Dear DWP Community,
The end of winter is around the corner, and the energy of the brighter months that lie ahead is putting an extra spring in our dance-step! The sunshine always reminds me of the warmth and possibility that beams from our dance family every chance we have to come together.
We have a number of very exciting opportunities coming up that we cannot wait to share with you (read on!), and we are busy making plans to continue reaching people where they are through powerful partnerships, demos in prospective areas, and foundation building in new locations.
This season we are working closely with our partners whose work centres on caring for underserved and isolated communities. We are united in our commitment to bringing equity to the arts as a mechanism for healing through increased access to movement and music.
We are also diving deeply into assessing and evaluating the DWP program so that we may truly understand what is working, what is needed and what is possible as we continue to grow and serve our dance community.
At the centre of our vision is connection and LOVE. This season of rebirth and rediscovery reminds us of the light and energy that surrounds and ignites us—within ourselves and with each other.
Thank you for continuing on this journey with us.
All my love and gratitude,
Sarah Robichaud
Founder & CEO
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We are thrilled to announce that DWP is collaborating once again with TO Live on a very special workshop called "Message in a Bottle," a breathtaking dance production set to the music of 17-time Grammy Award winner, Sting. Created by five-time Olivier Award nominee, Kate Prince, and presented by TO Live, DWP dancers will have the opportunity to learn some of the "Message in a Bottle" choreography both in-person and online.
Date: Friday, March 22nd
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
11:00 - 11:30 a.m. Daily Dance Connect immediately followed by "Message in a Bottle" workshop from 11:30 - 12:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided.
Location:
In-person: Meridian Hall, 1 Front Street East, Toronto
Online: Join us by registering for the Daily Dance Connect.
If you are able to join us in-person for this special workshop, please RSVP by clicking the button below. We are so excited to enjoy this experience together!
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Happy LOVE Day!
On Valentine's Day, with "The Look of... DWP" fresh in their minds, our grade 1 friends from Ms Wing-Yee's class shared a heart-warming slideshow of their love-inspired art with our dancers on the Daily Dance Connect.
To enjoy their work, and how touched the DWP community was by their beautiful gesture, click here!
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A Surprise Visitor at Regent Park!
It was such a wonderful surprise to have Marci Ien, the Minister for Women, Gender Equality and Youth, join us at a recent in-person class at Regent Park! Marci and our Friends of Regent Park family had a fantastic time dancing with DWP instructor, Sarah Murphy-Dyson. It's moments like these with leaders like Marci that remind us of the power of compassion, connection and community.
Marci, thank you for coming to dance with us!
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New In-Person DWP Class Coming to New Brunswick!
Sarah was delighted to lead the Wellness Break during Parkinson Canada's engagement event in Fredericton, New Brunswick on February 23rd.
It was such a special opportunity to share the joy and benefits of dance, and to announce DWP's plans to open a new in-person location in Fredericton later in 2024!
We can’t wait to dance with you, New Brunswick! Stay tuned for details, and until then, we invite everyone on the east coast (and everywhere!) to join us online for the free Daily Dance Connect.
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Dancing Together in Thorncliffe Park!
On Wednesday, February 28th, Sarah led an energetic and wonderfully uplifting class at the Active Living Seniors Health and Wellness Fair in Thorncliffe Park. It was a very special opportunity to dance with a fantastic new community and to launch our partnership with The Neighbourhood Organization and Health Access Thorncliffe Park.
More to follow about a new class coming to this area very soon!
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Meeting Friends and Making Memories!
February was a busy month full of demo classes and information sessions which provide DWP with the valuable opportunity to share our work with new communities. We loved meeting dancers at Owen Sound (shown above with DWP instructor Louise!), Hospice Vaughan, Active Innisfil Cookstown, Lefroy and Sandycove, and are excited for what's to come as we continue to build our partnerships with these important, like-minded organizations.
This month, we look forward to continuing to broaden our reach across Ontario and beyond. We can't wait to dance with you!
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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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DWP is Featured in Reader’s Digest!
In this beautifully crafted article, Sarah shares how dance can help improve the lives of people living with neuro-cognitive and movement disorders. Click here to read the full piece.
Our heartfelt thanks to Claire at Reader's Digest for her thoughtful and thorough work, and for capturing the essence and power of the DWP program so perfectly.
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Technology Upgrade!
In addition to LOVE, the secret sauce to DWP’s dance classes is...wait for it… MUSIC!
We are working hard behind the scenes to upgrade our technology systems so that we may deliver the best quality music and sound for our dancers who join us online.
We appreciate your patience as we work through the kinks to be able to reach you in your living rooms, long term care homes, congregate settings…everywhere you are, across Canada and around the world!
Interested in joining one of our online dance classes which are available, free of charge, 365 days a year? Click here to learn more and to register!
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NEW Young Onset Class — Starting this Month!
We are very excited to announce that our new Young Onset Class will be starting this month! Sarah Murphy-Dyson and Lainie Maigidsohn will be leading a 6-week pilot class, offered online and open to those living with young onset PD. This vigorous standing class is an opportunity to explore your creativity while experiencing the benefits of the Dance for PD® method.
Date: Every Wednesday starting March 20th
Time: 5:30 - 6:15 p.m. EST
Location: On Zoom. Click here to learn more and to register!
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Suzy Weitzman
We loved hearing from Suzy this month who, in perfect Suzy form, joined us from the swimming pool where she talked to us about her love of Aquafit, and how exercising in the water helps her manage her Parkinson's symptoms. Suzy will often log into the DDC from her pool to dance and enjoy the sensation of weightlessness that she experiences while dancing in water. Thank you so much for sharing this brilliant tip, Suzy!
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Sharon Chakkalackal
We were delighted to welcome Sharon back for a follow up to her fascinating talk last year about stress management and resiliency. This time, Sharon discussed ways that our bodies respond during challenging experiences, and offered tricks and techniques to manage our stress, including: breathing, stretching, vocalizing and poetry. Thank you so much for your insight, Sharon! To download Sharon's presentation, click here.
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In March, we will look forward to hearing from Carolyn Herbert and Robin McPhail Dempsey!
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Announcing...the DWP Book Club!
Thanks to the creative initiative of our community, DWP is launching a bi-monthly book club!
Longtime Daily Dance Connect and U-Turn Parkinson's (Winnipeg) dancer, Keith Strachan, will be leading our first book club session. He has selected one of his favourite books, Fifteen Dogs by André Alexis, which is the first book to win both Canada Reads and the 2015 Scotiabank Giller Prize! Keith invites us all to read and discuss it with him during our first book club. To download a free digital copy of Fifteen Dogs, click here.
Date: Tuesday, April 2nd
Time: 11:30 a.m. EST, immediately following the Daily Dance Connect
Location: On Zoom via the Daily Dance Connect link. Register here!
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"Now that I dance with DWP, every day has become a beautiful day."
~ 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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