|
Dear DWP Community,
After 17 incredible years on this journey, I’m reminded that the true magic of Dancing with Parkinson’s is so much more than movement—it’s about love. Our program is not just a dance class; it’s a transformative community where love is the heart of healing and connection. Every day, we create a space where strangers become friends, and friends become family, all bound together by the rhythm of a shared journey.
What makes us special is the deep love that flows through everything we do—the love in every movement, every connection, every moment of creative expression. Through dance, we don’t just move our bodies; we nourish our souls. When participants join our classes, they discover more than just dance techniques. They find a sanctuary of acceptance, where age, ability, and circumstance fade away, replaced by the universal language of movement and compassion. This past week, as we celebrated and danced with our beloved dancer Brent, the care and love for our friend and our community was exemplified with an exquisite collective embrace of his favourite songs and memories shared.
We celebrate each person’s unique path with open hearts, embracing their potential and offering support. Our love transforms limitations into opportunities, isolation into connection, and challenges into joyful discoveries. Together, we don’t just dance with our bodies—we dance with our hearts, creating an uplifting, loving environment that rejuvenates, unites, and inspires.
So, as we move into the month of February, we are sure that everyday at DWP is truly a Valentine's Day for all of us. Love is love is love.
With warmth and rhythm,
Sarah Robichaud
Founder & CEO
|
|
Help us Celebrate 17 years of Sharing the Joy and Benefits of Dance!
On March 31st, 2025, the DWP community will come together online and in-person at locations across the country to raise critical funds that will keep Dancing with Parkinson's transformative movement program free and accessible for individuals living with Parkinson's disease, seniors and those facing neurological, cognitive, and mobility challenges.
DWP's "Rhythm of..." fundraising event is a nationwide collaborative workshop which will unite DWP instructors, people living with Parkinson's, seniors, and young students from across Canada in a unique interpretation of renowned singer-songwriter Martha Johnson's iconic song "The Rhythm of Life". Special guests Martha Johnson and Mark Gane will share their stories that inspired the creation of the music behind their own rhythm of life.
Event Details:
- Date: March 31st 2025
- Time: 11:00 a.m - 12:00 p.m. EDT
- Location: All DWP locations across Canada and online via the Daily Dance Connect
With your support, we can reach our goal of raising $100,000 to keep our community dancing every day of the year—completely free of charge!
By clicking the button below, you can join a team or create an individual account and start peer to peer fundraising with us! Please help us spread the word about our transformative program which serves more than 6,000 seniors and people living with Parkinson's disease across our country and around the world.
Join us, and be part of a movement that truly changes lives, one dance step at a time!
|
|
|
Live Djembe Music with Mimi at Trinity St. Paul!
Recently, one of DWP's incredible volunteers, Mimi, who has been dedicating her time to the in-person class at Trinity St. Paul, shared her love of djembe drumming with a "live" performance! Sarah and Mimi spent the hour improvising with her powerful beats and the whole room was transported to the land of rhythm, exploration and co-creation. It was an incredible experience for dancers, teachers, and volunteers alike! Click here to enjoy some of the music she shared with us, and read on below for Mimi's story.
|
|
Mimi's Story
It was her passion for dance and a deeply felt desire to surround herself with like-minded people that inspired Mimi to become involved with Dancing with Parkinson’s. Late jazz singer and entertainer, Kenny Colman, whose velvet voice and showmanship she admired deeply, was an important inspiration for her. Kenny passed from late-onset Parkinson’s disease, which motivated Mimi to get involved with Parkinson's organizations. Dancing with Parkinson's was the perfect intersection of her interest in music, movement and the inspiration of legends like Kenny Colman, among others.
Mimi has been a member of the Samba Squad intermittently since 2000. The group’s motto, “One Heart, One Mind, One Groove,” and their dedication to supporting a diverse, multicultural group of players resonated deeply with Mimi.
She has been playing the djembe for nearly two decades. The drum is especially meaningful to her because it was purchased at Ballet Creole and originally came from Guinea-Bissau. The wood and the person who carved it give Mimi a deep sense of connection to the ancient, natural, and spiritual ways of life. This style of music brings her joy and exhilaration, both physically and emotionally, and motivates her to move and dance.
Through sharing her music with the Dancing with Parkinson’s community, Mimi hopes it will bring the same joy and inspiration to others, encouraging them to move and dance as well.
|
|
|
|
Dancing with Mike at Trinity St. Paul!
It was a fantastic surprise to have Mike from Spinning Wheels join us, in the flesh, at a recent class at Trinity St. Paul! While the Spinning Wheels team was riding across the country this past summer, raising funds and awareness for local Parkinson's organizations, we came to love having Mike, Jim, Lloyd and their incredible crew of cyclists log into the Daily Dance Connect to share stories and updates along the route. It was so special catching up with Mike, and, of course, having the opportunity to dance together in-person!
For a trip down memory lane, take a look at this reel from our time dancing with Spinning Wheels.
|
|
|
New PD Support Group Founded by DWP Dancer, Fiona, at Trinity St. Paul
We are thrilled to share that one of DWP's incredible dancers has started a PD Support Group which will meet at Trinity St. Paul Church in Toronto! The group will come together on Mondays at 11:00 a.m. to share stories, experiences, questions and answers about living with Parkinson’s disease, and then can stay to dance with DWP!
