that with me as we continue to move forward, together.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Sarah Robichaud
Founder and Executive Director
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Highlights of the last 15 years at DWP!
Check out this powerful highlight reel sharing some of the moments that have made up 15 years of dancing together with people living with Parkinson's and seniors across Canada. Thank you for being such an important part of making us who we are today! Click here.
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We could not do what we do every day without the support of our sponsors and donors, both those who made our 15th anniversary event such a success, and all of you who make it possible for our dancers to join our online and in-person classes free of charge from wherever they are. Thank you for your generosity!
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DWP on CityNews!
On Monday February 27th, Audra Brown from CityNews joined Sarah and some of DWP’s amazing dancers for a sneak peek of everyone getting into the spirit for Sunday’s 15th anniversary celebration at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Poignant interviews with Bill Bartlett and Eileen Lau truly captured the power of dance and the impact that DWP is having on people living with Parkinson’s and seniors. Click here to watch.
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DWP in Everything Zoomer!
Everything Zoomer recently published a fantastic article about DWP’s work, titled “Music and Movement: How Dancing Helps to Ease Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease”. In this powerful and important piece, Sarah tells DWP’s story and where we are going. Dr. Lorraine Kalia, provides a snapshot as to why DWP’s program is so important and how it’s making a difference. Click here to read the full article.
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Making Healthy Food Choices Workshop
On Wednesday, February 15th we were joined by renowned wellness chef Geremy Capone for a very special workshop on making healthy food choices. In this first in our series of three cooking sessions, we made a nutritious and delicious pasta & beans with dark leafy greens, and learned about "souper" energy boosters for your health from Daniela Fierini, Registered Dietitian.
Join us for our next cooking demo coming up on March 22 immediately following DWP's daily dance connect class.
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Leonard Cohen Exhibit: Virtual Tour
On Thursday, February 16th Lauren Spring, an art educator from the AGO, gave DWP dancers a "behind the scenes" virtual tour of the “Leonard Cohen: Everybody Knows” exhibit that inspired the theme of our 15th anniversary celebration! This deep dive highlighted selected archival materials, photographs and artworks featured in the exhibition, including insights about the power of Cohen's poetry and music.
Thank you, Lauren, for sharing your knowledge of all-things Leonard Cohen!
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Chat with Guillaume and Anisa
On February 13th we had the very special opportunity to meet Guillaume Cote, a Canadian ballet dancer, choreographer and visionary of DWP's dance to Leonard Cohen’s poem “A Thousand Kisses Deep”, which our community performed on Sunday. Guillaume and Anisa Tejpar, DWP's great friend and event emcee, shared how dance moves them and their connection to Cohen’s work. Click here watch this powerful interview.
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"Flannelette Pajamas"
We are thrilled to share the poem that DWP dancers created with performance artist and poet, Fan Wu, during our Poetry and Movement workshop on March 1st. Fan compiled the short couplets that were created by DWP dancers into this heartfelt collective poem fondly entitled, "Flannelette Pajamas". Click here to listen as Fan reads this beautifully moving and collaborative piece.
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Online Class: BGC East Scarborough
Our new online class at BGC East Scarborough now be offered weekly starting April 5! One of DWP's wonderful instructors, Claire Wootten, will lead the session. She can't wait to dance with you through what's sure to be a beautiful class. Keep an eye on our website for registration info.
Details
Wednesday, April 5
2:00 - 3:00pm
Online: Zoom link to come!
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In-Person Demo: Coburg Support Group
On Wednesday, March 8, DWP will join the Coburg Support Group at the Coburg Public Library for an in-person dance class to share DWP’s program. Guests will have the opportunity to participate in a 30-40 minute class with DWP’s incredible teacher, Lainie Magidsohn.
Details
Wednesday, March 8
1:00 - 2:00pm
Coburg Public Library
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DWP is passionate about introducing our fun and beneficial program to new dancers near and far by offering free demo classes everywhere! To inquire about a demo class for your group, please email us.
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We are thrilled to share that Dancing with Parkinson’s has a fresh new website! This project has been months in the making and we are delighted with the final result. We hope you love it too! Click here to jump on and take a browse around! Special thanks to our friends at Grow Digital, Freddie and Danielle, for all their help bringing our new site to life.
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Heike Adami
This month we welcomed Heike Adami for two Slice of Life presentations on February 14 and 28.
Heike has taken several roles in her life including a teacher, a writer, and a happiness coach for people with Parkinson’s. As a wife and a caregiver, she accompanied and lovingly supported her husband’s neuropathic changes from Parkinson's and Lewy body dementia.
The World Dance event, which was held for the first time in 2021, is very close to her heart. She organizes this event every year to pass on to people her knowledge and experiences. She wishes to empower people to experience happiness again and be a guide their journey.
We loved hearing from you, Heike!
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Our Slice of Life series offers opportunities for DWP participants to share stories, life experiences, hobbies and passions for all of us to get to know one another better and possibly, learning something new. These workshops take place every other Tuesday, immediately following the daily dance class.
Keep an eye out for our upcoming Slice of Life presentations for the month of March!
If you are interested in sharing a slice of your life, please contact akhil@dancingwithparkinsons.com.
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On February 12th we invited Karen Lee, CEO of Parkinson Canada, to dance with us at our Trinity St. Paul class. It was a very special opportunity for our dancers to meet Karen, and to share their love of the DWP program through movement, music and smiles!
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On March 2nd, DWP founder Sarah Robichaud led a demo class to Parkinson Canada's National team at the Parkinson Canada headquarters in Toronto. We are so honoured to partner with this important and impactful organization on our expansion across Canada.
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“I could see a huge change in my fluidity and sense of balance because it was every day. It has been just wonderful to meet all of these great people!”
- DWP Dancer
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“It lightens up my life every day. Every day I am longing for this class. It opens my heart and it helps me a lot.
- DWP Dancer
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OUR DANCE AND ARTISTIC PROGRAMS ARE FREE OF CHARGE THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF OUR DONORS.
PLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING DWP'S MISSION TO SHARE THE JOY AND BENEFITS OF MOVEMENT, CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY WITH PEOPLE LIVING WITH PARKINSON'S AND SENIORS ACROSS CANADA.
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