Support Group Details:
- Date: the 4th Monday of each month. The next meeting is February 24, 2025.
- Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
- Location: Trinity St. Paul Church, 427 Bloor Street West, Toronto
Click here for all the details! We hope to see you there, and after to dance together!
|
|
Fiona's Story
Fiona became involved with Dancing with Parkinson’s long before she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in November 2021. She had heard Andy Barrie and Sarah Robichaud discussing the program on the radio several years after DWP had started, and it piqued her interest. She began attending the Monday afternoon sessions at Trinity St-Paul’s in September 2023.
Her motivation to organize a PD Support Group stemmed from a desire to connect with others living with PD. After her second class with Dancing with Parkinson's, she suggested to a few others that they go for coffee. What began as a simple outing turned into a semi-regular social gathering, and these informal conversations about living with Parkinson’s have proven invaluable to Fiona, widening her social circle and providing emotional support.
Recognizing an opportunity to share experiences more broadly, Fiona recruited a co-facilitator, and together they approached Parkinson Canada with a proposal to create an in-person downtown Toronto Support Group. Parkinson Canada enthusiastically supported the idea, and by early last summer, they were on the path to making it a reality
This work is deeply important to Fiona because, throughout her life, she has always sought to bring people together. Whether as a teenager or now, she has worked to fill social or cultural gaps, instigate projects, and establish organizations that foster connection. The PD Support Group is just the latest example of her ongoing commitment to building meaningful communities.
|
|
|
|
"Seasons of Change" Dance in Charlottetown
At our in-person class in Charlottetown, PEI, dancers had the unique and heartwarming experience of together sharing the joy of movement to the powerful song "Seasons of Change." One group performed while the other cheered them on as the audience, creating a special sense of community and connection. Afterward, the groups switched roles, giving everyone the chance to step into the spotlight. The energy in the room was contagious, with smiles, laughter, and the beauty of shared expression filling the space. Click here to enjoy some of this lovely performance.
Are you in the Charlottetown area? We would love to dance with you! Learn more and register today by clicking here.
|
|
|
Louise Stewart Potts Brings DWP to Owen Sound!
We are thrilled to announce that we have a new in-person class launching in Owen Sound starting on Friday, February 7th, in partnership with the Parkinson Society Southwestern Ontario.
This class will be led by Louise Stewart Potts, one of DWP's incredible instructors, who is spreading the word and the joy of dance all over the Collingwood area! Louise has energy and positivity to spare, and always brings her special brand of magic to every group she dances with. She teaches classes at retirement residences and long term care homes, in-person PD and seniors' support groups, with local partners, and represents DWP at a wide variety of events. Most recently, Louise and the DWP dancers from Meaford performed at the "Beyond 150: Spirit of Inclusion Concert" which was deeply moving. Louise truly is such a treasure to this community — we can’t wait for you to experience dancing with her!
Class details:
- Day and Time: Fridays, 1:30 – 2:45 p.m. Class starts at 1:30 with 15 minutes for refreshments to follow.
- Location: YMCA of Owen Sound Grey Bruce, 700 10th Street East, Owen Sound
If you're in the Owen Sound area, please join us to dance and connect as a community! Learn more and register here.
|
|
|
Where We're Dancing!
Through the month of January, we shared the joy and benefits of dance with community groups and at seniors residences and long term care homes including Barrie Housing and the Wellness Innovation Centre in Hamilton, St James Town Community Corner Winter Dance, Almonte PD Support Group.
On February 22nd, we look forward to dancing with participants at the Coldest Night of the Year in Meaford, Ontario (as shown above!). If you're in the area, we hope you will join us to support this important cause, and also to dance with us! Learn more here.
In February, we are also excited to connect with dancers at Eastern Ontario Resource Centre, Emerald Plaza Support Group, Kanata Seniors Council, Bearbrook LTC and Bayshore Program & Multicultural Seniors Program!
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
Parkinson Canada Hosts "Slow Emotion: The Making Of" Film Screening
Our friends at Parkinson Canada are hosting a special virtual screening of Martha Johnson and Mark Gane's moving film, "Slow Emotion: The Making Of", sharing the story of how their powerful song "Slow Emotion" came to be. This is a unique opportunity to experience the music in a deeper more meaningful way as we hear from the creators, and celebrate the beauty of human connection, from the comfort of home.
Screening details:
- Date: Wednesday, February 26th
- Time: 2:00 p.m. EST
- Location: Online
For more information, and to save your spot, click here.
|
|
A "Slice of Life" with Dian!
We were thrilled to have Dian Bowers, a dedicated DDC dancer, join us to share a slice of her life on January 15th, 2025. Dian took us through her inspiring journey as an author of many published works, including a moving contribution to the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, a personal biography at the request of her family, and two novels: a charming children's book, Life in the Big Forest, and An Angel’s Voice, a captivating Victorian mystery. Thank you for sharing your story and your incredible talent with us, Dian!
|
|
|
On February 26th, we look forward to hearing again from Paul Peacock who will speak with us about NeuroArm Robots!
|
|
|
|
Listen to your favourite songs from DWP's classes anytime! Click here to follow DWP on Spotify so you can stay up to date on music as fresh tracks are added!
|
|
I feel very proud to be a part of this group. I keep telling others that DWP is not just a group of dancers but a group who cares for each other. I often tell people that the group is like a second family.
~ DWP Dancer
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
